Parliamentary questions

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

19. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [21363/24]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

51. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance to clarify what measures are to be taken to ensure there is not a discrepancy between higher and lower paid workers as a result of a higher BIK being made available for electric cars, which may be more expensive, but simultaneously result in greater tax reliefs than for those with internal combustion engine models; what incentives are available and will be introduced for lower income workers to ensure that plug-in electric hybrid vehicles are more affordable for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23015/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Paul Kehoe

52. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance when the VRT rules were last changed for crew carrier vehicles that can carry over five passengers; if he is aware of the implications of this extra cost on those involved in the construction industry transporting workers who may have no other transport options available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23045/24]

Tax Code

Robert Troy

53. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance to review the bands for inheritance tax in Budget 2025 (details supplied). [23205/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

54. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland is an outlier in personal taxation on investments; if citizens from other EU countries have a tax advantage when investing in funds domiciled in Ireland, whereas Irish citizens are at a disadvantage, thereby making investment in property and pensions the only simple alternative to leaving money in low interest savings accounts; if the matter will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23239/24]

Tax Exemptions

Cathal Berry

55. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider exempting psychotherapists and counsellors from the 13.5% VAT rate, in order to improve access to mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23268/24]

Tax Yield

Brendan Griffin

56. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the amount generated by the local property tax, per local authority area, in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23298/24]

Tax Yield

Brendan Griffin

57. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the number of individual properties registered for payment of the local property tax, per local authority area, in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23299/24]

Tax Yield

Brendan Griffin

58. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the amount generated by the local property tax per category of property valuation, per local authority area, in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23300/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

59. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider plans to reintroduce further excise increases on fuel later this year; if tax receipts from fuel are ahead of schedule to date in 2024; if so, by how much; if he will provide a breakdown of actual income versus projected income, per category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/24]

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Griffin

60. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if repairs to a breach in the river bank at a location in County Kerry (details supplied) will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Noel Grealish

61. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has been consulted with and provided observations on proposals to raise the legal age for smoking, particularly given concerns expressed by retailers on the workability of have differing age limits applying to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products. [23037/24]

Departmental Priorities

Catherine Connolly

62. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 18 April 2024, for an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new business and human rights action plan and implementation body; his plans for independent oversight of the implementation of the new action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23077/24]

Work Permits

Aindrias Moynihan

63. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the up-to-date position on the introduction of a single permit system for work permits and visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23082/24]

Business Supports

Aindrias Moynihan

64. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if supports are being considered for SMEs in the use of AI technologies for their businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23083/24]

Job Creation

Aindrias Moynihan

65. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being considered in increasing the current number of IDA-supported jobs for the mid Cork region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23084/24]

Employment Rights

Marc MacSharry

66. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any legislative measures in existence or planned to provide for employment rights for contract workers within the film industry where substantial tax incentives are provided to boost profitability, yet many workers and service providers are only being provided with temporary and/or rolling contracts with no employment rights or benefits as would normally accrue such as social insurance, pension, sick leave, holiday pay and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23142/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

67. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he or the Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail plan to sign the new draft contract cleaning employment regulation order which was submitted to him by the Labour Court in April 2024; when the new order will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/24]

Immigration Policy

Carol Nolan

68. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is proposing any measures in relation to enhanced enforcement of immigration compliance in the workplace to minimise illegal employment of foreign nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23217/24]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department collates data regarding the number of businesses found to be employing foreign nationals illegally; if so, if he will provide this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/24]

Employment Rights

Brendan Griffin

70. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will formally confirm the terms of a registered employment agreement variation order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23233/24]

Work Permits

Brendan Griffin

71. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a decision has been made on an application for an employment permit by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23260/24]

School Funding

Alan Farrell

72. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if the monetary contribution from her Department of €96 per primary school pupil will be maintained for the 2024-2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23021/24]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

73. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of additional autism classes attached to mainstream primary schools that will be opened for the 2024-2025 academic year in the Fingal east constituency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23022/24]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

74. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of additional autism classes attached to mainstream post-primary schools that will be opened for the 2024-2025 academic year in the Fingal east constituency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23023/24]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

75. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to open a special school for the 2024-2025 academic year in the Fingal east constituency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23024/24]

School Funding

Alan Farrell

76. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education when the monetary contribution from her Department will be paid to schools for junior cycle post-primary pupils for the 2024-2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23025/24]

School Accommodation

Joe Flaherty

77. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education provide an update and her views on an outstanding payment due to a school (details supplied). [23044/24]

Educational Disadvantage

Patrick Costello

78. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the OECD review of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Programme; the engagements she or her Department have had with the OECD in relation to this; when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23078/24]

Educational Disadvantage

Michael Lowry

79. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was not awarded DEIS status, given that DEIS status was already secured by the town’s two other secondary schools; when DEIS status will be awarded to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23096/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Duncan Smith

80. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education how citizens who qualified as a secondary school teacher prior to, when a Hons Degree and H.Dip were sufficient to qualify and register as a teacher can become eligible to register as a secondary school teacher since the qualification standard has been changed to Masters level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23111/24]

School Staff

Brendan Griffin

81. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if an appeal on behalf of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be allowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23121/24]

School Accommodation

Pádraig O'Sullivan

82. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of concerns regarding school accommodation in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23122/24]

School Staff

Michael Healy-Rae

83. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23130/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the location of each of the 400 new special classes sanctioned for September 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23131/24]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Smith

85. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that teachers who are working in special education and ASD units will have access to suitable courses of particular relevance to their teaching area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23136/24]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

86. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to an application for a new school bus route in County Roscommon (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23146/24]

School Funding

Steven Matthews

87. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the inflexibility of the free solar panel roll-out for schools scheme; if a higher than 6 kw generating yield system can be contracted for the same price; if a school is allowed that flexibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23153/24]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Kelly

88. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if a second ASD unit will be in place in a school (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 school year. [23212/24]

Special Educational Needs

Ruairí Ó Murchú

89. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the reason an application for assistive technology was refused for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23216/24]

School Transport

Holly Cairns

90. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 5 March 2024, to provide an update and expected timeline for the review into the school transport scheme, particularly as it relates to school bus escorts. [23285/24]

State Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

91. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of financial sponsorship provided by Fáilte Ireland to events and conferences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [23107/24]

Sports Funding

Pádraig O'Sullivan

92. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any other funding streams are open to a sports club (details supplied) considering the sports capital grants are now closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23123/24]

Sports Funding

Robert Troy

93. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will approve an application for sports capital funding (details supplied). [23144/24]

Live Exports

Neasa Hourigan

132. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ban the live export of livestock for slaughter to non-EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23032/24]

Animal Welfare

Cathal Crowe

133. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can clarify whether all animal organisations are treated equally in terms of information being sought from them (details supplied). [23034/24]

Grant Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

134. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update with regard to a lime spreading grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23120/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

135. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was not included in the Shannon Callows scheme even though they are within the Shannon SPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23215/24]

Coillte Teoranta

Brendan Griffin

136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if she has engaged with Coillte on the issue of gravel cycling events on their lands; the reason Coillte is not allowing gravel cycling events take place on their lands; if she is aware that this decision is affecting ten events across Ireland and approximately 10,000 cyclists who cannot take part in the sport because of it; if she recognises that gravel cycling and gravel events are actively promoted in Northern Ireland and all across the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/24]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

137. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the plans to develop new residential places for persons with a severe disability; and if, in particular, new developments will occur in a body (details supplied). [23265/24]