Parliamentary questions

Construction Industry

Holly Cairns

143. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on introducing regulations concerning the use of rock-breaking equipment. [14303/23]

School Transport

Holly Cairns

179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will reduce the eligibility for the school transport scheme to 1.2 kilometres for both primary and post-primary students. [14293/23]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

194. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking in response to an inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, into an intellectual disability facility (details supplied). [14296/23]

Human Rights

Holly Cairns

196. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on removing the State’s reservations to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14291/23]

Human Rights

Holly Cairns

197. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the ratification of the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14292/23]

Health Services Staff

Holly Cairns

207. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his engagement with the Minister for Health to increase the number of graduates from clinical therapies, including but not limited to occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychology, to address shortages in the health services. [14294/23]

Eating Disorders

Holly Cairns

264. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the number of eating disorders teams currently in place in each CHO; the number of staff currently assigned to each team; the number of vacancies; the plans to recruit the required staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14297/23]

Eating Disorders

Holly Cairns

265. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the amount spent on eating disorder services for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, inclusive. [14298/23]

Mental Health Services

Holly Cairns

266. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the amount of unspent moneys from mental health services budgets returned to the Exchequer relating to 2022. [14299/23]

Ambulance Service

Holly Cairns

267. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the shortages of ambulances in Cork south west. [14300/23]

Ambulance Service

Holly Cairns

268. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the average response time of ambulances in west County Cork; the number of ambulances ordinarily based at each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14301/23]

Maritime Jurisdiction

Holly Cairns

283. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to monitor the activities of super trawlers operating in Irish territorial waters, including his views on requiring CCTV monitoring to be installed on such vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14289/23]

Maritime Jurisdiction

Holly Cairns

284. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to work with European counterparts to prohibit the operation of super trawlers operating in the territorial waters of member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14290/23]

Business Supports

Holly Cairns

136. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a grant for self-employed disabled people and disabled entrepreneurs to employ a non-disabled person to help them run their business. [12775/23]

Industrial Relations

Holly Cairns

143. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure that staff receive their full wages in a timely manner from a former employer. [13053/23]

Co-operative Sector

Holly Cairns

155. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will engage with the concerning the Co-operative Societies Bill 2022 (details supplied). [14003/23]

Broadcasting Sector

Holly Cairns

171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to ensure that all television stations and visually-based broadcast companies operating in Ireland are required to have subtitles. [12777/23]

Broadband Infrastructure

Holly Cairns

172. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of high-speed rural broadband in Cork south west. [12778/23]

Postal Services

Holly Cairns

173. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that new Eircodes are assigned in a timely manner rather than in batches every few months. [12779/23]

Broadband Infrastructure

Holly Cairns

174. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure the provision of broadband to Brookdale, Riverstick, County Cork. [12780/23]

Energy Prices

Holly Cairns

175. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide his response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty calling for 'A Community Energy Advice service would provide a local, tailored service to support people to access the financial advice they need, to install 'quick win' measures, and to apply for appropriate retrofitting grants'. [12781/23]

Energy Prices

Holly Cairns

176. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide his response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty which highlights 'the remaining gaps in retrofitting support, this includes the ongoing lack of strategic action to address poor energy efficiency in the private rented sector: we welcome announcements of future regulation, but a clear pathway is needed to ensure tenants see the benefits of improvements in housing quality'. [12782/23]

Energy Prices

Holly Cairns

177. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide his response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty. [12784/23]

Postal Services

Holly Cairns

189. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that new eircodes are added to applications (details supplied) and other common navigating tools in a timely manner. [13227/23]

Postal Services

Holly Cairns

190. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure that An Post uses the eircodes system. [13228/23]

Pension Provisions

Holly Cairns

204. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to ensure the implementation of a pensions agreement from a semi-State body, including the back payments recipients are entitled to (details supplied). [13464/23]

Driver Test

Holly Cairns

237. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to address the backlog in people waiting to take driving tests. [12480/23]

Driver Test

Holly Cairns

238. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify why an individual’s (details supplied) driving test continues to be delayed. [12481/23]

Pension Provisions

Holly Cairns

239. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to address issues concerning the pensions of former and current workers in a State transport body (details supplied). [12483/23]

Electric Vehicles

Holly Cairns

240. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide public electric vehicle chargers in Allihies, Castletownbere and Eyeries, County Cork. [12484/23]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Holly Cairns

241. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that individuals who choose to tax their car on a quarterly basis are not charged extra than those who do so annually. [12485/23]

Marine Accidents

Holly Cairns

251. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport with his responsibilities under the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993; and the steps he is taking in relation to MV Alta in Ballycotton, including addressing health and safety concerns in relation to persons travelling to view the vessel. [12758/23]

