Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Further and Higher Education

Colm Burke

679. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the SUSI grant scheme to recipients of the back-to-work education allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3047/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Colm Burke

19. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current status of progress toward a new elective hospital for Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1927/24]

Hospital Services

Colm Burke

67. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to clarify the current position in respect of the transfer of ophthalmology services from Cork University Hospital to South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital, in view of the fact that a new outpatient's unit and two new theatres have been built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1928/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Colm Burke

82. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what progress has been made in reducing the time period for electrical-instrument and mechanical apprentices to attend college placement at a facility (details supplied) from the date an apprenticeship commences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2099/24]

Further and Higher Education

Colm Burke

122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what progress has been made in increase radiation therapy at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2100/24]

Driver Test

Colm Burke

148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driver tests across all test centres nationally, in tabular form; what progress has been made to date in reducing the five or six month waiting time for driving tests experienced by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2114/24]

Road Safety

Colm Burke

149. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to address the increase in road deaths over the past five years, with the exception of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2151/24]

Road Safety

Colm Burke

150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to address road safety challenges nationally and to reduce death and injuries of road users, pedestrians and cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2152/24]

Road Safety

Colm Burke

151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to address road safety challenges in Cork, in view that Cork in most instances is in the top two counties for most road traffic fatalities in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2153/24]

Road Safety

Colm Burke

152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to prioritise the safety of road users and if consideration would be given to increased road policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2154/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she could advise on an application for an extension for a school (details supplied); what progress has been made to date on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2148/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

74. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider making properties in the private rented sector eligible for funding equivalent to the better energy warmer homes scheme for low-income tenants and their landlords, based on a tenant receiving the housing assistance payment and having a long term lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56658/23]

Public Transport

Colm Burke

184. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will set aside increased funding in respect of the rural public transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56651/23]

Tax Credits

Colm Burke

318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a refundable tax credit that would return unused portions of the PAYE tax credit to low-income workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56657/23]

Appointments to State Boards

Colm Burke

321. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance what action his Department is taking to appoint a board for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal to deal with appeals under the disabled drivers and passengers tax relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56696/23]

Tax Code

Colm Burke

329. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will engage with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of a different approach now being adopted by the Revenue Commissioners regarding the VAT 58 refund claims by non-VAT registered farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56894/23]

Tax Code

Colm Burke

330. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if due consideration will be given in coherence with Food Vision 2030, to the review and optimisation of the tax treatment of investment by agtech companies in research and development for products and services which can support sustainability goals at farm level,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56899/23]

Illicit Trade

Colm Burke

343. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance for a breakdown of the number of seizures of illicit fentanyl by the Revenue Commissioners for each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; the estimated street value or worth of those seizures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1060/24]

Illicit Trade

Colm Burke

345. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance for a breakdown of the number of seizures of ketamine by the Revenue Commissioners for each of the years 2018 to 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; the estimated street value or worth of those seizures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1097/24]

Business Supports

Colm Burke

454. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the increased cost of business scheme announced as part of Budget 2024 will be made available to businesses along with the criteria for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1932/24]