Parliamentary questions

Citizens' Assembly

Bríd Smith

25. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline and order of citizens’ assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [6405/22]

Citizens' Assembly

Mick Barry

26. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline and order of citizens’ assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [6463/22]

Citizens' Assembly

Neasa Hourigan

27. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach the timeline and order of citizens’ assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [6523/22]

Citizens' Assembly

Cian O'Callaghan

28. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline and order of citizens’ assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [6524/22]

Third Level Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

48. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that are being taken to increase places at third level for in-demand courses to address skill shortages and take unnecessary pressure off the leaving certificate system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6457/22]

Third Level Education

Ivana Bacik

49. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will commission an audit of buildings and teaching practices in third-level institutions to determine the accommodations that must be made for students with a disability. [5972/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Rose Conway-Walsh

50. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cause of the 17% increase in apprentices waiting to access off-the-job training in the past two months, which has brought the total back up to half of all craft apprentices currently on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6458/22]

Educational Disadvantage

Michael Moynihan

54. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the strategic action plan for equity, participation and success in higher education 2022-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6380/22]

Third Level Fees

Rose Conway-Walsh

55. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he will bring forward a plan to reduce student fees for third level students; if this will be in place for the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6450/22]

Third Level Admissions

Gary Gannon

56. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase degree places for nursing and midwifery for September 2022 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6386/22]

Third Level Costs

David Stanton

57. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department intends to address the costs associated with further and higher education such as student accommodation costs and the student contribution charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6120/22]

Nursing Education

Aindrias Moynihan

58. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional places on nursing courses will be provided for the 2022-23 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6459/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Cathal Crowe

59. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his strategy to broaden the number of new apprenticeships; the details of the development of the seven new apprenticeship programmes announced for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6379/22]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projects that will be progressed in 2022 in the upgrading of existing accommodation and the provision of new accommodation in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6437/22]

Grant Payments

Peadar Tóibín

62. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of persons who were granted a SUSI grant in each of the past ten years by county in tabular form. [6315/22]

Departmental Policies

David Stanton

68. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the importance of mathematics in the work his Department is undertaking to promote and support research, innovation and science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6119/22]

Further and Higher Education

Bernard Durkan

69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which third and fourth level education is likely to focus on the need to supply suitably qualified staff in the public and private sectors and in areas currently experiencing difficulties in obtaining and retaining staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6349/22]

Employment Support Services

Claire Kerrane

1. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to concerns from trade unions representing employment service staff in relation to their engagement with a company which was awarded a contract as part of tender phase 1 and with regard also to the recent Workplace Relations Commission recommendation on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5727/22]

Community Welfare Services

Seán Sherlock

2. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the changes that are foreseen in the delivery of community welfare office services; if it is intended to centralise those services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5712/22]

Rural Schemes

Claire Kerrane

3. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of those involved in the rural social scheme with regard to the six-year rule; if she will consider extending recent changes to the community employment scheme to rural social scheme participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5728/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for recipients of jobseeker's payments having to visit post offices to receive their payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5713/22]

Departmental Reports

Claire Kerrane

5. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress on the child maintenance review group report in view of the fact the report was due to be published by the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5729/22]

Pensions Reform

Niamh Smyth

6. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection her strategy to address the proposal to remove the exemption to pay PRSI on supplementary pension income, occupational and personal pensions and public sector pensions, as contained in the report of the Commission on Pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5384/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Rose Conway-Walsh

9. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Mayo in receipt of the carer’s allowance; if they will receive a bonus payment for their contribution throughout the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5491/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Fergus O'Dowd

10. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to review the household benefits package due to the increases in cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5021/22]

Post Office Network

James O'Connor

11. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection her strategy to support the rural post office network; the additional departmental services that could be provided via the network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5388/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

14. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the finding and conclusions of a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5399/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Martin Browne

15. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the back-to-education allowance guidelines that refuse applications on the basis that the only master's degree that is allowed for the purposes of the allowance is a master's in education; and her views on some unsuccessful applications being advised to give up their education in order to avail of State income supports. [5420/22]

Pension Provisions

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

16. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the progress on introducing the auto-enrolment pension programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5013/22]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

17. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which backlogs in respect of applications for support are being eliminated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5340/22]

Employment Schemes

Claire Kerrane

21. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if referrals to JobPath ceased at the end of 2021 as planned; if the scheme will be reviewed; if the numbers who gained employment as a result of the scheme will be collated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5331/22]

Child Poverty

Kathleen Funchion

113. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, National Advisory Council for Children and Young People paper; the actions he has taken to develop a national action plan to address child poverty as part of the next national policy framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/22]

Childcare Services

Peter Fitzpatrick

114. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve the pay, benefits and conditions for professionals working in the childcare sector given that many of these employees are earning below the living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5559/22]

Domestic Violence

Pauline Tully

115. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date on securing a suitable location for a domestic violence refuge in Monaghan town; the efforts that have been made to identify a suitable location and secure funding for a domestic violence refuge in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5320/22]

Disability Services

Marian Harkin

116. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans being put in place to address the findings of the cost of disability research report published on 7 December 2021; and the way in which it is proposed to reduce day-to-day costs for persons with a disability. [5724/22]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

117. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of progress that has been made in installing high-efficiency particulate air, HEPA, filters in childcare centres, preschools and crèches; his plans to complete the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5410/22]

