Parliamentary questions

Planning Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

343. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made by the heritage section of his Department in ongoing discussions with Galway County Council in relation to the development of method statements relating to the upgrade of the N59 from Bunakill to Ougherard, in view of the planning condition placed on the planning permission by an Bord Pleanála in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53832/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

441. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements that will be made to ensure those who are waiting for probate to be completed, which can take some time due to delays in the Probate Office, will be able to join ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53510/23]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

450. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether in areas where there are populations of wild deer, extra grant aid will be provided under the forestry schemes to provide for the provision of deer fencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53834/23]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Éamon Ó Cuív

495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether it is intended to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, along with its Optional Protocol, and incorporate it into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53841/23]

Departmental Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

640. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for the delay in commencing the new SICAP programme in Galway to the end of March 2024; if his Department was in consultation with Galway County Council's LCDC on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53513/23]

Departmental Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

641. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of bids sought for the delivery of the new SICAP programme; the number of contracts that have been now awarded; when the remaining bids will be examined and contracts awarded; the reason for the delay with the roll-out of this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53514/23]

Rail Network

Éamon Ó Cuív

21. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in relation to the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review; when it is intended to publish the final report; if, in light of the absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland, he intends implementing immediately the proposals that are totally within this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52622/23]

Rail Network

Éamon Ó Cuív

61. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he intends sanctioning money immediately, as happened with the Limerick to Foynes line, to reopen the rail line from Athenry to Claremorris; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52623/23]

Housing Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

345. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he intends increasing the HAP rent limits as due to the continuous increases in rents generally as many tenants are finding it impossible to find accommodation on the market at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52530/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

361. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) will be processed and a decision made on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52034/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

362. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for invalidity pension that are on appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office; the number that have been under consideration for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten and 11 months or a year or more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52035/23]

General Practitioner Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

625. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the freeze of a GP’s panel will be lifted to allow patients to transfer to and from the GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52317/23]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Éamon Ó Cuív

632. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason the rates of refund allowed for specialised spectacles for children in CHO 2 has been reduced, as this cutback is having a big impact on parents of low income whose children require expensive specialised spectacles; the amount of the savings that these cutbacks will accrue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52378/23]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

154. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing said passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51677/23]

An Teanga Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

226. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén chaoi a mheasfar a bhfuil an té a cheapfar mar Ard-Rúnaí nua ar an Roinn cumasach ar an ngnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge; an bhfuil sé i gceist leas a bhaint as an Teastas Eorpach do theangacha mar chuid den phróiseas; má tá, cén leibhéal a bheidh le baint amach ag an té a cheapfar; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [51720/23]

An Teanga Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

227. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén t-achar ama, tar éis an ceapachán a dhéanamh, a thabharfar d’Ard-Rúnaí nua na Roinne chun líofacht a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge; cén caighdeán Gaeilge a bheidh le baint amach agus cén chaoi a mheasfar sin; an féidir a dheimhniú nach ndéanfar an ceapachán buan go mbainfear amach an caighdeán cuí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [51721/23]

Health Service Executive

Éamon Ó Cuív

328. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health what discussions he has had with the HSE to ensure queries raised by Deputies on behalf of constituents will be answered in adequate time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51676/23]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

96. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a passport (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50864/23]

Scéimeanna Teanga

Éamon Ó Cuív

269. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a íocfar deontas mhí Iúil agus mhí Lúnasa le duine i mo dháilcheantar (sonraí tugtha) faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge; cén fáth a bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50534/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

408. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TAMS applications currently on hand that are not processed by his Department; the length of time these applications are on hand, broken down by three-month intervals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51023/23]

Departmental Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

613. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will be made on the arrangements to deliver the next SICAP programme in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51101/23]

Departmental Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

614. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will be made as to who will deliver the LEADER programme in County Galway; the allocation they will have, broken down between administration and projects; when the LEADER programme will be open to new applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51102/23]

National Broadband Plan

Éamon Ó Cuív

14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is his intention to enter into negotiations with National Broadband Ireland to ensure that all offshore islands are provided with a fibre connection to the mainland as part of the roll-out of the national broadband programme, to ensure equality of service for islanders in this vital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49996/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Éamon Ó Cuív

35. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated increase of on-shore wind generation for all years, including 2023 to 2030, in line with our climate action targets; the steps being taken to ensure these targets will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49995/23]

Bord na Móna

Éamon Ó Cuív

103. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he will contact a body (details supplied) to whom he referred a Parliamentary Question for reply, if he will issue a reply, given the matter has been ongoing for some considerable time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50422/23]

Scéimeanna Fostaíochta

Éamon Ó Cuív

147. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an mbeidh íocaíocht á déanamh le bunscoileanna as pá a d’íoc siad le rúnaithe ar threoir na Roinne do Shamhradh 2023 sular ghlac an Roinn freagracht as pá na rúnaithe bunscoile ar fad i Meán Fómhair 2023; agus más rud é go mbeidh, cén uair a dhéanfar an íocaíocht; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50429/23]

Oibreacha Feabhsúcháin do Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

148. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an mbeidh deontas á íoc le bunscoileanna sa scoilbhliain 2023/2024 le haghaidh mionoibreacha; agus más rud é go mbeidh, cé mhéad a bheidh i gceist do gach scoil agus cén uair a íocfar é; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50430/23]

