Parliamentary questions

Third Level Education

David Stanton

122. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department is encouraging and supporting students to study to PhD level in Irish third-level educational institutions; the number of PhD qualifications awarded in each of these centres in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; the amount expended by his Department in each of these years in direct support to PhD students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40386/23]

Passport Services

David Stanton

28. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a renewal passport application is considered on a first-time basis once a period of 15 years from date of issue of the previous passport has elapsed; the reason 15 years is the timescale chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37820/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

David Stanton

102. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish-based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37894/23]

Departmental Budgets

David Stanton

295. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the net underspend after carryover surrendered by his Department to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37909/23]

Business Supports

David Stanton

524. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/23]

Business Supports

David Stanton

1005. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy of her Department to ensure that Irish-based businesses, SMEs in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures she has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37903/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

David Stanton

1281. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37889/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

David Stanton

1398. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37890/23]

Health Services Staff

David Stanton

1558. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to list in tabular form the number of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who have retired and who have resigned from full-time HSE positions in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37501/23]

Health Services Staff

David Stanton

1564. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time permanent vacancies currently in speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in each HSE community health organisation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/23]

Health Services Staff

David Stanton

1565. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to list in tabular form the number of persons who were interviewed for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy permanent positions in each HSE community healthcare organisation area in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of positions offered following interview; the number of positions taken up in each of these disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37516/23]

Health Services Staff

David Stanton

1566. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to list in tabular form the number of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists in each community healthcare organisation area who have retired and who have resigned from full-time HSE positions in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37517/23]

Health Services Staff

David Stanton

1567. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists currently employed by the HSE in each community healthcare organisation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37518/23]

Departmental Data

David Stanton

1641. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of women who were estimated to have developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy each year from 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37851/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

David Stanton

1645. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the policy of his Department to ensure Irish-based businesses, and SMEs in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures he has put in place to ensure Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37898/23]

Health Service Executive

David Stanton

1646. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to outline Government policy with respect to the management and-or disposal of HSE property that is surplus to requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37907/23]

Healthcare Policy

David Stanton

1648. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the current situation with respect to the regulation of the athletic therapy profession in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37919/23]

Third Level Fees

David Stanton

2049. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is considering the continuation of the €1,000 State financial support towards the student contribution fee for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year; if not, the additional support measures he is considering for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37819/23]

Employment Schemes

David Stanton

694. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection with reference to the reasonable accommodation fund, the disability awareness training scheme and the wage subsidy scheme, the number of employees who have benefited from each scheme in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of employers who took part in each scheme over the same period; the amount expended on each scheme in that time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36086/23]

Sports Facilities

David Stanton

108. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is satisfied that there are sufficient facilities across the country to support the development of athletics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34694/23]

Children in Care

David Stanton

613. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process, if any, of conducting a needs risk analysis of children being considered for foster care prior to any long-term foster care placement taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34819/23]

Disability Services

David Stanton

614. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a progress update on the Barcelona Declaration 1995 for people with disabilities and its implementation in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34820/23]

Healthcare Policy

David Stanton

671. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, his Department is taking to raise awareness amongst those in an agricultural setting with respect to the dangers posed by tick bites potentially leading to Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34675/23]

Healthcare Policy

David Stanton

672. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, his Department is taking to raise awareness amongst those in a forestry setting with respect to the dangers posed by tick bites potentially leading to Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34676/23]

Electricity Grid

David Stanton

139. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the need to support family farm partnerships and small sole traders whose domestic residence has the same meter reference point reference number (MPRN) as the farm enterprise or small business, and where the family home is part of the farm or business, by allowing them to continue to remain on household rates for electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/23]

European Union

David Stanton

255. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any sectoral or regional analysis has been undertaken on the potential benefits to national companies of Ireland's participation in the Unified Patent Court agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33772/23]

European Union

David Stanton

260. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has taken note of Denmark’s referendum result of 25 May 2014 with regard to the country’s membership of the Unified Patent Court; if so, the conclusions he has drawn from the result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34283/23]

