Parliamentary questions

Just Transition

Neasa Hourigan

88. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a timeline for when he will bring the Just Transition Taskforce's final report and recommendations forward for consideration by the Government; when the Just Transition Commission will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20680/24]

National Transport Authority

Neasa Hourigan

118. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport to provide NTA surveys of passengers at Dublin Airport 2016 and 2022 (details supplied), including a legend for the codes used in these spreadsheets; and to provide data on landside origins/destinations of passenger trips to and/or from Dublin Airport based on data NTA has collected in respect of 2016 and 2022. [20336/24]

Ports Policy

Neasa Hourigan

176. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a ship, the Sarah M, certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and seeking to head towards Greenore, County Louth; whether he is assured this vessel will not port and engage in export, which would be in contravention of sanctions placed upon Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/24]

Childcare Services

Neasa Hourigan

423. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the work of the early learning and childcare stakeholder forum, particularly their work on issues around staff recruitment and retention within the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20108/24]

Foreign Policy

Neasa Hourigan

111. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the engagement his Department has had with the German Government regarding the suppression of the use of the Irish language at public events in Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20048/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

153. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 25 April 2024, the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to social enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20102/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

106. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline who has responsibility for the planning, choosing of locations, management and maintenance of the national on-street EV charging network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19605/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

107. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the number of on-street EV charging stations per capita that his Department is aiming to see in place over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19606/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

108. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the contract tender and procurement policy around the provision of on-street EV charging stations for State and private operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19607/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

109. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the amount in funding that was utilised under the public charge point scheme; the number of councils that applied; the number of points installed under the same scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19608/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Neasa Hourigan

133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to small and medium enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/24]

State Examinations

Neasa Hourigan

141. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the response of her Department to the March 2024 ruling on the legal access of students with visual impairment to the junior certificate exam; if she will outline the provisions her Department will make to vindicate the judgement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19579/24]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

145. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the number of new places for children with special educational needs that has been secured for the 2024/2025 school year following the package announced in Budget 2024 for special needs education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19609/24]

Schools Administration

Neasa Hourigan

322. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her Department’s views on whether the guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours prohibits the provision of sibling hour and afterschool facilities at a school building (details supplied) as per the decision of the board of management at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19248/24]

Schools Administration

Neasa Hourigan

323. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if the Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2023-2027 in anyway prohibits the use of primary schools for sibling hour and/or afterschool services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19249/24]

School Management

Neasa Hourigan

324. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the obligations on patron bodies of national schools to have in place formal complaints procedures for parents to question boards of management acting under their patronage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19250/24]

Schools Administration

Neasa Hourigan

325. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if forthcoming updated guidelines on the use of school buildings will take into consideration the difficulty parents face in accessing childcare by encouraging schools to facilitate sibling hour and after-school providers, through access to school space after school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19251/24]

Schools Administration

Neasa Hourigan

326. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if schools can be encouraged to facilitate after-school care for junior classes who finish earlier than senior classes by allowing use of classrooms for that hour by childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19252/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Neasa Hourigan

402. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in ensuring the protection of the old Irish goat, which, according to reports (details supplied), is being hunted for sport and on the verge of extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19082/24]

Departmental Bodies

Neasa Hourigan

431. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average time in 2023 for Táilte Éireann to resolve applications to correct mapping errors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19535/24]

Departmental Bodies

Neasa Hourigan

432. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many applications to resolve map errors are currently outstanding with Táilte Éireann; and of those, how many are listed as expedited by Táilte Éireann. [19536/24]

Departmental Bodies

Neasa Hourigan

433. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the demand for housing, Táilte Éireann prioritises applications related to habitable properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19537/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Neasa Hourigan

474. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for the conditions for the PRSI contributions for the benefit payment for 65-year-olds; the reason a person would not be eligible for the benefit payment at 65 years old, even if they are eligible and have made enough PRSI payments to qualify for the State pension a year later; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19518/24]

