Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Michael McNamara

402. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice the average and median length of time between receipt of applications for international protection and first instance decisions on international protection applications, and the average and mean length of time between applications and first instance decisions currently, at the end of June 2023 and the end of November 2022 of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal. [53508/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

403. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice the average and median length of time between receipt of applications for international protection and the issuance of decisions by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal currently, at the end of June 2023 and at the end of November 2022, respectively. [53509/23]

An Garda Síochána

Michael McNamara

406. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the progress outlined on 29 March 2022 that the Garda Commissioner had instructed that a fresh investigation be undertaken into the matters which a judge (details supplied) determined required further investigation in their report on the statutory inquiry under section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 into the Garda Síochána investigation relating to the death of a person; whether prosecutions have been initiated; whether the report by the judge will be published, either in full or redacted form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53730/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

478. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how much his Department has paid to date in 2023 in respect of accommodation provided by IPAS; how much his Department currently expects to have paid in respect of accommodation by the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53501/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

479. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department provides accommodation to persons whose protection application has been determined and is no longer the subject of any legal challenge to that said determination; if so, to how many such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53502/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

480. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline how many bed nights were paid for by IPAS each night of 2023 and how many persons were residing in accommodated paid for on each night of 2023. [53503/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

481. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department provides accommodation to persons granted Labour Market Access Permission; if so, to how many such persons; how much they contribute to the cost of their accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53504/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

482. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline how many persons were residing at the Lakelands Hotel Scariff, County Clare on each day since 1 June 2023; how many bed nights were paid for on each night since 1 June 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53505/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Michael McNamara

197. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Ireland's position on the recent crisis involving Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, and what steps he has taken in international forums, such as the EC and the UN, to seek to reverse the exodus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50231/23]

Middle East

Michael McNamara

213. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland condemns the Israeli response in the Gaza Strip to 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50232/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Michael McNamara

206. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will give consideration to introducing primary medical certificates to all individuals with physical disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52452/23]

Office of Public Works

Michael McNamara

215. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline details of the investment that has been made in the development and management of the OPW sites at Scattery Island and the Ennis Friary in County Clare since 2018; what investment, if any, is planned for the sites for the remainder of 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52004/23]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Michael McNamara

244. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of Exchequer funding allocated towards the Eirsat-1 project; to outline the total amount paid to the European Space Agency to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52001/23]

Special Educational Needs

Michael McNamara

278. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on advances in her announced plan to introduce a foreign language in primary schools across the State; when it will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52288/23]

Departmental Funding

Michael McNamara

315. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated to Met Éireann in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52003/23]

Departmental Regulations

Michael McNamara

329. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of permits that his Department has granted for decoy crows in each of the years since 2020; the number of applications that have been received for such permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52204/23]

Departmental Regulations

Michael McNamara

330. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason decoy crows cannot be used without a permit by farmers to protect crops and animal feed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52205/23]

An Garda Síochána

Michael McNamara

406. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have been redeployed or retired from the Clare Garda division during the first nine months of 2023; the number of members of An Garda Síochána that have been assigned to the Clare Garda division for duty during both years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52002/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

439. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many applications for funding have been received to date under the reconstitution ash dieback scheme 2023-2027; how many applications have been successful; the total funding allocated and the number of grant recipients per county to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52029/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

440. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is permitted to export stone from Borrow Pits, for which no licence or permit is required, out of the forest in which the pit is located, onto public roads to another, different forest in accordance with the licence/permit requirement exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52049/23]

Hospital Facilities

Michael McNamara

574. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the ongoing works at Raheen Community Hospital, County Clare; the reason these works preclude the provision of palliative care at the facility; when the works commenced; when the works are scheduled to conclude; how many palliative beds will be operational in the facility at the conclusion of said works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51949/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Michael McNamara

582. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of patients recorded on trolleys at each public hospital in the State in the period from January to September 2023 and for the same period in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52005/23]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

641. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if his Department will give consideration to introducing primary medical certificates to all individuals with physical disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52451/23]

