Parliamentary questions

International Relations

Willie O'Dea

54. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the timeframe for the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19691/23]

Emergency Planning

Willie O'Dea

87. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress of the public warning system. [19900/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Willie O'Dea

73. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if all public service pensioners have had their pensions restored under the provisions of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, which provides for the full unwinding of the public service pension reduction; if not, the number of pensioners that remain affected; the reason for this; and when these pensioners can expect to see their pension fully restored. [19671/23]

Housing Policy

Willie O'Dea

344. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to use legislation to protect tenants of purpose-built retirement villages to ensure they cannot be evicted, unless a tenant breaches the tenancy agreement; if he will ensure that purpose-built retirement villages remain retirement villages under planning law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19511/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

356. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason invalidity pension reviews are taking so long to process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19058/23]

Departmental Data

Willie O'Dea

426. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice when he or the Firearms Expert Committee intend to consult with the firearm user groups or representative organisations of the almost quarter-of-a-million licensed firearms holders in Ireland, in relation to the comprehensive review of firearms licensing in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19512/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

288. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a payment for disability allowance will be put in place for a person (details supplied) after an appeal was allowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18622/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

292. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18664/23]

Electric Vehicles

Willie O'Dea

27. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he is proposing to regulate the use of e-scooters by defining which public highways e-scooters may be driven on, how they may be driven, any penalties proposed, in line with those for cyclists, what safety gear will be mandatory or advised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18407/23]

Hospital Staff

Willie O'Dea

61. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify if financial support will be forthcoming for the current cohort of students on the trainee educational and child psychologist programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18466/23]

Education and Training Provision

Willie O'Dea

151. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify if financial support will be forthcoming for the current cohort of students on the trainee educational and child psychologist programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18465/23]

Crime Prevention

Willie O'Dea

44. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the number of burglaries that were reported in Ireland in 2022; and to provide a county breakdown of the numbers. [18082/23]

Proposed Legislation

Willie O'Dea

67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for defamation law reform. [18081/23]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Willie O'Dea

768. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that Transport Infrastructure Ireland has confirmed to this Deputy in writing that it has no responsibility for implementing noise action plans on major roads and that this is a matter for the relevant local authority; his plans to provide such funding, given local authorities have no funding allocation to implement these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16957/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

921. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when the working family payment for a person (details supplied) will be renewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17479/23]

Hospital Services

Willie O'Dea

1581. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the capacity of the department of clinical genetics of Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, given that at present people living with a rare disease wait over two years for a diagnosis after a referral for genetic testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17320/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Willie O'Dea

1682. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason staff of an organisation (details supplied) , both current and former, are still waiting for the Covid pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17725/23]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

1686. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is a delay of six months or more for people who have retired from employment from section 38 voluntary organisations and voluntary hospitals to receive their pensions; his views on whether this is acceptable; the steps being taken to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17733/23]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

1687. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a pension will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17735/23]

Third Level Education

Willie O'Dea

90. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of medical places available in universities in Ireland; if there are plans to increase this; the number of places on these courses are taken by non-EU students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7504/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of farmers in receipt of the farm assist payment to date in 2023; how this number compares with the same time in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14925/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

150. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of businesses that availed of the disability awareness support scheme in 2022; if there are plans to increase awareness of this scheme in the coming year to support the employment of people with disabilities in the labour force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14926/23]

Education Policy

Willie O'Dea

145. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the reimagined senior cycle of education for post-primary students, equity and excellence for all: where the student is at the centre of their senior cycle experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14190/23]

Education Policy

Willie O'Dea

149. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the development of L1 and L2 specifications in Leaving Certificate Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14189/23]

Health Services Staff

Willie O'Dea

361. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will revert to this Deputy with a response to an issue (details supplied) which was raised recently during questions on priority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14559/23]

Northern Ireland

Willie O'Dea

103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13497/23]

Good Friday Agreement

Willie O'Dea

112. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent engagements with regard to restoring the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13498/23]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

827. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for an old age contributory pension by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13124/23]

Departmental Staff

Willie O'Dea

1043. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice if probation officers working in the Department of Justice are public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/23]

Prison Service

Willie O'Dea

1063. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the reason a person (details supplied) was granted repatriation to the UK, in view of the fact that other foreign nationals in Ireland's prison system have been refused repatriation requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12882/23]

Animal Diseases

Willie O'Dea

41. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is evidence to suggest that there is an increase of TB infection in livestock near clear-felling sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11724/23]

Aquaculture Industry

Willie O'Dea

80. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development 2030. [11725/23]

Vacant Properties

Willie O'Dea

143. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the notifications received by local authorities under planning permission exemptions for converting certain vacant commercial properties into homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11596/23]

Departmental Schemes

Willie O'Dea

158. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he is making more homebuyers eligible for local authority home loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11597/23]

Rail Network

Willie O'Dea

82. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport who owns the large freight crane at Colbert Station, Limerick; the future plans for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11985/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Willie O'Dea

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a decision regarding an appeal for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12000/23]

State Examinations

Willie O'Dea

406. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that the decision to remove the junior certificate from the Youthreach programme has been met with huge disappointment by the pupils and parents directly affected, as they still want the junior certificate programme as an option in order to achieve a meaningful education; if there was consultation with young people or parents before this decision was taken; if she agrees that this decision is creating a new barrier to education for those affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11584/23]

Rail Network

Willie O'Dea

86. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport when the all-island strategic review will be completed. [10596/23]

Child Abuse

Willie O'Dea

235. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if a decision has been made on an application by a person (details supplied) for assistance through Caranua; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10641/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

127. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10503/23]

Fuel Quality

Willie O'Dea

98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to tackle the use of the so-called dirty fuels across the country. [9945/23]

Recycling Policy

Willie O'Dea

104. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of businesses that have registered with Re-Turn, as part of the national deposit return scheme, since registration opened in November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9944/23]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

202. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider not signing any amending Statutory Instrument changing the benefits of members of the CIÉ 1951 scheme given that the 1951 committee of trustees' independent actuary has confirmed that the 1951 scheme now meets the minimum funding standard provisions of the Pensions Act 1990 and is solvent; if he will ask CIÉ to provide a detailed explanation, including all of the outstanding information sought by the statutory 1951 scheme committee of trustees in respect of the alleged failure of the CIÉ Board to act in a timely manner in relation to investment decisions from the end of March 2020 to 13 May 2020, which lead to an as yet unspecified financial loss to the pension scheme it was responsible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10087/23]

Grant Payments

Willie O'Dea

380. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will consider allowing students of a third-level institution (details supplied) to apply for the Gaeltacht grant to cover fees to attend mandatory Gaeltacht placements for those studying primary teaching, particularly in light of the cost-of-living increases faced by these students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10232/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

385. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9476/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

414. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection why an application for the invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) was refused on the basis that they did not have sufficient contributions; the reason they have not received credits for the past two years in view of the fact that they have been in receipt of the disability allowance for the past seven years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10000/23]

Departmental Policies

Willie O'Dea

35. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures her Department is taking to address poverty and social exclusion across Ireland. [9253/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Willie O'Dea

45. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if remote working hubs could be provided in rural areas. [9254/23]

Industrial Development

Willie O'Dea

94. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a progress report on the IDA's target of 76 investments for the mid-west region in the period 2021 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8922/23]

Enterprise Policy

Willie O'Dea

138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8923/23]