Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Rail Network

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

79. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on the intervention of his Department to progress the reopening of Barrow Bridge in advance of the recouping of costs due to the ship strikes from the insurance companies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22121/24]

Active Travel

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

95. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on the expansion of active travel funding for educational and hospital campuses, to include funding for large business parks, and overall expansion of supports for active travel infrastructure, including supports for workplace showers, wet gear storage and secure overnight bike parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22119/24]

Cycling Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

121. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will be attending the EuroVelo and Cycling Tourism Conference 2024 in Denmark, given the potential of cycling and sustainable tourism in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16696/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

148. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance what sanctions are used for businesses operating a gaming business without a gaming licence (as per Revenue's register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22250/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

149. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many prosecutions have taken place of gaming establishments operating without a licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) since 2019, per year and per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22252/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

150. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware there are casinos operating in Waterford without gaming licences in 2024 (as per Revenue's register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22253/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

151. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the details of sanctions taken against casinos or gaming premises operating without an annual or three-month gaming licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) since 2019, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22247/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

152. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many gaming and casino businesses are currently operating without a licence in Ireland (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22248/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

153. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how long gaming and casino businesses are allowed to operate without a licence in Ireland (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) before prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22249/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

154. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the exemptions that are in place for businesses that wish to operate a gaming premises without a gaming licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences); how any such exemptions are assessed and monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22251/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

155. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many gaming machines are currently licensed for Waterford in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22255/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

156. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many gaming machines were licensed in Waterford since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22256/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

157. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue generated through gaming machines licence fees in Waterford gaming premises and casinos since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22257/24]

Departmental Data

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

213. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions of HGV drivers for the contravention of the ban on five-axle vehicles in Waterford, Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Cork from 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22188/24]

Public Sector Pay

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

278. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1695 of 9 April 2024, to report on the progress made with respect to outstanding backdated payments under the section 39 WRC pay agreement; when he expects that any payments still outstanding will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22246/24]

School Enrolments

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

43. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if the forward-planning unit in her Department has identified the shortfall in school places at primary level in the east Waterford area; the plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22007/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

372. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of conservation rangers recruited into the NPWS with location based in Waterford and the wider south east region; the current targets for recruitment nationwide by the end of 2024 and by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21391/24]

Penalty Points System

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

463. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number of penalty points issued for parking in cycling lanes in each year from 2020 to 2023, in tabular form, both in total and on a geographical basis. [21647/24]

Hospital Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

618. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the loss of the suicide crisis assessment nurse within Waterford mental health services; how the HSE plans to fill this role, given the current recruitment embargo; the length of time it is expected that service users in Waterford are to be without this vital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21663/24]

Rural Recreation Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

12. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of interest in the national walks scheme, currently open for expressions of interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20663/24]

Rural Recreation Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

29. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware of the St. Declan's Way Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028 launched recently (details supplied); her views on same, in particular in relation to how best to grow the offering of the route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20662/24]

Rural Recreation Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

324. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her Department's plans to support long, cross-county walking trails in order to optimise their development for the benefit of villages along their routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16697/24]

Education Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

222. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education what specific measures are being taken to address menstruation-related absenteeism in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20733/24]

Education Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

223. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education what specific measures are being taken to address the severe effects period symptoms have on students' ability to participate, engage and learn in educational settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20734/24]

Medical Cards

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

572. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of people who lost access to a medical card due to pension increases in the last Budget; his Department's plans to pre-emptively address the issue in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20506/24]

Departmental Policies

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

616. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health for clarification on the method undertaken to create the endometriosis framework; when we can anticipate a release date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20735/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

89. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to announce further details of the proposed equal participation model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19261/24]

Adoption Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

115. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on how many applications for information have been lodged with both Tusla and the Adoption Authority under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022; how many applications are outstanding beyond the statutory maximum response time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19262/24]

Tax Exemptions

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

36. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he has received the submission from a body (details supplied) regarding a VAT exemption for counsellors and psychotherapists; if a VAT exemption will be forthcoming; the measures put in place by his Department to support counsellors and psychotherapists and to improve access to mental health supports for the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18294/24]

School Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

62. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education when her Department's ICT grant monies will be paid to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18200/24]

School Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

63. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education when her Department minor works grant monies will be paid to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18201/24]

School Meals Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

99. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that children with coeliac disease, which has an incidence rate of 1 in 100 people in Ireland, are unable to avail of the hot school meals programme; the steps her Department can take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18163/24]

Harbours and Piers

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

491. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered approaches to resolving the ongoing issues at Helvick Pier in An Rinn, where the silting up of the harbour prevents the launch of the RNLI boat at periods of very low tide, with obvious consequent safety concerns; if the small fisheries harbour scheme could be amended in order to include works of this kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17755/24]

Allotments Provision

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

221. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position of the publication date for a best-practice guide for the provision of allotments and community gardens by local authorities, as agreed in a meeting with an organisation (details supplied) in June 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

271. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, with regard to the TAMS scheme, he will consider allowing farmhouse and farm bills to be linked in one bill, allow unused electricity sold to the grid to be offset at full price to electricity purchased from the grid or any other measure which would make the scheme more viable for farmers of all types regardless of the amount of electricity they use as part of their farming activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17157/24]

School Transport

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

548. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education following on from the debate at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications (details supplied), if the age limit for school bus drivers can be raised; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15304/24]

Greyhound Industry

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

999. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an individual (details supplied) is currently listed with Rásaíocht Con Éireann as the registered owner or part-owner of any non-coursing greyhound(s); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14772/24]

Public Sector Pay

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1695. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the funding bodies of SOLAS and Education and Training Boards ensure that funding is made available for employers to make agreed backdated payments to their staff under the Section 39 WRC Pay Agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14406/24]

Rail Network

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

83. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on the extension of the daily evening train service from Dublin which terminates at Carlow in order that it can service both Kilkenny and Waterford, enabling better regional connectivity particularly for those studying and working along the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12845/24]

Greenways Provision

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

89. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on optimal alignment of the proposed Waterford to Tramore greenway with a view to maximising its potential for the purposes of utility, local amenity and tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/24]

Overseas Development Aid

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

66. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will consider signing up to an organisation (details supplied) which aims to scale up school meal programmes around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12556/24]

Disability Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1175. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s plans in relation to the recommendation within the Joint Oireachtas Report on Autism on the establishment of a one stop shop for the autism community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12644/24]

Energy Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

87. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the latest meeting of the Interdepartmental Steering Group on Energy Poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7855/24]

Cabinet Committees

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

3. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services will next meet. [8696/24]

National Economic and Social Council

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

10. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [8697/24]

Environmental Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

403. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage recalling the 2019 Dáil declaration of a biodiversity crisis, and acknowledging specifically the negative impact of light pollution on biodiversity, his plans to mitigate this increasingly pervasive problem, including, but not limited to, whether is intended to amend the Building Regulations to this end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10209/24]

Education Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

9. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking in 2024, the European Year of Skills, to increase the uptake of lifelong learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9084/24]

Public Private Partnerships

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

49. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding progress on the public private partnership, bundle 2, specifically with reference to the funding of the engineering building in the Waterford Campus SETU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9083/24]

Hospital Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

476. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health for the steps his Department is taking regarding the provision of a dedicated diabetes care unit in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8661/24]

Hospital Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

477. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated whole-time equivalent consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses, podiatrists and administrative support posts currently dedicated to the outpatient adult diabetes clinic in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/24]