Parliamentary questions

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when grant aid will be approved for smaller scale nursing homes to carry out upgrading work following the recommendations of HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2050/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proposals if any there are to increase capacity and availability of courses in digital forensics, in view of the threats to society posed by the proliferation of misinformation through social media platforms and the need to tackle such abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2089/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the proposed building project for Cavan Institute will proceed to the next stage in 2024; the expected timescale for delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total funding provided in 2023 for the non-national road network; the specific allocations made to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council; if he will ensure that increased funding will be provided for this road network in 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the widespread concern of farmers to recent changes in VAT refunds on dairy equipment and mobile farm equipment which will prevent in many instances necessary investment in farm facilities and cause additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2290/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Brendan Smith

178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give detailed consideration to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) concerning increased costs for small businesses; the measures that will be implemented to ease such pressures on small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2300/24]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

222. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the schemes under the remit of his Department to assist in restoring vacant and derelict buildings to habitable use for housing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2301/24]

Public Transport

Brendan Smith

286. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if further consideration will be given to the provision of support for hackney services in rural communities in counties Cavan and Monaghan where it is not feasible to have a bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1583/24]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

692. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, there are to award funding to more primary schools under the STEM grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2094/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

1296. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up to date position regarding the issue of payments under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2095/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval will issue in respect of TAMS applications relating to animal welfare-related investments and the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55733/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue in respect of TAMS applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55732/23]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

87. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale preschool accommodation and the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation, as there is a need to increase substantially the level of grant aid to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55734/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brendan Smith

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is proposed to increase capital investment in the early learning and childcare sector for 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55735/23]

Telecommunications Services

Brendan Smith

179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the widespread concerns in relation to inadequate mobile phone coverage in parts of County Cavan and County Monaghan; if there is an obligation on mobile telephony providers to ensure proper and adequate coverage in all areas; if this issue will be addressed by his Department or by agencies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56174/23]

Local Authorities

Brendan Smith

201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will give further consideration to the issues raised in a motion passed by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56079/23]

Local Authorities

Brendan Smith

202. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will have further consideration given to the issues raised in a motion passed by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56082/23]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 9 November 2023, if he will ensure that submissions by local authorities to his Department (details supplied) will be approved at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56136/23]

Rental Sector

Brendan Smith

227. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the unfair decision to exclude parents of students studying outside this jurisdiction from the rental tax credit, as this and other measures were introduced to ease the cost-of-living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56188/23]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

291. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the expected timeline for the completion of the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56157/23]