Scéimeanna Fostaíochta

Éamon Ó Cuív

149. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an mbeidh deontas coimhdeach á íoc le bunscoileanna don scoilbhliain 2023/2024 chun íoc as rúnaithe suas go Meán Fómhair agus as glantóirí; cé mhéad a bheidh á íoc le gach scoil don scoilbhliain 2023/2024; cén uair a íocfar é; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50431/23]

Covid-19 Paindéim

Éamon Ó Cuív

150. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil deontas eile le cur in áit an deontais glantacháin Covid-19 de bharr na gcostas méadaithe atá ar scoileanna de bharr an ardaithe sa chostas maireachtála; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50432/23]

Pleananna Oideachais

Éamon Ó Cuív

151. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil sé i gceist sceideal na ndeontas reatha ar fad atá le híoc le bunscoileanna don scoilbhliain 2023/2024 a chur ar fáil ina dtaispeánfar méid gach deontais; cén uair a íocfar iad ionas gur féidir le bunscoileanna pleanáil cheart airgeadais a dhéanamh [50433/23]

Scéimeanna Rannacha

Éamon Ó Cuív

152. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén ráta deontais caipitíochta a íocfar le bunscoileanna don scoilbhliain 2023/2024; cén uair a íocfar é; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50434/23]

Prison Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

186. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the total current number of prisoners who have been convicted of a sexual offence, by prison and gender and age, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50416/23]

Prison Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

187. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the number of prisoners committed under sentence for sexual offences each year from 2018 to present, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50417/23]

Prison Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

188. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide the number of prisoners committed for sexual offences who have completed the Building Better Lives programme over the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50418/23]

Offshore Islands

Éamon Ó Cuív

17. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made in the past ten years in providing improved pier facilities on islands and on mainland piers serving island ferries; the total amount of money that has been spent improving island serving piers in this time, broken down by year; the piers that have been upgraded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49616/23]

Island Communities

Éamon Ó Cuív

19. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made in providing improved pier facilities on Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49617/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Éamon Ó Cuív

173. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the new wind energy onshore projects to come on stream this year; the amount of energy they will generate; the number of wind energy projects in the pipeline for coming on stream in each year until 2030; the total wind energy projects that received full planning in each of the past five years and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49160/23]

Curaclam Scoile

Éamon Ó Cuív

218. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an mbeidh aon deontais nua bhreise ar fáil do bhunscoileanna le cúnamh a thabhairt dóibh deireadh a bheith acu leis an gcuraclam nua mata a mhúineadh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49149/23]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Éamon Ó Cuív

219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she will consider reducing the pupil teacher ratio further for three-teacher schools, with all schools with more than 40 pupils having three mainstream classroom teachers, in view of the difficulty in a two-teacher school with more than 40 pupils of teaching four classes simultaneously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49150/23]

Schools Amalgamation

Éamon Ó Cuív

220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of small rural schools that have closed or amalgamated with a larger school each year in the past ten years, by county, in tabular form; the reason for these closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49151/23]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she is willing to make special arrangements for the 12 schools on offshore islands in relation to special education teachers as it is not possible for island schools to share hours with a mainland school and the difficulty in attracting teachers to work in such posts on a part-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49152/23]

Special Educational Needs

Éamon Ó Cuív

222. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education what arrangements are being made to ensure that there are sufficient places in all secondary schools in a city (details supplied) for children that require an ASD class as parents have already been made aware of a shortage of such places for the school year 2024/2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49153/23]

Scéimeanna Teanga

Éamon Ó Cuív

223. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil sé i gceist ardú deontais a thabhairt do na teaghlaigh a choinníonn scoláirí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge le haghaidh na bliana 2024 á chur san áireamh an t-ardú mór ar an gcostas maireachtála; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49157/23]

Housing Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide in tabular form the number of application received by county for the croí cónaithe vacant house grant; the number of approvals of a grant and the number of grants paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49155/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Éamon Ó Cuív

241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes proposed to be made to the wastewater systems grant for private properties (septic tanks grant); when these changes will become operable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49156/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

263. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for carer’s allowance will be processed and a decision made on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter (details supplied). [49134/23]

Legislative Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

276. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 will be fully implemented so that transfers of prisoners can take place from other EU states, from Britain and from Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49154/23]

International Agreements

Éamon Ó Cuív

312. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if there are new protocols or arrangements under discussion at the WHO in relation to dealing with future pandemics; when it is proposed that the final documents in relation to this will be agreed; whether in the event of Ireland signing this protocol or arrangement this country will then be legally obliged to follow instructions from the WHO as to how future pandemics would be handled here; whether it is Ireland's intention at present to sign up to such a protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49148/23]

Health Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

313. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to appoint the President of the University of Galway or their nominee ex-officio to the Board of the new Health Region (HSE West and North West) Board in view of the close co-operation between the university and the health services particularly in research and education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49158/23]

Clár Tógála Scoileanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

46. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar iarratas ó bhunscoil (sonraí tugtha) le haghaidh Cóiríocht Scoile Bhreise (foirm ASA) a cuireadh chuig an Roinn tamall ó shin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49019/23]