Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

37. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total military provided accommodation available at present for Defence Forces personnel; the plans he has to extend this provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13683/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

46. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has any plans to review the triple lock process for authorising Irish military participation in overseas deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13680/23]

Disaster Response

Brendan Howlin

92. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the assistance provided to Turkey and Syria following the recent earthquake; the amount of aid that has been disbursed; the plans for further assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13612/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

100. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures he has put in place to ensure there are no delays to the issuing of passports this summer; the number of applications that are on hand at present; the current processing time for a passport application for an adult and for a child, respectively; the number of passports that have been issued in each month of the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13613/23]

European Union

Brendan Howlin

113. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has engaged with the government of Moldova; if any assistance has been offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13615/23]

Ukraine War

Brendan Howlin

122. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of bilateral aid provided to Ukraine in 2022; the amount committed to in 2023; the additional supports or funds Ireland has made available this year; if he has sought an increase in assistance above the current allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13616/23]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Howlin

192. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the current waiting times for applications to SEAI (details supplied); his plans to shorten the waiting time for applicants to SEAI for these urgent environmental works; the resources he will provide to SEAI to expedite these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13314/23]

Rental Sector

Brendan Howlin

327. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the application of the rental tax credit, to ensure that the children of a property owner who are registered tenants in the property with the RTB paying a market rent, can avail of this credit on the same basis as any other renter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13140/23]

School Transport

Brendan Howlin

729. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) who was denied a place on the school bus to their secondary school in 2022 although they availed of this bus for the previous three years, is provided with transport in the coming school year, which is their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13323/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

946. 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 CHO5; if funding has been allocated in 2023 to provide this service; when recruitment for this team will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

970. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a liaison public health nurse, LPHN, for the children's disability network team in Wexford will be provided; if he is aware that in the absence of this post, the home support resource manager is unable to provide home support workers for people in urgent need of this support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13503/23]

Hospital Facilities

Brendan Howlin

1359. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health given the urgent need to fast track the re-build and restoration of Wexford General Hospital, and ensure that vital services are restored there as soon as possible, if he will use the powers available to him under Section 181(2)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to remove the necessity to go through a planning process in the reconstruction of the damaged building and the provision of temporary or modular facilities, and to commence the building of the planned 96-bed unit at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13142/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Brendan Howlin

302. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No.462 of 14 November 2022 concerning a person (details supplied); if the application has been processed yet; if he will set out the expected timeframe for the completion of the consideration of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12079/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

331. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11462/23]

EU Regulations

Brendan Howlin

82. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has concerns regarding the negative impact on Ireland of the relaxation of EU State aid rules which has seen France and Germany account for 77% of the €672 million EU-approved programmes since 22 March 2022 following the Franco German Leaders’ meeting in Paris; the discussions he has had with other EU partners on this potential competitive distortion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4005/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Howlin

369. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the criteria used to determine eligibility for the pandemic bonus payment for frontline workers in community disability support centres who worked during the pandemic, in particular if he will set out the criteria used to determine eligibility at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7798/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brendan Howlin

373. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the waiting times and the number on the waiting list in each public hospital to be seen by a consultant dermatologist; the list of hospitals that use outsourced private dermatology services for both diagnosis and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7807/23]

Health Services

Brendan Howlin

544. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange to have a mammogram provided for a person (details supplied) who was first called for a mammogram in November 2019, and due to Covid delays, has still not received this test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6494/23]

Medicinal Products

Brendan Howlin

613. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 7 July 2022, if he will provide an update on the results of the deliberation of the HSE of the medicines management programme assessment for the use of the medication, following the reply received from the HSE in relation to the provision of affordable cariban medication for women suffering from hyperemesis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6644/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

25. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has met or is intending to meet with a group (details supplied) since assuming office as Minister. [5153/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

42. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific additional equipment for the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps that he expects to acquire during 2023; the capital allocated to these acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5152/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

65. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress to date in the implementation of the Working Time Directive in the Defence Forces; if he intends to apply the Directive to the Defence Forces in the same way as it is applied to An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and other public sector organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5154/23]

Departmental Properties

Brendan Howlin

72. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to bring the derelict houses in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare, back into the State housing stock and make them available once again for service members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5150/23]

International Protection

Brendan Howlin

119. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has been contacted by other Departments to assist in the housing or placement of refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5165/23]

Middle East

Brendan Howlin

118. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to date to sanction the Iranian authorities responsible for the brutal suppression of peaceful protest; his views on whether the Iran Revolutionary Guard should be listed as a terrorist entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4001/23]

Human Rights

Brendan Howlin

123. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current situation in relation to an Irish citizen (details supplied) detained in Iran since October 2022; his efforts to secure their release including his contact with the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Ambassador of Iran in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4002/23]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

127. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current state of negotiation between the EU and the UK on finding an agreed settlement on the Northern Ireland protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4004/23]

Disaster Response

Brendan Howlin

141. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the support by way of money, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief that Ireland has sent to Somalia and other drought-impacted nations in the Horn of Africa enduring mass starvation; the plans the European Union and other international organisations have to bring relief to the millions of persons affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4003/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Howlin

601. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the level of consultation with private nursing homes to determine the ratio, in relation to statements made by his Department concerning dependency levels within private nursing homes; if he will set out the average cost per resident in HSE-operated nursing homes for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Howlin

602. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by private nursing home operators at the recruitment by the HSE of trained staff from their sector who have been recruited by private nursing homes from abroad and have had their visas and travel arrangements processed at a considerable cost to the private nursing homes concerned; the steps he has taken to ensure that attractive terms and conditions are available for nurses and care workers in both the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3994/23]

School Textbooks

Brendan Howlin

365. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education the progress made to date on the roll-out of her Department’s programme for free primary school books; the engagement she has had to date with the education partners and other stake holders regarding this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3233/23]

Public Sector Pay

Brendan Howlin

381. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the pay claim submitted on behalf of community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3228/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

611. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the full authorised staffing numbers and positions for County Wexford’s children’s disability network team; the staff positions currently vacant; the efforts being made to fill these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3237/23]

Work Permits

Brendan Howlin

14. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63349/22]

Tax Credits

Brendan Howlin

388. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the new rent relief scheme for parents who are paying their children’s rent while studying at third level, if he will extend the scheme to cover parents of students who are paying for ‘digs’-type accommodation or ‘rent a room’ accommodation; if he will ensure that the parents of students studying in the EU and UK whose course fees are eligible for tax relief will also be entitled to tax relief for accommodation paid for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2407/23]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Howlin

605. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will propose a similar agreement to the proposal by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister to the US Government to agree a maximum number of representatives in each of their respective diplomatic missions in order to fix the maximum number of Russian diplomats in Dublin equal to the number of Irish diplomats in Moscow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63534/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

911. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 14 September 2022, if she will now make a similar decision in line with a number of EU member states in relation to the EU ACSH recommendation to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational injury under the occupational injuries benefit scheme for front-line health workers, in view of the fact that the majority of EU member states have now accepted same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1598/23]

Legal Aid

Brendan Howlin

1062. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if he met with the Legal Aid Board in 2022; if he has received any request from the board for additional staff resources in recent times; if he will review the supports currently available for this important work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63153/22]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

1086. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an application for a visa (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63710/22]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Howlin

1098. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if he will set out the establishment number and the current number in the Garda Reserve force; if the Garda Commissioner plans to recruit additional members during the course of 2023; if a review has taken place of the role and function of the Garda Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1017/23]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

1142. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) against the refusal of a family reunion visa in respect of their spouse who wishes to join them through their period of study for the completion of a PhD in the South East Technological University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2002/23]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

1143. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made in relation to a family reunion visa in respect of the spouse and child of a person (details supplied); if he will give favourable consideration to allowing this person's spouse and child to join them for the duration of their PhD research work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2005/23]

Care Services

Brendan Howlin

1320. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the application for home care supports for a person (details supplied) who has had a leg amputated and is in need of assistance in their home but has been told that they must be of 65 years to avail of HSE supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63733/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

1381. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out a clear timeframe for the payment of the pandemic bonus to all eligible front-line healthcare workers, both in the public and private sectors, who faced additional risks in the performance of their duties during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1020/23]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Howlin

1901. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a feedback mechanism to communities and groups who failed to obtain funding under the town and villages renewal scheme, to ensure that applicants can learn the reason that their applications were not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63532/22]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Howlin

313. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has had the opportunity to meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the vacant apartments in New Ross, following his recent visit to the town; if he will set out the response that he has received from the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62170/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

391. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a disallowance of carer’s allowance and carer’s support in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61701/22]

EU Bodies

Brendan Howlin

477. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if it is intended that Ireland would join the European Public Prosecution Office; if it is desirable that all EU Member States be subject to the same office and system of protection of European taxpayers’ money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60714/22]

Community Care

Brendan Howlin

646. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of community neuro-rehabilitation teams in place in each CHO area; if it is his intention to establish such a team in each CHO area; if he will set out the timeframe for the establishment of such teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60713/22]

Departmental Consultations

Brendan Howlin

317. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the discussions that she has had to date with unions representing civilian staff working with An Garda Síochána in advance of drafting of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill; if it is intended to change the terms and conditions of such staff; if she will meet the unions to discuss this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59975/22]