Parliamentary questions

Post Office Network

Violet-Anne Wynne

76. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a contingency plan to protect the network of rural post offices considering the recent warning by a union (details supplied) that up to 200 further post offices could close in the next 12 to 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29466/21]

Electricity Generation

David Stanton

77. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the potential benefits for coastal communities of having offshore electricity infrastructure located in close proximity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29374/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the official complaint by an association (details supplied) to the United Nations and the Ombudsman for Children regarding the systemic discrimination against children and families by his Department in the context of its childcare policy under the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28588/21]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

2. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to deal with the increased fees charged by private crèches and early childhood care providers in light of the fact that some providers (details supplied) increased fees by 20% recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28749/21]

Youth Services

Kathleen Funchion

3. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he is taking to address the shortfall in volunteers in the youth sector given that the sector relies heavily on volunteer hours and that many services are now facing closure due to a serious shortfall in properly trained volunteers. [28589/21]

Special Educational Needs

Matt Shanahan

4. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline details of the funding programme to increase access to sensory rooms and special needs assistant supports being considered over the life of the 33rd Dáil for preschool children; and the amount of funding that has been allocated under capital plans to date. [28744/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Thomas Pringle

5. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the discussions his officials are undertaking with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the importance of preserving possible burial grounds related to mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29011/21]

Direct Provision System

Gino Kenny

6. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s policy on the direct provision system; the timeframe for ending same; if he will report on recent comments in the media on the issue and the programme for Government policy on direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42530/20]

Family Resource Centres

Martin Browne

7. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the amount of time that administrators in family resource centres spend making applications for funding. [28597/21]

Child and Family Agency

Jennifer Whitmore

9. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts his Department is making to limit the impact of the recent HSE cyberattack on Tusla services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28456/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

10. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts his Department has undertaken to increase the number of childcare places in Dublin city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26126/21]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

11. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details regarding in-person inspections of direct provision centres during level 5 public health restrictions in the first five months of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26715/21]

Direct Provision System

Paul McAuliffe

28. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of the White paper to end direct provision and to establish a new international protection support service including progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28729/21]

Direct Provision System

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

40. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date on the implementation of the White paper to end direct provision and replace it with a new international protection support service; the expected timeline for the implementation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28453/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers who have been granted permission to remain in Ireland but are still living in direct provision centres; and the reason they remain in direct provision. [28442/21]

Direct Provision System

John Lahart

81. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consultation processes with key stakeholders in place and planned under the White Paper to end direct provision to ensure that measures reflect the needs of those most directly impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28728/21]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

92. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding in-person inspections of direct provision centres given that public health guidelines have been reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26716/21]

Departmental Programmes

Neale Richmond

1. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the ESRI and shared island unit publication on economic and social opportunities for increased co-operation on a shared island. [27998/21]

Departmental Programmes

Mary Lou McDonald

2. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the research funding initiative related to the shared island initiative of his Department. [23897/21]

Departmental Programmes

Neale Richmond

3. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island dialogue of 9 May 2021; and the details of the next dialogues to be held. [26070/21]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island unit of his Department. [26243/21]

Departmental Programmes

Paul Murphy

5. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island unit of his Department. [26246/21]

Departmental Programmes

Gino Kenny

6. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island unit of his Department. [26250/21]

Departmental Programmes

Alan Kelly

7. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island unit of his Department. [26502/21]

Departmental Programmes

Mick Barry

8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach the status of the shared island unit of his Department. [27887/21]

Departmental Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

9. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach if the joint research programme of his Department and the ESRI on the economic and social opportunities from increased co-operation on the shared island will include an analysis of the potential benefits of increased co-operation in third level education and the actions necessary to facilitate that co-operation. [27950/21]

Cabinet Committees

Cian O'Callaghan

10. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that addresses matters relating to equality last met. [28337/21]

Cabinet Committees

Alan Kelly

11. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality last met, and when it will next meet. [26236/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that addresses matters relating to the arts and culture will next meet. [26507/21]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

13. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee which addresses matters relating to equality will next meet. [26509/21]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

14. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality last met; and when it will next meet. [27888/21]

Departmental Policies

Claire Kerrane

1. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeline for the roll-out of the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 strategy as promised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28239/21]

Departmental Policies

Seán Sherlock

2. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which the €5 million fund to support the development of Ireland’s first national network of remote working hubs will work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28176/21]

Rural Schemes

Claire Kerrane

3. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the specific measures in place to address the issue of vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages; the financial supports and incentives that are in place to assist persons with renovating and revitalising buildings in these areas; her plans to improve same, as per the commitment in Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28240/21]

Departmental Programmes

Paul Donnelly

4. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when SICAP funding will be increased to its 2008 level at €84 million given that current funding is at 50% of this amount. [28312/21]

Departmental Programmes

Paul Donnelly

7. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there has been progress in relation to the multi-annual funding of community projects. [27959/21]

Community Development Projects

David Stanton

9. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports provided by her Department for the maintenance and enhancement of community facilities; the way in which local community groups may access this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27985/21]

Digital Hubs

Claire Kerrane

10. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the roll-out of an integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27969/21]

Rural Schemes

Neale Richmond

11. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of her work towards remote working as per the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27844/21]

Departmental Policies

Bernard Durkan

12. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which her Department has continued to monitor and identify areas throughout the country deficient in adequate modernisation and development to meet modern-day challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27944/21]

Island Communities

Claire Kerrane

13. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when her Department will publish its islands policy and strategy to support island and coastal communities; the areas of focus that are being prioritised within the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27972/21]

Rural Schemes

Pádraig O'Sullivan

15. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to extending the local improvement scheme to areas of Cork city which were formally Cork county and should not be disadvantaged as a result of the boundary change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27833/21]

Departmental Policies

Claire Kerrane

19. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when her Department will publish the rural proofing model which underpins the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27968/21]

Digital Hubs

Alan Dillon

41. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role of her Department in the formulation and implementation of the remote working strategy and national hub network. [27878/21]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

43. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the new policy for the islands; when she expects it to be finalised; the number of occasions the interdepartmental committee for the development of the islands has met to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27957/21]

Agriculture Industry

Matt Carthy

1. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impact of factory owned feedlots on the beef sector including their effect on prices and the environment. [26906/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department plans to review its handling of the outbreaks of Covid-19 in the meat processing industry over the past year with a view to improving preventative measures in the future. [27379/21]

Organic Farming

Matt Carthy

3. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the low number of applications to the organic farm scheme. [26907/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

4. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the sources and value of funding for the results-based environmental agri pilot project; if he will review the number of participants in view of the level of demand for participation under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27253/21]

EU Funding

Marian Harkin

5. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the proposed reduction to farmers' entitlement values to create the EU eco-schemes fund will be subject to internal convergence. [26984/21]

Forestry Sector

Matt Carthy

6. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of new forestry planting targeted for 2021; the number of applications for felling licences outstanding; and the expected timeframe to resolve the current backlog. [26909/21]

Common Agricultural Policy

Holly Cairns

7. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of convergence rates which will form part of the new Common Agricultural Policy in the trilogue negotiations. [26918/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

8. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with the mushroom and horticultural sectors on the changes to the harvesting of horticultural peat; and the provisions he is preparing to support the sector. [27066/21]

Animal Sales

Denis Naughten

9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date of the beef task force; the timeline for the completion of commitments given to the task force; the steps he is taking to implement the measures proposed by this Deputy and unanimously adopted by Dáil Éireann on 26 September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26493/21]

Departmental Funding

Mark Ward

10. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports his Department provides to a club (details supplied); and if multi-annual funding for this community service will be provided. [26949/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Sorca Clarke

11. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered amending the sheep welfare scheme in the interests of ensuring animal welfare as a result of the continued depression in wool prices. [26927/21]

Forestry Sector

Catherine Connolly

13. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the development of a new forestry strategy for Ireland as recommended in reports (details supplied); the timeline for the finalisation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26986/21]

Higher Education Grants

Rose Conway-Walsh

75. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic will be pushed out of SUSI for accepting the pandemic unemployment payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27377/21]