Defence Forces

Michael McNamara

67. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on 14 November 2023 are on the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon; of that number, how many of them were filled through “mandatory selection”; and how many were already in Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL deployment who were asked to stay on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50899/23]

Defence Forces

Michael McNamara

71. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many Irish Defence Forces personnel will participate in a German-led EU battlegroup in 2024/2025; if the selection of any personnel through “mandatory selection” will be ruled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50900/23]

Health Services

Michael McNamara

550. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50972/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Michael McNamara

144. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will grant full DEIS status to a newly amalgamated community school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50344/23]

Pension Provisions

Michael McNamara

167. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the reason for the long delay in processing the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Relation to Pension Entitlements of Retired Persons) Bill 2021, which has remained at Second Stage since 11 February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49531/23]

Driver Test

Michael McNamara

222. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47592/23]

Hospital Transfers

Michael McNamara

1167. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Clare will be transferred from University Hospital Limerick to CHI, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47701/23]

Health Services

Michael McNamara

1264. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the average and median time that elapses between the receipt of a complaint by the Medical Council and the making of an initial determination by the PPC or CEO, respectively; and following such initial determination, the average and median length of time that the FTPC stage takes; if he will provide such figures for complaints received in 1992, 2002, 2012 and each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48265/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Michael McNamara

1343. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 548 of 10 October 2023, the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48646/23]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Michael McNamara

303. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael McNamara den Aire Oideachais an ndéanfaidh sí cur síos ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le bunú Gaelcholáiste neamhspleách in Inis, Co. an Chláir ón 23 Márta 2023 i leith, tráth a rinne sí cur síos ar an dul chun cinn go dtí an dáta sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [46690/23]

School Accommodation

Michael McNamara

304. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 245 of 26 September 2023, if she will expedite an additional school accommodation application for a school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46694/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael McNamara

374. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a domiciliary care allowance appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46558/23]

Health Services Staff

Michael McNamara

559. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether or not hospital consultants or treating physicians received a payment in any of the past ten years for switching patients from brand name medicines to generic medicines; if he will list the amounts paid to individual consultants if any such payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46448/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

281. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an urgent appointment to have both cataract surgeries completed at University Hospital Limerick, given that this person is waiting since last March and has practically no sight in either eye; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45729/23]

Men's Sheds

Michael McNamara

653. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the men’s shed sustainability grant of €2,000 is still available from her Department to assist with the running costs of the sheds and acquiring material for developing skills for the shedders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45199/23]

Rental Sector

Michael McNamara

123. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenancies registered with the Residential Tenancies Board in each local authority area in 2022. [44252/23]

Rental Sector

Michael McNamara

124. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the difference in the figures contained on his Department's website in relation to housing market statistics (details supplied) in the columns entitled dwellings inspected and total inspections carried out; and if he will provide more details on the different inspections referred to under each of the said headings in the annual data in respect of the level of inspections and enforcement carried out by each local authority available on his Department's website. [44253/23]

Medical Cards

Michael McNamara

223. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application form for a sight test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44342/23]

Office of Public Works

Michael McNamara

144. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason weddings are allowed at some OPW sites but not at Corcomroe Abbey, County Clare; the reason his office felt the need to post a notice to that effect at the site of Corcomroe Abbey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43570/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Michael McNamara

548. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43947/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

302. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when ACRES payment will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43262/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

303. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is permitted to spread rock phosphate fertiliser in forestry all year around; if it is confined to certain periods of the year; if he will outline those periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43263/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Michael McNamara

304. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures, if any, his Department is undertaking in conjunction with other Departments or by itself, to prevent bark beetle being imported from areas of Scotland or elsewhere where it is prevalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43308/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

220. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an urgent appointment in the oncology clinic at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43090/23]

Driver Test

Michael McNamara

207. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42539/23]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Michael McNamara

265. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is currently an existing executive officer and has applied for a conservation ranger position with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, will retain their existing salary pay scale, given their experience as an executive officer, and not a reduction in pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42251/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

475. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be paid the monies they are due and owing and if he can provide an explanation as regards the ongoing delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42239/23]