Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out his proposals to alter the current triple lock mechanism governing the deployment of Irish Defence Forces overseas; when he proposes to introduce amending legislation on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21844/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

12. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of personnel who have joined each branch of the Defence Forces in each of the past two years and in the first quarter of 2024; the number who have retired or left each service branch over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21846/24]

Departmental Projects

Brendan Howlin

19. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out the role and function of the new civil-military branch established within his Department; the structure and management of this branch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21845/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

47. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Irish Defence Forces personnel currently deployed on overseas missions; the location of each deployment; the further plans he has, if any, for future deployment overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21847/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Howlin

198. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will personally intervene to assist in an appeal to her Department for a domiciliary care allowance and carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) to avoid severe hardship and allow the child to be discharged from hospital and return home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22184/24]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Howlin

212. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the expected timeframe of the next intake to begin their training at the Garda College, Templemore; the number of Garda recruits in the next intake; whether there will be further intakes in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22187/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

230. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in accordance with the implementation plan for the neurorehabilitation strategy, and the commitment given by the HSE CEO that a community neurorehabilitation team would be provided for CHO 5, if funding will be provided for this team in the immediate future; if it is his intention that this service will be in place in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22162/24]

Hospital Services

Brendan Howlin

248. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure Wexford General Hospital has access to consultant neurology services; the reason Wexford General Hospital is the only model 3 hospital in the south east without outreach neurology clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/24]

Healthcare Policy

Brendan Howlin

249. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if in the determination of health service provision, levels of social deprivation are taken into account by the HSE and his Department; the level of specific extra funding made available to areas with vulnerable populations above the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/24]

Asylum Seekers

Brendan Howlin

77. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the contacts he has had with UK ministers to address the issue of asylum seekers crossing the border from Northern Ireland; the views of the UK government on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20909/24]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

86. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the average waiting time for the issuing of new passports; for the renewal of passports; the issuing of passports to newborn children; the number of staff currently working in the passport office; if he believes that there will be an increase in wait times as we approach the summer season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20910/24]

Middle East

Brendan Howlin

109. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out his actions of recent times to end the Israeli assault on Gaza; the discussions he has had with governments in the region; the contacts he has had with the US government; the attitude of other EU foreign ministers to the ongoing tactics being employed by Israel; the efforts made to secure an immediate ceasefire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20908/24]

Military Aircraft

Brendan Howlin

99. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 21 March 2024, if, in relation to the purchase of a new mid-sized jet aircraft for Ministerial air transport, he will set out the timeline for the completion of this process; the number of tenders received to date; the closing date for tenders; if an advisory panel has been established to make recommendations on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20106/24]

National Development Plan

Brendan Howlin

132. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to set out the capital allocation under the National Development Plan to expand the capacity of the schools of dentistry in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin; the plans he has in the NDP to deliver a new dental school and hospital in UCC and the timeline envisaged for such developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19912/24]

Industrial Development

Brendan Howlin

154. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; the number of site visits organised by the IDA for companies in each of the past three years, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20103/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Howlin

155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20104/24]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

318. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the proposed expansion in the number of dentists to be trained in Ireland, if he will set out the optimum number he believes should be catered for annually in third level colleges in Ireland; his plans to expand the number of dentistry places available at University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin; the plans he has to provide a new dental school and hospital at UCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19910/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Howlin

157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined legislation introduced in France to address the issue of fast fashion; his views on whether this issue should be addressed in Ireland; if he plans to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/24]

Coastal Erosion

Brendan Howlin

165. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 18 April 2024, and in view of the timelines set out by him for the development of an appropriate coastal and flooding protection scheme for Rosslare, County Wexford, if he will ensure that progress of this scheme is accelerated, having regard to the impact of climate change on the coastline at this location; if he will arrange to have interim measures put in place to protect the coastline until the major scheme is developed. [18588/24]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

300. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists that will be trained in Ireland in 2024; the capacity of the existing schools of dentistry; his views on whether the number of dentists currently being trained is sufficient to meet the future needs of a growing Irish population; if he supports the building of a new school of dentistry and dental hospital in University College Cork; the discussions he has had with the Minister for Higher and Further Education in relation to the future provision and training of dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18484/24]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Howlin

329. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress to date of the strategic taskforce on general practice; when he expects the taskforce to publish its conclusions; to set out the groups and individuals contacted to date in the work of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18604/24]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Howlin

330. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of single-person GP practices, by county, registered with the GMS; the number of two-person GP practices, by county, registered with the GMS; the number of larger GP practices, by county, registered with the GMS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18605/24]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Howlin

331. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if there is a central register of locum GPs available for general practice in the State; the number of locum GPs paid from the GMS in 2023; if he is satisfied that there is adequate locum GP cover available to meet requirements in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18606/24]

Coastal Erosion

Brendan Howlin

161. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if funding will be allocated in 2024 to address the ongoing serious coast erosion in Rosslare, County Wexford, and other coastal areas of the county; his plans to protect the coastline in these areas and the total funding allocated to this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17154/24]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Howlin

181. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education the reasons the application of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford for an increase in special education teaching hours has been denied; if the needs of pupils in this school, contained in a 34-page document submitted to the National Council for Special Education, were fully considered; the reasons the case made failed to meet the criteria for additional SET hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17104/24]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

246. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she has reviewed the requirements for family reunification and the granting of stamp 1G visas for spouses and-or dependants of eligible permit holders employed as healthcare assistants in the health service; if she is aware that the refusal of permission to have close family members join such workers in Ireland is having an impact on the recruitment and retention of healthcare assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17126/24]

Rail Network

Brendan Howlin

255. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport his views on the proposal by the National Transport Authority to terminate the Wexford to Dublin Intercity rail link in either Greystones or Wicklow town and to require passengers to disembark there to access commuter DART services; if he accepts that this substantial down grading of a main intercity link is totally unacceptable, if he will contact the NTA and Irish Rail on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15282/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

774. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements to illness benefit for a person (details supplied); if their situation was addressed in the post-Brexit settlement between Ireland and the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14436/24]

Mental Health Services

Brendan Howlin

1209. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the current waiting list for service assessment for CAMHS services in County Wexford; the number of children and adolescents currently receiving services from CAMHS in the county; the number of professionals set out by professional discipline currently working in CAMHS services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13600/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific projects that are being undertaken by Ireland under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, including Permanent Structured Cooperation, PESCO; his plans for future projects under this programme and the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme, ITPP, through NATO’s Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12256/24]

Naval Service

Brendan Howlin

29. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the optimum number and type of naval vessels for the Naval Service; when he expects the Naval Service to acquire a multi-role vessel to replace the L.E. Éithne; the progress made in ensuring that double crews are available for all vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9156/24]

Military Aircraft

Brendan Howlin

38. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the optimum number and type of aircraft for the Air Corps; his plans to acquire new aircraft; the timelines for their delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

46. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress made to date on the acquisition of a primary radar system for Ireland; when he expects such a system to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9155/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

62. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress made on the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces to significantly strengthen the military intelligence and cyber defence capabilities of the Defence Forces and the creation of a joint cyber defence command; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9157/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

134. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific equipment for the Army, Naval Service and Aer Corps that he expects to acquire in 2024; the specific capital allocated to each acquisition in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12275/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Howlin

1508. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for an early assessment for ADHD and ASD for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13050/24]

Human Rights

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the call of the UN Secretary General for an independent investigation into the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians as they sought aid in Gaza; the action he has taken to avoid mass starvation in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11215/24]

United Nations

Brendan Howlin

132. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will set out his views on the escalating security crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the reason for the withdrawal after a 25-year presence of UN Peacekeepers, MONUSCO, from the DRC; if adequate protection will remain in place for the civilian population of the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11214/24]

Media Pluralism

Brendan Howlin

133. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the campaign by more than 50 journalists calling on Israel and Egypt to provide free and unfettered access to Gaza for all foreign media; the steps he will take to achieve this important objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11216/24]

Foreign Policy

Brendan Howlin

134. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the actions he has taken to protest to Russia on foot of the death in custody of Alexei Navalny; if he believes that the number of persons accredited to the Russian Embassy in Dublin are appropriate for a country of Ireland's size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11217/24]

Human Rights

Brendan Howlin

95. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the representations he has made to the Iraqi authorities regarding the illegal detention of an Irish citizen and anti-corruption advocate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10531/24]

School Admissions

Brendan Howlin

314. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education the plans to address the shortage of secondary school places in the Greystones Municipal District; if she is aware of the population growth in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10535/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Brendan Howlin

126. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if a capital allocation to construct the new 97-bed block at Wexford General Hospital, which has full planning permission, is included in this year's capital programme for the HSE; when he expects construction to begin on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9426/24]

Road Projects

Brendan Howlin

123. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe envisaged for the completion of the M11 motorway from Oylegate to Rosslare Europort; when the location of the required motorway service station will be known; when he expects construction to begin; when the motorway will be open to traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9158/24]

Legislative Measures

Brendan Howlin

296. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to commence part 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022; if he intends for these parts of the Act to be in force before the upcoming European and local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9286/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

405. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a community neuro-rehabilitation team will be put in place for CHO 5; if funding has been allocated in 2024 to provide this service; when recruitment for this team will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9145/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Howlin

129. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education the reason the pension abatement of a person (details supplied) who worked on occasions for WWETB after his retirement was calculated on a daily basis; when a daily calculation of days worked, regardless of hours worked, was introduced by her Department for pension abatement purposes; if this method of calculation applies to all employees under the auspices of her Department; if this method of calculation applied to employees of ETBs prior to the issuing of circular letter 0003/2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8409/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Howlin

187. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if, pending the submission of additional information requested for a disability allowance for a person (details supplied), she will allow continued payment of the allowance until eligibility has been established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8438/24]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Howlin

275. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that it is now virtually impossible for any new patient in Wexford town to be accepted by any of the existing GP practices, which are at capacity in terms of service delivery; the plans he intends to put in place to address this critical health issue, which is having a significant impact both on the health and well-being of the existing growing Wexford population and on the prospects of attracting new people to live and work in the town; if he plans to provide any particular incentives to attract new doctors to work in general practice in Wexford, or to existing practices to expand their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8450/24]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Howlin

179. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance when the revised disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme will be introduced; when the criteria for issuing a primary medical certificate for his scheme will be revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7180/24]