EU Programmes

Neasa Hourigan

118. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position on measures his Department is taking to implement the EU child guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5428/22]

Departmental Policies

Christopher O'Sullivan

119. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the national participation framework for children and young people’s participation in decision-making; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5434/22]

Childcare Services

Matt Carthy

120. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve the pay and conditions of professionals in the childcare sector. [4894/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Paul McAuliffe

121. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the expert group established to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5449/22]

Children in Care

Catherine Connolly

122. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the research and data project to examine the lives of children in care and adults who were in care as children; the person or body that will carry out the research; if the steering group has been established to date; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5430/22]

Direct Provision System

Éamon Ó Cuív

123. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons being housed in direct provision to date; the number of these in own-door accommodation; the progress made to date in fulfilling the commitments in the programme for Government in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4644/22]

Domestic Violence

Kathleen Funchion

126. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of domestic violence refuge spaces nationally that are allocated for 2022; the cost of each refuge space annually; the amount of funding provided for refuge spaces in 2022; and the portion of the extra €41 million allocated to Tusla in budget 2022 that will be spent on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. [5321/22]

Disability Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

127. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the responsibilities in relation to disability that have transferred to his Department; the total budget for disability provided for in the Estimates of his Department; the priorities in relation to disability for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4645/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

1. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [2175/22]

Cabinet Committees

Gino Kenny

2. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [3614/22]

Cabinet Committees

Alan Kelly

3. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [4370/22]

Cabinet Committees

Dara Calleary

4. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [4633/22]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health last met. [4700/22]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

6. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health last met. [4703/22]

Cabinet Committees

Aindrias Moynihan

7. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [4902/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [5135/22]

Cabinet Committees

Neale Richmond

9. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will meet next. [3070/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [4366/22]

Cabinet Committees

Seán Haughey

11. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [4635/22]

Cabinet Committees

Neale Richmond

12. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [4687/22]

Cabinet Committees

Peadar Tóibín

13. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [4714/22]

Cabinet Committees

Brendan Smith

14. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will meet next. [4741/22]

Cabinet Committees

Alan Kelly

15. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [4805/22]

Departmental Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the groups chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [3188/22]

Departmental Meetings

Dara Calleary

17. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the groups chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [4634/22]

Departmental Meetings

Cian O'Callaghan

18. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach the groups chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [4706/22]

Departmental Meetings

Peadar Tóibín

19. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if a list of the groups which are chaired by the Secretary General of his Department will be provided. [4715/22]

Departmental Meetings

Alan Kelly

20. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the groups chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [4806/22]

Cabinet Committees

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will meet next. [61982/21]

Cabinet Committees

Niamh Smyth

2. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will meet next. [61983/21]

Cabinet Committees

Aindrias Moynihan

3. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 is due to meet next. [61985/21]

Cabinet Committees

Alan Kelly

4. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 last met and next plans to meet. [3312/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

5. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Cabinet committee on Covid-19. [4365/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 will next meet. [4631/22]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will meet next. [4698/22]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will meet next. [4701/22]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet.. [2221/22]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if his Department has commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies within the remit of his Department for the period 1 January 2021 to date; if so, if he will provide details of the policies; and the costs incurred for each individual poll. [2223/22]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [2225/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

12. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [3242/22]

Cabinet Committees

Alan Kelly

13. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [3313/22]

Cabinet Committees

Cian O'Callaghan

14. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [3537/22]

Cabinet Committees

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

15. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [3619/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

16. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [4629/22]

Cabinet Committees

Paul McAuliffe

17. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [4724/22]

Cabinet Committees

John Lahart

18. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [4725/22]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [2226/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

20. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [2176/22]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

21. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education last met; and when it is next due to meet. [3076/22]

Cabinet Committees

Rose Conway-Walsh

22. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education last met and will next meet. [3335/22]

Cabinet Committees

Alan Kelly

23. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [3314/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

24. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4630/22]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

25. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4699/22]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

26. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4702/22]

Cabinet Committees

Pádraig O'Sullivan

27. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4711/22]

Cabinet Committees

Cathal Crowe

28. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4713/22]

Cabinet Committees

Cormac Devlin

29. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4810/22]

Cabinet Committees

Niamh Smyth

30. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on education will next meet. [4811/22]

Education Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

55. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the status of the roll-out of the expansion of delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, as committed to in budget 2022. [4817/22]

Educational Reform

Paul Murphy

56. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to the call by a union (details supplied) for open access to third level education; if she plans to abolish the leaving certificate; if she will engage with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to develop open access to third level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4697/22]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

57. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will secure a choice for the leaving certificate 2022 between calculated grades and written exams to ensure fairness for the class of 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4818/22]

School Accommodation

Seán Canney

58. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the status of progress with the proposed amalgamation of a school (details supplied) and the development of another school in Tuam, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5197/22]

School Transport

Mattie McGrath

59. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the progress made by the steering group in reviewing the school transport scheme; the changes that have been made to the scheme to date; and if the group has examined the possibility of issuing school bus tickets earlier than at present, for example in July, which would allow for concessionary tickets to be processed before the school term resumes in order that parents can make alternative travel arrangements if necessary. [5182/22]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

61. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the arrangements that will be made for the junior certificate 2022 that recognise the disruption that students have faced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4822/22]