Parliamentary questions

Voluntary Sector

Claire Kerrane

164. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the 2,500 care workers excluded from the pay deal agreed with Government to avert strike action by employees of voluntary organisations; the rationale for excluding these critical workers in the care sector, who care for the most vulnerable citizens; if he will correct this exclusion and ensure all workers doing the same work receive the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22235/24]

Heritage Centres

Matt Shanahan

165. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of complementary admissions being issued each year at the Custom House visitor centre (details supplied); when the visitor centre will be properly operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22283/24]

Heritage Centres

Matt Shanahan

166. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made on sourcing a cash safe for the Custom House visitor centre (details supplied); the number of complementary visitors admitted over the past five years; his views on whether this issue should be relatively easy to rectify; when the visitor centre will receive the long awaited cash safe that will enable it to process cash payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22292/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by each local authority area in the State, that registered for the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, in tabular form. [22232/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding issued to businesses under the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, by local authority area, in tabular form. [22233/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the increased cost-of-business grant. [22234/24]

School Transport

Brendan Griffin

170. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if Bus Éireann will review its ageist school transport policy on over-70s bus drivers, given that other publicly funded public bus services do not have this restriction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22138/24]

Pesticide Use

Neasa Hourigan

171. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the use of chemical pesticide weed killers on school grounds; if she will promote the use of alternative methods of weed removal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22172/24]

Schools Building Projects

Charles Flanagan

172. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on when progress made on a school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22173/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

173. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if an ASD placement will be secured for a person (details supplied) who is waiting two years for a placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22191/24]

School Textbooks

Steven Matthews

174. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the reason for reducing the level of funding per student under the primary schoolbook grant from €96 to €80 per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22217/24]

School Transport

Maurice Quinlivan

175. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) will be awarded a place on the school bus for the school of their chosen ethos. [22218/24]

School Transport

Maurice Quinlivan

176. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) are recognised by the State as having a distinct ethos in terms of parental choice with regard to the provision of school bus places. [22219/24]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Creed

177. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the current situation regarding a proposed extension at a school in County Cork (details supplied); when her Department will sign off on the proposed design; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22237/24]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

178. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of students offered a new ASD primary school place in south Roscommon for September 2024; the number of new places available for September 2024; the schools with availability; the number of places available; the specific steps she is taking to address the annual difficulty in sourcing primary school ASD places in south Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22242/24]

Schools Building Projects

John McGuinness

179. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the reason that after receiving official sanction on 30 April 2019 for a school building project, a school (details supplied) is still waiting for construction to commence; and if she will confirm a date to commence the project as a matter of urgency. [22243/24]

Educational Disadvantage

Mark Ward

180. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if funding is available for a secondary school student from a disadvantaged area to access the DBS International Soccer Academy Transition Year Programme 2024-25; if so, the way to apply for this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22263/24]

School Transport

Mattie McGrath

181. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update with respect to a student (details supplied) in County Cork who is receiving school transport under the scheme for children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22268/24]

School Funding

John McGuinness

182. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will review immediately the arrangements for payment of the ancillary services grants and the SSSF secretary grants, as communicated to schools on 26 April 2024, given that what is being proposed will cause serious financial problems for some schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22278/24]

School Transport

Thomas Gould

183. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that a person (details supplied) has not received the grant for special school transport this year and if she will instruct officials to make the payment.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22280/24]