Higher Education Grants

Ged Nash

76. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to amend the earnings disregard for qualification for a SUSI grant to include support received by students who have received pandemic unemployment payment support as a consequence of the loss of a job during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26777/21]

Third Level Costs

Rose Conway-Walsh

77. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address the barriers facing students accessing graduate-entry medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27378/21]

Third Level Fees

Joan Collins

79. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if counselling psychologists will be treated with equality to clinical psychologists (details supplied); and when the national psychology placement office will be set up. [27376/21]

Third Level Admissions

Michael Moynihan

80. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures in place or planned to improve access to further and higher education and training for learners with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26970/21]

Mental Health Services

Pauline Tully

81. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1484 of 24 March 2021, if his attention has been drawn to the shortfall in skilled mental health staff both here and internationally (details supplied) which is preventing the HSE from progressing the recruitment of clinicians for eating disorder teams; if he will raise this issue with the Higher Education Authority with a view to expanding the number of places available in this subject area in third-level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26944/21]

Irish Language

Éamon Ó Cuív

82. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to provide ring-fenced funding for the provision of additional courses in third level colleges in cases in which the tuition would be through the medium of Irish to ensure there will be sufficient persons available with third level qualifications to meet the likely requirements of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25445/21]

Third Level Fees

Rose Conway-Walsh

83. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason third level students here are required to pay the highest fees in the EU; his plans to address this inequality before the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26990/21]

Further and Higher Education

David Stanton

84. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made by students participating in local training initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26785/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Pádraig O'Sullivan

85. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the roll-out of rapid antigen testing in third-level colleges which will facilitate the return of students to on-campus learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26441/21]

Further and Higher Education

Bernard Durkan

87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he has advanced his proposals for the maximisation of achievement and the attainment of various targets identifiable through the mission statement of his Department; the degree to which the efforts to date are in consort with already identified requirements in the academic, technological, scientific and innovative areas with a view to ensuring the broadest and highest educational opportunities in order to better compete nationally and internationally for job placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26955/21]

Further and Higher Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

89. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to improve the working conditions for PhD researchers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26992/21]

Institutes of Technology

Thomas Pringle

90. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place for development at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, LYIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26714/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Kelly

1. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the President of the European Commission. [21940/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the President of the European Commission. [24250/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

3. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the President of the European Commission. [24253/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the President of the European Commission. [24256/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mary Lou McDonald

5. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with other European heads of government. [23893/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

6. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU social summit in Porto. [26071/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mick Barry

7. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the President of the European Commission. [26141/21]

An Garda Síochána

Mary Lou McDonald

8. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [23894/21]

An Garda Síochána

Alan Kelly

9. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [26234/21]

An Garda Síochána

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [26247/21]

An Garda Síochána

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [26506/21]

An Garda Síochána

Paul Murphy

12. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [26512/21]

An Garda Síochána

Mick Barry

13. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [26519/21]

Departmental Bodies

Mary Lou McDonald

14. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [23895/21]

Departmental Bodies

Alan Kelly

15. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [24643/21]

Departmental Bodies

Mary Lou McDonald

16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic development unit of his Department. [25543/21]

Departmental Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26241/21]

Departmental Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [26242/21]

Departmental Bodies

Paul Murphy

19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26244/21]

Departmental Bodies

Paul Murphy

20. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [26245/21]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

21. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26248/21]

Departmental Bodies

Bríd Smith

22. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [26249/21]

Departmental Bodies

Cian O'Callaghan

23. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26500/21]

Departmental Bodies

Alan Kelly

24. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing last met and will next meet. [26501/21]

Departmental Bodies

Gino Kenny

25. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26515/21]

Departmental Bodies

Mick Barry

26. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing, infrastructure and digital unit of his Department. [26520/21]

Departmental Bodies

Cian O'Callaghan

27. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing last met. [26689/21]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the status of the programme for Government. [21779/21]

Programme for Government

Alan Kelly

2. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the status of the programme for Government. [23207/21]

Programme for Government

Mary Lou McDonald

3. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the status of the programme for Government. [25951/21]