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]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

187. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when an announcement will be made on successful applications under the sports capital grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22168/24]

Driver Test

Claire Kerrane

220. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if a carer is allowed to accompany a candidate during driver theory tests and driving lessons, including in situations where a candidate has an invisible disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21711/24]

Pension Provisions

Claire Kerrane

276. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if he is concerned that school bus drivers (details supplied) have paid into an occupational pension with Bus Éireann for which they cannot access any information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21788/24]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Claire Kerrane

341. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that much needed and encouraged returning teachers are waiting two months for a Teaching Council number, meaning they can not be paid; if she will intervene on this given we should be making it as easy as possible for teachers to return home and take up jobs here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21785/24]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Claire Kerrane

342. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure a teacher (details supplied) who has returned to Ireland can get his Teacher Council number without further delay to allow him to be paid for substitute work he is doing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21786/24]

Artificial Intelligence

Claire Kerrane

356. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of AI generated advertisements on a platform (details supplied) sharing bogus information; if she will take steps to communicate with the public on the misinformation that can be created and spread online using AI to ensure online safety, especially for vulnerable users who may be misled; if there is a role for the new Media Commission on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21734/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

487. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the payment systems to make payments under TAMS III are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21672/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

488. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, in tabular form, the number of applications outstanding under TAMS III for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21673/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider fast-tracking payments under TAMS III, given the investment made by farmers and their need for payment. [21674/24]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

496. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has discussed the announced tillage payment of €100 with an Taoiseach given his public comments on the inadequacy of the announced payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21727/24]

Health Service Executive

Claire Kerrane

548. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 20 February 2024 to provide the total spend by the HSE on contractors for maintenance work (details supplied) in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024. [21194/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

638. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health when he will sanction funding requests made by the Department of Health for an increase in optometrists' fees having not increased for over 20 years, and for an over 8s public eyecare programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21789/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

639. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of optometrists providing care to medical card holders and under the Department of Social Protection adult eyecare schemes in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [21790/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

640. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason optometrists' fees have not been increased in over 20 years; if he intends to increase the fees to meet actual cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21791/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

641. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that optometrists are leaving or not entering public adult eyecare schemes; what action he intends to take to rectify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21792/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

642. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the commitment in the programme for Government for a national over 8s public eyecare programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21793/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

643. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of people on outpatient eye-care appointments by CHO, in tabular form. [21794/24]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

250. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration can be given to providing farmers under financial pressure advance payments of direct farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21029/24]

Departmental Priorities

Claire Kerrane

251. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide further details on the announced action plan on ash dieback; when such detail will be published on each of the measures included in the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21043/24]

Departmental Priorities

Claire Kerrane

252. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide further details on the climate action performance payment measure, including required actions, eligibility criteria, payment terms and timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21044/24]

Departmental Priorities

Claire Kerrane

253. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the recommendations made in the independent review of the Government's response to addressing ash dieback that have been specifically addressed in the announced action plan on ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21045/24]

Tax Code

Claire Kerrane

158. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to including automatic calf feeders as VAT refundable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20743/24]

Business Supports

Claire Kerrane

175. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide, in tabular form, all grants available to new businesses setting up in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/24]

Legislative Measures

Claire Kerrane

373. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice if she will review new laws in relation to coercive control following correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20443/24]

Departmental Policies

Claire Kerrane

398. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on progress around the farmers' charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20112/24]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

400. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on eligibility criteria for the complementary income support for young farmers; if applicants must meet the educational criteria or if flexibility can be allowed where an individual holds a level 6 qualification in a subject other than agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/24]

Pesticide Use

Claire Kerrane

402. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 24 April 2024, if he will advise on flexibility around sanctions in situations where a farmer may not be aware that they have spread fertiliser containing phosphorus; if he will advise on what communication has been made with farmers to advise of rule changes and possible penalties on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20329/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

405. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to provide in-person training for the suckler carbon efficiency programme, in consideration of individuals who may not have access to or ability to use online facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20406/24]

Departmental Reports

Claire Kerrane

407. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the agrifood regulator has provided a report to him to date; if he has received an update regarding the regulator's workplan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20478/24]

Departmental Staff

Claire Kerrane

408. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 500 of 23 April 2024, if he will provide salary amounts, broken down by grade and role referenced, within the three forestry divisions in his Department for the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [20557/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

557. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on funding allocation for a programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20422/24]

Health Services Staff

Claire Kerrane

583. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will approve a derogation applied for, to the current recruitment embargo to allow an essential service (details supplied) hire a person, where they carried out recruitment and interviews before the embargo, and the person is needed to fill a vacant role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20560/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

67. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the additional medical supports he has sought for communities where Ukrainians and international protection persons have arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18967/24]

Haulage Industry

Claire Kerrane

126. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on a situation with regard to livestock transport (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20045/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Claire Kerrane

129. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance in cases where an individual does not meet the criteria as laid down for a primary medical certificate (details supplied), if there is consideration of criteria being adjusted or flexible in such cases; if there are plans to revive a scheme previously in place to assist individuals not entitled to a primary certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20046/24]

Agriculture Industry

Claire Kerrane

228. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on any changes he is aware of with regard to processes around inspections of livestock hauliers given a reported increase in inspections on trucks transporting livestock by Irish officials; if he has had any engagement with the Minister for Transport or other Government colleagues on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20044/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

243. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to reintroducing the mobility allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20047/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

204. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received for the women farmers' capital investment scheme under the current round; the number that have been refused due to ineligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19549/24]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

226. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what the new restructuring for regional health areas will mean for children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Minister for Health on the provision of additional medical supports for communities where Ukrainians and international protection persons have arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/24]

Customs and Excise

Claire Kerrane

227. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance if he will prevent the fuel excise increase scheduled for 1 May 2024 given the financial pressure farmers and contractors will face as a result of further increases to the cost of fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18826/24]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

377. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide all sports grants available to a football club where the club is leasing ground on a long-term basis (not owned); and the associated timeline for applications to be opened, in tabular form. [18963/24]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

378. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide all sports grants available and the associated timeline for applications to be opened, in tabular form. [18964/24]

Housing Policy

Claire Kerrane

426. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to extending recent changes to the consideration of child maintenance as means for social welfare payments to the housing assistance payment, given the recognition that one parent families are at a higher risk of poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19447/24]

Legal Aid

Claire Kerrane

491. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18988/24]

Fodder Crisis

Claire Kerrane

539. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider reopening the fodder support scheme in 2024 given the fodder shortage experienced this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18827/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Claire Kerrane

540. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on recent increases to Horse Sport Ireland registration charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18828/24]

Agriculture Industry

Claire Kerrane

542. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to providing a label or certification of quality to Irish grain, given the quality and low-carbon nature of Irish grain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18855/24]

Medical Cards

Claire Kerrane

710. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a medicine (details supplied) can be made available under the medical card scheme for a patient where the current medicine, available under medical card scheme, has given them a bad reaction. [19246/24]