School Staff

David Stanton

265. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate a claim for the revision of school secretary pay scales (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33542/23]

Residency Permits

David Stanton

536. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered reducing the cost associated with the registration for, and the renewal of, an Irish residence permit card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34296/23]

Housing Schemes

David Stanton

38. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures put in place by his Department to ensure that those families that are not eligible for the cost-rental tenant-in-situ scheme are not made homeless as a result of their current property being put up for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32923/23]

Housing Schemes

David Stanton

91. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans, if any, to adjust the cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme to take into account families whose household income exceeds the limit specified in the scheme and where, because of the age of the applicant, a mortgage is not an option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32922/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

David Stanton

117. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection when the maximum rent limits under the rent supplement scheme were last updated; the plans, if any, she has to increase these rent limits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32912/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

David Stanton

144. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the rent supplement scheme can be used to assist Ukrainian nationals who are living in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive to avail of private rental accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33192/23]

Intellectual Property

David Stanton

210. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline if the working groups, the interdepartmental committee on the Unified Patent Court and the Enterprise Agencies Forum on the Unified Patent Court, previously established to examine the workings of Ireland's participation in the Unified Patent Court, have been reconvened, or when they will be reconvened; the current membership of, and organisations represented by, these working groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33424/23]

Diplomatic Representation

David Stanton

51. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to establish a full-time Consulate General of Ireland in Montreal, Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33124/23]

Trade Promotion

David Stanton

89. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the Enterprise Ireland office in Quebec, Canada, since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/23]

EU Bodies

David Stanton

90. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the work of drafting the Amendment of the Constitution (Unified Patent Court) Bill seeking to amend Article 29 of the Constitution to recognise the international agreement on a Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33137/23]

School Enrolments

David Stanton

92. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 293 and 301 of 20 June 2023, 79 of 24 November 2022 and 101 of 11 October 2022, if she has been made aware that there is still a sizeable number of students in east Cork who have not been offered a first-year place in a second-level school for the coming school year; if she will make further resources available to enable schools to enrol these students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32854/23]

Defective Building Materials

David Stanton

176. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered an expansion of his Department’s Building Blocks Capital Programme to make capital grants available to potential childcare service providers towards the cost of purchasing premises to develop childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32985/23]

Disability Services

David Stanton

85. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 30 May 2023, to outline the progress made, if any, by his Department in putting in place support measures for vulnerable young adults with intellectual disabilities to attend training centres and workshops post-second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32399/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

David Stanton

118. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has examined ways of reducing the level of bureaucracy associated with the National Childcare Scheme for both families and childcare service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32400/23]

EU Bodies

David Stanton

270. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the timing and publication of the regulatory impact assessment on the required legislation ahead of the referendum on Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court, in light of the fact that the court has already gone live across Europe and that Ireland’s ability to play an influential role diminishes the more time that passes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32642/23]

Social Welfare Payments

David Stanton

407. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments currently being made under the rent supplement scheme; the total cost per week; the total amount paid out under this scheme in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32832/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

David Stanton

485. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will re-examine the decision not to grant an earlier date of payment for a core funding application for a childcare service provider (details supplied) given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32092/23]

Work Permits

David Stanton

11. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider allowing partners and spouses of holders of intra-company transfer employment permits to be eligible for an employment permit in their own right in a similar way to the current eligibility of partners and spouses of holders of critical skills employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31329/23]

Work Permits

David Stanton

23. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received by his Department for intra-company transfer employment permits in each respective year from 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of successful applications in the same period, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31381/23]

School Management

David Stanton

119. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals made under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to the Secretary General of her Department in 2021 and 2022, respectively and to date in 2023; the number of these appeals in each category; the number of cases each year to which an appeals committee was appointed; the further number of these appeals where a hearing was conducted; the final number of these appeals that were upheld; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31510/23]

Legislative Reviews

David Stanton

126. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the dates when a review of the operation of sections 28 and 29 of the Education Act 1998 have been conducted as mandated under the Act; the person or persons who carried out any such review in each case; the outcome of these reviews; her plans, if any, to have further reviews carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31506/23]

