Parliamentary questions

Passport Services

James Lawless

1. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16837/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

2. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a replacement passport will issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16844/24]

Consular Services

Niamh Smyth

3. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if an update can be provided on a case (details supplied); the steps being taken by his Department to assist the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16861/24]

Military Aircraft

Darren O'Rourke

4. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of US military aircraft inspected in Shannon by the IAA for weapons on stopover while en route to Israel since 7 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16946/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

5. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16970/24]

Legislative Process

Jennifer Whitmore

6. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether the delay in publishing the marine protected areas Bill will have consequences for the State’s ability to identify potential offshore energy locations; whether that, in turn, will undermine the State’s efforts to meet its renewable targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16794/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

7. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if stock management operations on Lough Corrib SAC, that is, the removal of invasive and-or non-native freshwater fish such as pike, are exclusively an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland; if the inland fisheries division or the Minister have any input or function regarding stock management operations on Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16828/24]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

8. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16829/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

9. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for retrofitting to home boilers, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

10. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for diesel in diesel cars, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]

Electric Vehicles

James Lawless

11. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter in relation to EV charging (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16790/24]

Transport Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

12. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the barriers to student bodies establishing a carpooling scheme for travel to a university campus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16797/24]

Financial Irregularities

Paul Murphy

13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the action taken by his Department in response to important information given in a letter to the then Minister in relation to loans to a company (details supplied). [16800/24]

Financial Irregularities

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he has concerns about a non-bank lender being supplied with State funds, given allegations reported in the media of its involvement in lending money to an apparent front organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16802/24]

Financial Irregularities

Paul Murphy

15. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund divested from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16803/24]

Tax Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

16. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he has considered the proposal submitted to him in March 2024; if he intends to extend the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16821/24]

Tax Exemptions

Steven Matthews

17. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by a group (details supplied) that seeks to draw attention to requests to review the VAT exemption to include counsellors and psychotherapists; if this is under consideration within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16840/24]

Tax Exemptions

Willie O'Dea

18. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland, which would create equity of treatment and parity of esteem for mental health professionals providing psychotherapy and counselling services with those who deliver physical healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16870/24]

Tax Exemptions

Cathal Crowe

19. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland (details supplied). [16878/24]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

20. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue raised from restricting the employers' PRSI exemption for share-based remuneration to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16899/24]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

21. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer in 2024 of not proceeding with scheduled increases in excise duty on marked gas oil on 1 April 2024, 1 August 2024 and 9 October 2024. [16904/24]

Tax Exemptions

Brian Stanley

22. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance to address the inconsistency in VAT regulations and extend the VAT exemptions to psychotherapists and counsellors providing services and to ensure equal treatment with other professionals working in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17016/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration would be given to reclassifying hydrotreated vegetable oil as a home heating fuel, in view that it is currently rated as a transport fuel and is therefore more expensive to purchase than diesel and kerosene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/24]

Tax Collection

Brendan Griffin

24. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will urgently examine the situation whereby some RTÉ employees are being forced to make punitive payments to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of bogus self-employment contracts wrongly issued by their employer over many years; if settlements by RTÉ entered into with Revenue have also covered these individuals; if so, if the individuals continue to make payments to Revenue in respect of already settled cases; if, in the event that these individuals' cases were not settled by RTÉ, the reason therefor, as it would be the responsibility of the party issuing the bogus self-employment contract to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17067/24]

Financial Irregularities

Paul Murphy

25. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned about the ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission requiring a bank to make €500 million in new funding available to an organisation (details supplied) in light of allegations reported in the media and in a letter sent to his Department that the organisation lent money to a front organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16805/24]

Financial Irregularities

Paul Murphy

26. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action taken by his Department in response to important information given in a letter to the then Minister in relation to loans by an organisation (details supplied), a body financed by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, to a company. [16806/24]