Departmental Consultations

Neasa Hourigan

585. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Education to ensure that use of publicly funded school buildings is considered and maximised with respect to provision of pre-school, sibling hour and afterschool facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19253/24]

Departmental Consultations

Neasa Hourigan

586. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Education with respect to guidelines on the use of school buildings outside of school hours issued by her Department which are now being cited as justification by a board of management for terminating afterschool and sibling hour services at national school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19254/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Neasa Hourigan

705. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the projected timeframe for the demolition of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, and commencement of works on the replacement service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19197/24]

Middle East

Neasa Hourigan

116. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his Department's engagement with the United States regarding the role of the US government in the arming of Israel amid the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, particularly in light of the recent UN Human Rights Council resolution calling for a halt to arms exports to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/24]

Middle East

Neasa Hourigan

117. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the engagement the Embassy of Ireland in Israel has had with the Israeli government regarding the ongoing bombardment of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18655/24]

European Court of Human Rights

Neasa Hourigan

119. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the spending on legal advice, legal action and/or legal expenses related to cases in the European Court of Human Rights on defending Ireland's position in relation to the right to a healthy environment from 2019 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [18535/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

167. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to multinational corporations for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/24]

International Agreements

Neasa Hourigan

317. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health whether in international negotiations on a pandemic treaty the Government have sought to ensure that a TRIPS waiver on vaccines will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18571/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

355. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to social enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/24]

Legislative Measures

Neasa Hourigan

81. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progression of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024; a timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

162. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the reasons for the disparity between domestic electric car charging unit prices and the rate per unit charged for on-street charging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17470/24]

Tax Code

Neasa Hourigan

195. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the working group established to consider the taxation of funds, life assurance policies and other investment products; in particular if he will provide an update on their considerations on the taxation of exchange –traded funds (EFTs); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/24]

Derelict Sites

Neasa Hourigan

359. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the work of the Derelict Sites Act working group; the engagements it has had and plans to have with local authorities; the timeline for when the group will present recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17542/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

415. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 16 April, the date her Department will launch the reformed scheme combining the reasonable accommodation fund and the disability awareness support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17815/24]

Animal Welfare

Neasa Hourigan

487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the protection of the old Irish goat, which according to reports (details supplied), is being hunted for sport and on the verge of extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/24]

Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

681. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the work of the myalgic encephalomyelitis working group established by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18001/24]

Third Level Education

Neasa Hourigan

710. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the work of his Department to secure places for students from this jurisdiction in medical schools in Northern Ireland; whether he has ensured that these students would then be eligible to apply to work in the HSE on graduation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17898/24]

Period Poverty

Neasa Hourigan

174. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure all third-level educational institutions provide free period products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16892/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Neasa Hourigan

131. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Ireland's representation and involvement in the 9th Our Ocean Conference 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16521/24]

Departmental Legal Services

Neasa Hourigan

154. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline, in tabular form, spending on legal advice, legal action and/or legal expenses related to cases in the European Court of Human Rights on defending Ireland's position in relation to the Right to a Healthy Environment from 2019 to 2024 inclusive. [16321/24]

Energy Conservation

Neasa Hourigan

171. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports available, in addition to the solar PV grant scheme, to specifically assist people with a disability to avail of solar panels on their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16199/24]

Public Transport

Neasa Hourigan

200. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if his Department supports a potential accelerated programme for the Cork Luas to be ready for passenger operations in 2031; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16080/24]

Rail Network

Neasa Hourigan

212. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the extension of the Luas to Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16599/24]

Tax Exemptions

Neasa Hourigan

233. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists accredited by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16618/24]

Departmental Funding

Neasa Hourigan

467. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16389/24]

Legislative Process

Neasa Hourigan

524. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has assessed the impact of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 on organisations within the charity sector who run national online raffles; if consideration has been given to providing exemptions around the daytime advertisement requirements outlined in the Bill for organisations within the charity sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16498/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Neasa Hourigan

556. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline Ireland's representation and involvement in the 9th Our Ocean Conference 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16520/24]