Parliamentary questions

Recycling Policy

James O'Connor

110. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with small businesses who are encountering difficulties with the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11116/24]

Energy Production

James O'Connor

128. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if farms producing wind-powered microgeneration can sell on to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/24]

Road Projects

James O'Connor

56. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department plans to release further funding for local roads across east Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10462/24]

International Protection

James O'Connor

74. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for an enhanced community benefit fund for towns that have large IPAS accommodation centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9659/24]

School Accommodation

James O'Connor

297. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding additional accommodation scheme applications lodged by a school (details supplied); her Department's engagement with the school of late; the position regarding an emergency works application lodged by the school; the reason a response was not issued within the recommended 15-day timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10181/24]

Special Educational Needs

James O'Connor

327. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the reduction of 2.5 special education teaching hours at a school (details supplied); the reasons for this reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10698/24]

Special Educational Needs

James O'Connor

328. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the reduction of 2.5 special education teaching hours at a school (details supplied); the reasons for this reduction; the position regarding an additional accommodation application for two SEN classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10699/24]

School Meals Programme

James O'Connor

458. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for schools (details supplied) to seek a higher allowance than that of the €1.70 currently available, should they opt for cold lunch options, through the hot school meals scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10700/24]

Medicinal Products

James O'Connor

47. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the Government's position in respect of the European Union's revision of pharmaceutical legislation, given that EU Parliamentary Committee votes are expected in March 2024; if he supports proposals to reduce regulatory data protection for manufacturers; the impact that such a reduction will have on patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8933/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

James O'Connor

67. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the latest details of a capital project (detail supplied) from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9657/24]

Youth Services

James O'Connor

117. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered having a full-time youth worker in Youghal, County Cork, considering the number of IPAS refugees in the area, following a meeting with local community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9660/24]

Healthcare Policy

James O'Connor

301. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the current system in place by his Department to provide healthcare for residents of IPAS centres and other refugee accommodation; if his Department is providing additional resources to support GP capacity in areas with higher than average numbers of IPAS centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9658/24]

School Accommodation

James O'Connor

228. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question 181 on 7 February 2024, if she will outline a definite date for the completion of the feasibility study; the plans for the school's expansion of accommodation for the 2024/25 school year, especially when children of refugee families will be attending the school in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9187/24]

Transport Policy

James O'Connor

14. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will next meet. [7801/24]

School Meals Programme

James O'Connor

58. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount her Department spent on the hot school meals programme in schools in Cork East in 2023; the total number of pupils who benefited in the same schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7858/24]

Departmental Data

James O'Connor

105. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount her Department spent on the farm assist payment in Cork east in 2023; the total number of recipients in Cork east for the same year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7857/24]

Sports Funding

James O'Connor

5. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the large scale sport infrastructure fund; the qualifying criteria for the scheme; the timeline of the next round for this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7035/24]

Sports Funding

James O'Connor

18. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the timeline for the release of the Sports Capital Grants; the number of applications from County Cork; the amount sports clubs and organisations have applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7034/24]

Housing Provision

James O'Connor

126. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing commencements and completions for each LEA area in County Cork for 2021, 2022 and 2023 under Housing for All, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7032/24]

Housing Schemes

James O'Connor

131. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of grants approved for the help to buy scheme and the first home scheme in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7033/24]

Tourism Schemes

James O'Connor

211. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the installation of the new Fáilte Ireland-funded outdoor water-based activity infrastructure in Claycastle, Youghal, County Cork that was announced in June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7153/24]

Physical Education

James O'Connor

74. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the potential inclusion of golf within the physical education curriculum specification, striking/fielding games category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6405/24]

Driver Licences

James O'Connor

200. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport his views on an Irish citizen with an expired Australian driving licence for trucks seeking assistance to change the licence back to an Irish driving licence; if the driver can renew the licence in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6151/24]

Legislative Measures

James O'Connor

508. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address and clarify the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied). [6456/24]

Dental Services

James O'Connor

580. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns relating to the delay in dental treatment of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6275/24]

School Accommodation

James O'Connor

181. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school (details supplied) that is seeking additional school accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5114/24]

Agriculture Schemes

James O'Connor

385. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received their ACRES payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5027/24]