White Papers

Catherine Connolly

27. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 7 February 2024, to provide an update on the implementation of the White Paper on enterprise; the status of the second update report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16897/24]

Business Supports

Niamh Smyth

28. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many businesses in each of counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo and Galway have to date registered for the increased cost of business grant; when payments under the grant will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16908/24]

Enterprise Policy

Niamh Smyth

29. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a report on the implementation of the north-east regional enterprise plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16909/24]

Business Supports

John Lahart

30. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in each of the four Dublin local authority areas that have to date registered for the increased cost of business grant; when payments under the grant will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16943/24]

Insurance Industry

John Lahart

31. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if new mediation measures are providing a significant step change for resolving insurance claims nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16944/24]

Referendum Campaigns

John Paul Phelan

32. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government still intends to hold a referendum for Ireland to join the Unified Patent Court on 7 June 2024; whether an alternative date is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16967/24]

Schools Building Projects

Duncan Smith

33. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of a new school building (details supplied); the reason for the delays in the delivery of this new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16772/24]

School Staff

Niamh Smyth

34. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if the case of a school (details supplied) will be reviewed in relation to the allocation of a permanent EAL post at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16774/24]

Special Educational Needs

Niamh Smyth

35. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 443 of 20 March 2024, if correspondence will be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16784/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Griffin

36. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) is on the correct rate of teacher's pension; if there is any other pension or benefit available to the person from the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16785/24]

School Transport

Anne Rabbitte

37. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) is unable to access school transport when capacity is available; if this case will be considered further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16791/24]

School Transport

Bernard Durkan

38. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if urgent reconsideration can be given to the school transport application in the case of a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16825/24]

Schools Building Projects

Anne Rabbitte

39. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the status of a school building project (details supplied); if her Department can clarify the points raised by the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16836/24]

School Accommodation

Michael Healy-Rae

40. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to boarding school facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16839/24]

School Accommodation

Michael Creed

41. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she has received an application for additional classroom accommodation from a school in County Cork (details supplied), and in light of significant planned increased enrolment and existing classroom inadequacies, if she will expedite approval in this case. [16874/24]

Schools Building Projects

Imelda Munster

42. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the redevelopment of a school (details supplied) for which the stage 2b file was submitted to her Department in August 2023; whether a date for construction is planned; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16890/24]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

43. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 499 of 20 March 2024, the date for when she expects the survey to commence; when the survey will be completed; and when action, if any, can be expected to be taken in response to the findings of the survey. [16901/24]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

44. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on any engagements her Department has had with a union (details supplied) regarding the issue of caretakers. [16902/24]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

45. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to urgently review and action the very concerning case of revoked autism places for the coming school term (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16921/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

46. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the measures and solutions that can be offered in the case of a child with additional needs who is receiving the home tuition grant but cannot source a tutor as tutors are not willing to travel the distance to the child living in rural Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16945/24]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Ring

47. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the updated position on the construction of a school in County Mayo (details supplied); the stage it is at; when the school can expect further development on this project; when the school is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16949/24]

School Staff

Paul Kehoe

48. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education why the appeals board felt that a school (details supplied) did not meet the criteria under Circular 0011/2024 to retain its 12th teacher, as an explanation would help the school in understanding this final decision. [16973/24]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

49. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 316 of 5 March 2024, the reason no contact has been made with the parents of a child (details supplied) in respect of securing a place in a primary school ASD unit for 2024-25. [16974/24]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Éamon Ó Cuív

50. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of schools with three mainstream teachers that, based on the enrolment figures of September 2023, are due to lose a teacher for the 2024-25 school year based on the current teacher retention requirement in their school; the number of schools with two mainstream teachers that, based on the enrolment figures of September 2024 are due to gain a teacher based on the present teacher-pupil schedule in their school; whether, in view of the data available, she intends adjusting the pupil-teacher ratio downwards for the 2024-25 school year to ensure rural schools can continue to provide a high level of education in their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16976/24]