National Development Plan

David Stanton

34. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline the interaction his Department has had with the Department of Transport with respect to the delivery of projects under the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30990/23]

Road Projects

David Stanton

63. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has received a request from the Department of Transport for extra funding for roads projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30991/23]

Road Projects

David Stanton

50. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30043/23]

Road Projects

David Stanton

63. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered allowing a project (details supplied) to proceed this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30044/23]

International Bodies

David Stanton

108. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance to outline his current engagement with the International Monetary Fund, in particular on the subject of its commitment to aid in developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28857/23]

Insurance Industry

David Stanton

147. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the progress made to date by the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market as it continues to work to help to attract new entrants into the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29961/23]

Defence Forces

David Stanton

74. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the outcome of the current recruitment campaign in respect of all branches of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29073/23]

Defence Forces

David Stanton

96. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of applications currently being processed by the Defence Forces as a result of the most recent recruitment campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29074/23]

National Broadband Plan

David Stanton

160. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 21 March 2023, to outline if his Department has reclassified a premises (details supplied) for inclusion under the National Broadband Plan; if this reclassification has been formally transmitted to National Broadband Ireland; if not, when he expects these details to be transmitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29449/23]

Corporate Governance

David Stanton

289. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the procedures, if any, that he intends to put in place to establish independent assurance services providers in Ireland following the transposition of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29695/23]

School Enrolments

David Stanton

293. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education to outline the data her Department considers when projecting second level school place requirements; how often this data is reviewed; if such data has highlighted the need for an additional second-level school in the east Cork area in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29072/23]

School Admissions

David Stanton

301. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that there are still children with no second level school place secured in east Cork ahead of the commencement of the 2023/2024 school year in September; the action she intends to take to ensure that these young people are offered school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29213/23]

Solar Energy Guidelines

David Stanton

474. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with reference to his Department's PV panel installers registration form, and with further reference to the requirement to have completed a training course in solar photovoltaic panel installation, to outline the training courses recognised; whether or not certification is required; if so, the details of same; to further outline the recognised training providers mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29205/23]

Disability Services

David Stanton

500. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that a child (details supplied) receives speech and language, occupational therapy and psychology input as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29064/23]

Overseas Development Aid

David Stanton

15. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on the most recent engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28870/23]

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

David Stanton

86. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the measures being taken by his Department to facilitate offshore wind energy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28879/23]

Energy Production

David Stanton

117. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline his plans to support the production of biomethane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28880/23]

Departmental Funding

David Stanton

85. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the level of interest to date in applications for the 2023 community centres investment fund; the options available under the fund to communities in circumstances where access to suitable land for the construction of a community centre is not easily accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28286/23]

Community Development Projects

David Stanton

95. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the action she is taking to support communities in forming community organisations where none currently exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28308/23]

Housing Schemes

David Stanton

762. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the supports in place to assist older renters who, because of age, are unable to get approved for a mortgage and where the household income is over the limits set under the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28108/23]

Housing Schemes

David Stanton

763. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in circumstances where adult children are living in a rental accommodation with their parents for the time being, if any income earned by these children can be disregarded when calculating the household income under the cost rental tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28112/23]

Housing Schemes

David Stanton

764. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the payments, if any, that can be disregarded when calculating the net annual income of a household in relation to the cost rental tenant in situ scheme; if carer’s allowance, for example, can be disregarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28113/23]

Health Services Staff

David Stanton

1101. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the extent of the use of lean management systems in the health service to make it more efficient and effective for staff and patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27051/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

David Stanton

1112. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in the establishment of the integrated care of chronic disease management hub based in north Cork; the location of the hub; the number of staff working in the hub and their respective roles, in tabular form; the number of patients treated at the hub to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27122/23]

Health Service Executive

David Stanton

1319. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the body or bodies representing professional counsellors and psychotherapists that are recognised by his Department and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28495/23]