Public Transport

Holly Cairns

252. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on ensuring that Castletownbere is classified as a larger town within the Connection Ireland plan to ensure that the Beara peninsula is assigned the necessary scale of routes [12806/23]

Bus Services

Holly Cairns

253. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an additional sheltered bus stop on the western side of Bandon to facilitate elderly residents. [12807/23]

Bus Services

Holly Cairns

254. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that a sheltered bus stop is put in place in Ballinhassig, County Cork. [12808/23]

Bus Services

Holly Cairns

255. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to ensure the return of the Tralee to London Eurolines route. [12809/23]

Electric Vehicles

Holly Cairns

256. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to regulate e-scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12810/23]

Public Transport

Holly Cairns

257. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of when the announced Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, Skibbereen to Killarney bus route will commence operations. [12811/23]

Public Transport

Holly Cairns

275. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on the situation where private operators could not participate in the initiative on the February bank holiday weekend whereby Leap card holders could bring another person for free on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13237/23]

Public Transport

Holly Cairns

293. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to improve the frequency and expand the range of local link services in Cork south west. [13475/23]

Public Transport

Holly Cairns

294. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to ensure frequent public transport options between Bandon, County Cork and Munster Technological University and University College Cork. [13476/23]

Pension Provisions

Holly Cairns

300. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will meet with a group (details supplied) concerning issues relating to a semi-State transport body pension scheme. [14020/23]

Driver Test

Holly Cairns

301. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the actions that he has taken to improve waiting times for driving tests [14021/23]

Driver Test

Holly Cairns

302. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details on the current waiting times for each driving test centre, including the number of people waiting for tests and waiting to be invited to apply for a test, and monthly break down, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14022/23]

Electric Vehicles

Holly Cairns

314. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure that the fuel grant element of the disabled drivers' and passengers scheme facilitates disabled driver charging their electric car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12785/23]

Rental Sector

Holly Cairns

315. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that the rent-a-room scheme is extended to allow households that have an available bedroom to rent it to an asylum seeker. [12786/23]

Equality Issues

Holly Cairns

374. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to address rates of online abuse targeted at LGBTQ+ people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13715/23]

Equality Issues

Holly Cairns

392. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to the online trolling and other online abuse targeted at LGBTQ+ young people. [13691/23]

Gorse Burning

Holly Cairns

394. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the operation of Sections 39 and 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 and Section 7 of the Heritage Act 2018 to address repeated incidents occurring annually of illegal land burning. [14001/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Holly Cairns

411. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify what health and safety standards local authorities are supposed to adhere to in the provision of emergency accommodation. [12475/23]

Rental Sector

Holly Cairns

416. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that any named person on a HAP application is provided with accommodation alongside their partners also named on the application. [12800/23]

Special Areas of Conservation

Holly Cairns

417. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline all funding options available to persons or non-profit groups carrying out stewardship activities of special areas of conservation. [12801/23]

Wildlife Protection

Holly Cairns

418. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure the protection of hedgerow habitats. [12802/23]

Housing Schemes

Holly Cairns

440. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the limits on the first home scheme will next be reviewed. [13056/23]

Housing Schemes

Holly Cairns

441. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure that the limits for the first home scheme are being consistently applied in all local authorities. [13057/23]

Rental Sector

Holly Cairns

454. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to assist persons over 65 years in long-term rental accommodation who are seeking to purchase their own homes. [13235/23]

Derelict Sites

Holly Cairns

455. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to address dereliction in Bandon, Ballineen and Enniskeane, County Cork. [13236/23]

National Parks

Holly Cairns

456. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure that all policies concerning National Parks and Nature Reserves consider the needs of individuals with disabilities. [13240/23]

Planning Issues

Holly Cairns

489. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide his response to the recommendation in the UCC report Housing and Sustaining Communities on the West Cork Islands to develop a planning process that is more responsive to the needs of island residents, ensure greater clarity in planning policy, and proactive communication of this policy, to island residents or their representative housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13711/23]

Island Communities

Holly Cairns

490. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide his response to the recommendation in the UCC report Housing and Sustaining Communities on the West Cork Islands to 'Extend the Croí Cónaíthe Fund/Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme to the islands and increase the funding available'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13712/23]

Inshore Fisheries

Holly Cairns

491. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with inshore fishers, their representative organisations, and their producer organisations concerning the development of offshore renewable projects and their potential impact on their livelihoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13714/23]

Homeless Persons Supports

Holly Cairns

512. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what course of action is available to an individual if they do not qualify for social housing and find themselves homeless due to lack of private rentals available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14012/23]

Housing Policy

Holly Cairns

513. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with self-catering accommodation providers in rural areas concerning the impact of the Short-term Lettings Enforcement Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14013/23]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

514. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to address badger baiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14014/23]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

515. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of recorded badger baiting incidents for the years 2021 and 2022; the number of prosecutions and convictions of persons for badger baiting since 1 January 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14015/23]

eGovernment Services

Holly Cairns

516. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with and assist a public body under his remit (details supplied) with a view to improving their online platform, including the restoration of an online chat query service and a review of the online registration process carried in consultation with the services users [14016/23]

Citizenship Applications

Holly Cairns

522. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure the timely processing of an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied). [12464/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Holly Cairns

528. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to address the backlog of applications to the foreign birth registry system. [12787/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Holly Cairns

529. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address the delays in an individual's application to the foreign birth registry system (details supplied). [12788/23]

Fisheries Protection

Holly Cairns

578. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his engagement with the Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine concerning the State's response to non-Irish registered super trawlers fishing in Irish territorial waters. [13984/23]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Holly Cairns

582. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to secure the release of an Irish citizen imprisoned in another jurisdiction (details supplied). [14004/23]

School Textbooks

Holly Cairns

617. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify how the free schoolbook scheme will be rolled out; if the scheme will be administered from publishers, wholesalers or bookshops. [12461/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

618. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify her plans for the continued funding and development of early intervention ASD classes. [12462/23]

School Enrolments

Holly Cairns

647. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to address the over subscription to national schools in a town (details supplied). [12765/23]

School Staff

Holly Cairns

648. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that an additional teacher is assigned to a national school (details supplied) under the criteria alleviating some of the pressure on class sizes at infant level. [12766/23]

State Examinations

Holly Cairns

649. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details on the date set for the issuing of Leaving Certificate results. [12767/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

650. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will immediately make available the SNA allocations for secondary schools in Cork south west for the 2022-2023 academic year. [12768/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

651. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure a student (details supplied) who requires a laptop as assistive technology is provided with this essential equipment. [12770/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

652. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to roll out early intervention ASD classes to all schools who have identified this need. [12771/23]

School Accommodation

Holly Cairns

653. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking in relation to a shortage of spaces in secondary schools in Clonakilty, County Cork. [12772/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

654. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with a group (details supplied) concerning the establishment of a special needs school in the Cork south west. [12773/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

655. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that all schools in Cork south west have been properly assessed and assigned the necessary number of SNAs an resource hours for their needs this academic year. [12774/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

748. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that all students with ASD in Cork south west will be supplied with a secondary school place in their locality. [13462/23]

School Curriculum

Holly Cairns

749. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education her views on introducing neurodiversity lessons into the primary school curriculum to help young people learn about different conditions in a structured and inclusive manner. [13463/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Holly Cairns

773. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her engagement with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since 1 January 2021 concerning the disparity for accreditation of similar SNA courses in two different third-level institutions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13692/23]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

803. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will engage with a group (details supplied) concerning a shortfall in funding the provision of disability support services. [12477/23]

State Pensions

Holly Cairns

804. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a response to an organisation’s (details supplied) call for an €11 increase in the State pension. [12478/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

805. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide funding for individuals to avail of medical microblading on similar terms to the provision of wigs and hair pieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease. [12479/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Holly Cairns

818. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide her response to a recommendation in a report (details supplied) concerning energy poverty calling for the benchmarking of social welfare rates against what it costs to live a dignified life in Ireland. [12804/23]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

819. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she has taken in response to the recommendation in the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process that full basic supplementary welfare allowance be given to asylum seekers who are not in direct provision and give asylum-seeking children access to the child benefit. [12805/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

836. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on putting in place a grant to assist blind visually impaired people having difficulty accessing taxi services due to increasing costs [13472/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

837. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the criteria for the free travel scheme to allow all persons over 66 years of age get free travel for a companion, regardless of martial/civil partnership status, as the current scheme discriminates against single persons. [13473/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Holly Cairns

844. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department corresponds with recipients of weekly social protection to suggest they can receive these payments directly into a current account rather than accessing the payments through the Post Office; if she will provide the rationale for this approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13721/23]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

868. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that a child (details supplied) receives the necessary therapies from their CDNT in a timely manner. [14009/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Holly Cairns

890. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the provision of community neuro-rehabilitation teams in each CHO. [12455/23]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Holly Cairns

891. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to oversee the services provided to Ukrainian refugees accommodated in hotels. [12458/23]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

892. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with a group (details supplied) concerning a shortfall in funding for a direct provision centre. [12459/23]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Holly Cairns

893. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address transphobia. [12460/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Holly Cairns

894. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children and young persons on waiting lists for an assessment of need in each LHO, in tabular form, with a monthly breakdown of waiting times. [12465/23]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

895. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the staffing to caseload ratios used to calculate the numbers, types and scale of therapists and clinicians required for each CDNT; how regularly these ratios are reviewed; and what processes are in place to reconfigure services according to local needs. [12466/23]