Road Projects

James O'Connor

40. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the allocation of funding towards road projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4566/24]

Transport Policy

James O'Connor

74. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the most recent progress on the implementation of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4565/24]

Insurance Industry

James O'Connor

123. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate the many shortfalls of the insurance sector which has left both homes and businesses in the east Cork area making up the costs of damage following Storm Babet in October 2023; if he will consult the insurance sector on how to improve access for the public to get insurance quotes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4567/24]

Tax Credits

James O'Connor

148. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance the number of earners in Cork who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; the number of renters in Cork who benefitted from the rent tax scheme in 2023; how many are eligible to claim the same in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4568/24]

Business Supports

James O'Connor

34. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline details of a scheme for those businesses that have a shortfall of flood cover (details supplied) compared with the cost of damages to their businesses from the flooding from Storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4419/24]

School Accommodation

James O'Connor

46. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the expected timeline for an appointment of a project manager on an application for the feasibility study under the additional school accommodation scheme, from a school (details supplied) that has issues with spaces within the school and the lack of expansion for classrooms, SET Rooms, toilets and play areas; if her Department is examining the possibility of moving the school to a green field site due to the lack of capacity for expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4411/24]

Asylum Applications

James O'Connor

106. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice to clarify the steps for applying for asylum in Ireland, specifically, where applicants stay for the initial five days if they do not apply at the port of entry; the conditions under which the port authority grants entry; what information the IPO officer looks for to verify the applicant's identity, country of origin and immigration history; what conditions do not allow for entry; how the personal interview differs from the preliminary interview; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4430/24]

Asylum Applications

James O'Connor

107. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the reasons for the delays in processing asylum seeker applications; the average length of time it takes for an application to be fully processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4431/24]

Asylum Seekers

James O'Connor

108. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the reason asylum seekers cannot begin work immediately on the granting of asylum seeker status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4432/24]

Community Development Projects

James O'Connor

98. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the community centres investment fund will reopen for applications in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4017/24]

Departmental Funding

James O'Connor

112. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a Tranche 2 of the community recognition fund will open in 2024; if a similar scheme will be rolled out for communities hosting large numbers of international protection applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4018/24]

Road Projects

James O'Connor

184. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on a road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3762/24]

Rail Network

James O'Connor

205. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he could outline the punctuality of Iarnród Éireann services between Cork-Dublin, Midleton-Cork, Cobh-Cork, Cork-Mallow, Tralee-Dublin, Dublin-Belfast and Galway-Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4274/24]

Peace Commissioners

James O'Connor

18. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Peace Commissioners can sign all passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3391/24]

Passport Services

James O'Connor

65. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an overview of the passport service for Cork applicants in 2023; how many passports issued to applicants from Cork and how this compared to 2022; the number of outstanding applications for passports currently awaiting processing for Cork applicants at the end of 2023 and how this compared to the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3392/24]

National Broadband Plan

James O'Connor

102. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in Cork. [3383/24]

School Funding

James O'Connor

110. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education to review correspondence (details supplied); if she will address the issues outlined and provide an update as to when this school will receive the ICT grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3118/24]

School Accommodation

James O'Connor

113. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the expected timeline for a decision on an application for capital funding, under the additional school accommodation scheme, from a school (details supplied) for special class accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3153/24]

Driver Test

James O'Connor

185. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the issues outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2843/24]

Archaeological Sites

James O'Connor

229. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will carry out an assessment of a recorded archaeological monument in County Cork (details supplied); if this structure is suitable for a future planned works programme owing to a decline in the structure of same; if it would be possible for the local authority to apply for funding under the community monuments fund for repair works here under future tranches of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2919/24]

Primary Care Centres

James O'Connor

27. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health to provide an update in relation to the HSE Capital Plan to provide a primary care centre in a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2072/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

James O'Connor

50. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to the reduction in waiting lists for elective medical procedures in relation to cataract procedures and orthopaedic procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2073/24]

National Monuments

James O'Connor

731. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an assessment will be carried out of a recorded archaeological monument (details supplied) in County Cork to assess if the structure is suitable for a future planed works programme owing to a decline in the structure; if the local authority can apply for funding under the Community Monuments Fund for repair works under future tranches of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56371/23]