Health Services

David Stanton

59. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the ways that he is encouraging and supporting the reduction of paper-based systems in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26613/23]

National Training Fund

David Stanton

96. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered establishing a centralised information system for the National Training Fund to allow for students, professors, guidance counsellors and industry bodies to view, not only possible funding or research opportunities, but clearly defined possible career paths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26608/23]

Further and Higher Education

David Stanton

118. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the value of the National Training Fund, his further plans for the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26611/23]

School Transport

David Stanton

74. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 9 May 2023, the estimated extra cost to her Department of putting in place a 50+ seater bus service to transport second-level students on a route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26599/23]

Disability Services

David Stanton

60. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to a Topical Issue matter I raised on 3 May 2023, the progress, if any, in supporting young adults with intellectual disabilities to attend training centres and workshops in a post-second level setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25896/23]

Disabilities Assessments

David Stanton

82. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the HSE in order to facilitate private operators carrying out assessments for children with autism that would be accepted by the local community disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25895/23]

Road Network

David Stanton

192. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 55 of 19 January 2023, if the review of the draft Strategic Assessment Report for the R624 access road as part of the great island connectivity scheme has been completed; if not, when he expects such a review to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26218/23]

Departmental Schemes

David Stanton

380. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if private health contribution payments, private pension contribution payments and membership fees paid to trades union can be disregarded as income when calculating the weekly rent contribution paid by tenants to local authorities under the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25819/23]

Housing Schemes

David Stanton

436. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures, if any, in place, to assist persons to purchase houses which were previously owned, that is, not new builds, and not deemed to be vacant or derelict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26365/23]

An Garda Síochána

David Stanton

29. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice if a target exists for the number of persons to be recruited into the Garda Reserve; when recruiting will commence; the budget for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25235/23]

Court Procedures

David Stanton

44. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice if he has examined the community court system operating in New York and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/23]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

69. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way his Department is promoting the planting of trees; the progress that has been made to date in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25215/23]

Forestry Sector

David Stanton

85. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he is encouraging and supporting farmers to plant trees on their farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25233/23]

Work Permits

David Stanton

137. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the measures that are being taken by his Department to address current employment permit appeals waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25388/23]

Work Permits

David Stanton

138. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on an employment permit appeal application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25389/23]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

153. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she has given consideration to allowing childcare providers to offer a service for the summer programme 2023, especially in areas where no such service is currently being offered and where there is definite demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25412/23]

Childcare Services

David Stanton

239. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the situations, if any, where childcare providers are required to hold a public services vehicle licence as part of the core funding contract with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25413/23]

Wastewater Treatment

David Stanton

130. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with reference to the new funding scheme announced on 28 April 2022, and targeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public waste water services under his Department’s Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025, if he will outline the requests submitted by Cork County Council for funding for specific priority projects; the applications which were successful for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25043/23]

Employment Schemes

David Stanton

115. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the way her Department is supporting people with disabilities to gain employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24637/23]

Work Permits

David Stanton

255. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the situation with respect to the issuing of employment permits for dairy farm assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24019/23]

Agriculture Schemes

David Stanton

578. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects to be in a position to make decisions on TAMS 3 applications for the installation of solar PV panels on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24018/23]

Disability Services

David Stanton

649. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has explored the possibility of providing funding for the installation of communication boards in playgrounds around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24040/23]

Departmental Funding

David Stanton

8. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports, if any, that are made available by her Department to encourage and promote poetry on a national basis; her views on the appointment of a poet laureate to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22636/23]

Departmental Strategies

David Stanton

56. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 92 and 105 of 21 February 2023, to provide an update on the development of a National Swimming Strategy; when she expects to be in a position to publish the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22635/23]

Housing Policy

David Stanton

129. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports, if any, in place by his Department to encourage over the shop living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23076/23]

Local Authorities

David Stanton

160. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received a funding request from Cork County Council to support the appointment of additional vacant homes officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23077/23]

School Facilities

David Stanton

255. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the progress of a school build (details supplied); when she expects the school to be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23939/23]