Parliamentary questions

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

411. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he was aware of recent price increases in horse passport registration fees by Horse Sport Ireland; if he has any role in setting prices for foal passports; if he can reverse the decision of the HSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20664/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

412. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024 and Question No. 1046 of 20 March 2024; if he will publish the respective bid tenders received in the public interest from bidders in the marketing of the Irish sport horse industry contract awarded in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

413. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 168 of 6 March 2024, and 1052 of 20 March 2024, if he will confirm the nature and terms of an exit agreement entered into by Horse Sport Ireland in January 2022 with a named individual (details supplied); confirm if his Department paid the costs of such an exit agreement; to provide the full costs of such exit agreement, referred to as “goodbye money”; provide the breakdown of any associated other costs to conclude the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20666/24]

Departmental Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

414. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to name the management and delivery team members named in each tender submission received by his Department in April 2022 from bidders seeking the marketing contracts from his Department for the marketing of the horse sport industry (details supplied); to provide the names and qualifications of each member of the teams involved in each bid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20667/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

415. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department or any entity funded by his Department has developed a marketing plan for the promotion of the Irish horse sport industry; if such a plan exists, the duration of the plan; those consulted in the formulation of the plan by his Department or third parties; and if he will publish such a plan on the Department website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20668/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

416. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of individuals retained by the Irish Horse Board since 1 January 2023 in either employment or contract for service roles; the roles and qualifications of each person; the salary band associated with each role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20669/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

417. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of individuals retained by the Horse Sport Ireland on 1 January 2022 in either employment or contract for service roles in the marketing of the Irish horse sport industry; the roles and qualifications of each person; the salary band associated with each role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20670/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

418. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 157 of 6 March 2024 and 1043 and 1044 of 20 March 2024, to confirm the names of panel members involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender, equine breeding services and studbook tenders offer by his Department in February 2022 in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20671/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

419. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 157 of 6 March 2024 and 1043 and 1044 of 20 March 2024, the recorded or registered conflicts of interests declared by each panel member and official involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender, breeding services and studbook tenders received by his Department in February 2022 in tabular format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20672/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

420. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 157 of 6 March 2024 and 1043 and 1044 of 20 March 2024, with respect to evaluation of three tenders for marketing services for the horse sport industry, national equine breeding services and studbook operations for the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught Studbooks, the steps he took to ensure that he was “satisfied that all panel members of the evaluation team were impartial and independent in the context of procurement procedure”; if he reassured himself that no panel member applied personally or professionally to the incumbent the Horse Sport Ireland for funding in any of the five years prior to tender evaluation; if he reassured himself that no panel member or their extended family members registered or owned horses registered with the incumbent; if he reassured himself that no panel member or officials involved in any of the review stages held personal relationships with any prospective bidder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/24]

Departmental Policies

Michael Healy-Rae

421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if donkeys are worth anything when it comes to stocking densities and fulfilling requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20854/24]

Disabilities Assessments

James Lawless

422. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress his Department is achieving in reducing the waiting list for assessment of needs for children on the HSE waiting list; if he could detail the waiting time remaining for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/24]

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]

Childcare Services

Róisín Shortall

424. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will consider allowing for childcare assistants who are undergoing training to be included in staff-children ratios, provided they are under the supervision of fully qualified childcare staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20188/24]

Legislative Measures

David Stanton

425. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to introduce the Heads of Bill to legislate for working mothers who get cancer in pregnancy, or postpartum, and are subsequently forced to use up their maternity leave while getting treated for and recovering from a cancer diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20191/24]

Departmental Regulations

Richard Bruton

426. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of submissions from the respective stakeholders which have been received to date in respect of the draft regulations for the child-minding sector; if he is aware that some providers fear a very legalistic compliance approach from Tusla that might not appreciate the essence of care within a home setting compared to a business setting; and how he intends to proceed in finalising and introducing the new regime. [20251/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

427. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who were in IPAS-provided accommodation at the end of March 2024; the number that were persons in respect of whom the IPAS has been informed that they have been refused international protection and leave to remain but have not received a deportation order. [20272/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

428. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants who were awaiting an offer of IPAS-provided accommodation at the end of March 2024. [20273/24]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

429. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20309/24]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

430. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will obtain a report from a service (details supplied) regarding their capacity to find placements for children completing their school years; and if any steps can be taken to ensure suitable placements and transport to the placement, where necessary. [20326/24]