Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Darren O'Rourke

102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on respite for children and adults with disabilities in County Meath; if he will provide an update on plans to increase respite for children and adults with disabilities in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9569/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Darren O'Rourke

114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on childcare services in County Meath; the number of childcare places available in the county; the length of the average waiting list; to report on any planned measures to increase these places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9570/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

196. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on the school building programme at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; when works will commence and be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9854/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on the school building programme at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; when works will commence and be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9855/24]

Legislative Programme

Darren O'Rourke

4. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [8949/24]

Education and Training Provision

Darren O'Rourke

19. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of recent reports (details supplied) that highlight critical skills and labour gaps in order to meet our 2030 targets as part of Ireland's energy transition; the corrective measures he will take in order to fill these gaps; the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8986/24]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the delayed actions his Department is leading on as part of the Climate Action Plan 2023; the proportion that have been completed and delayed, respectively; if any are still outstanding from the Climate Action Plan 2021; the expected timeline for delivery for all delayed actions; the estimated emissions impact of delayed actions; the impact on carbon budgets; the measures he is taking to mitigate these impacts and make up any possible shortfalls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8987/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

74. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 14 February 2024 (details supplied), the accessibility of the deposit return scheme; if any disability advocacy organisations were consulted on the accessibility of the deposit return scheme in advance of its roll-out; the formation of the consultative group to ensure concerns are heard and addressed; when this group was formed and how many times it has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8679/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Darren O'Rourke

75. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made to develop carbon capture and storage technologies in Ireland; if any private companies are carrying out CCS in Ireland; how CCS is regulated and monitored if carried out by private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8701/24]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

76. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work the Government is undertaking to prepare for a potential collapse in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation; what representations the Government has made regarding the EU’s preparations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8708/24]

Aviation Industry

Darren O'Rourke

104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his views regarding licensing issues for airline pilots and the current wait times for responses from the Irish Aviation Authority (details supplied); if he is aware of concerns that this is posing safety risks; if he has engaged with the Irish Aviation Authority on this; the measures he is taking to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8792/24]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to address delays for driving tests; the number of tests that were cancelled, broken down by quarter in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; what measures a person (details supplied) can take to ensure they are able to take a test as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9056/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Darren O'Rourke

143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the backlog in the appeals process for the primary medical certificate (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8836/24]

Public Sector Pay

Darren O'Rourke

287. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 22 November 2023, if a review of SI No. 216/2004 and Circular letter LG(P) 06/09 as they relate to retained fire fighters is underway; the way in which this review will consider the fact that calls are not guaranteed income; when this review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9192/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Darren O'Rourke

511. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 84, 89, 94, 96, 113, 131 and 148 of 24 November 2023, regarding a case (details supplied) as it related to the primary medical certificate and the disabled drivers and passengers scheme, the alternative supports that are in place until the planned review takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8835/24]

Probate Applications

Darren O'Rourke

9. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice in regard to delays in probate, what the current waiting time is; how many cases are on a waiting list in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 to date, in tabular form; the average wait time in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 to date, in tabular form; what measures she plans to address this; if there are plans to reopen the office to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8339/24]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

25. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown on the number of Garda officers, by rank, attached to all Meath East Garda stations in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; the number of Garda officers who retired from Meath East Garda stations in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8340/24]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

61. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine about the delayed actions his Department is leading on as part of the climate action plan 2023; the proportion that are complete and the proportion that are delayed; if any are still outstanding from the 2021 climate action plan; the expected timeline for delivery for all delayed actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8337/24]

Wildlife Protection

Darren O'Rourke

90. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what efforts his Department is making to ensure farmers are incentivised to create and maintain habitats on farms under the Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan and the rural development plan. [8338/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Energy Poverty Steering Group; how many times it has met since its inception; to provide a breakdown of departments and agencies that were present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7819/24]