Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Payments

Gary Gannon

103. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare payments that were suspended, cancelled or not awarded to lone parents due to failure to provide proof of efforts to seek maintenance for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. [5506/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

130. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the total budget towards the proposed tax free pandemic recognition payment of €1,000; and the number of eligible frontline workers expected to avail of the payment. [5505/22]

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]

Disadvantaged Status

Gary Gannon

100. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the status of the framework for sustainable funding for a centre (details supplied); the date of the last meeting between her Department and the centre; when the framework is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4815/22]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

162. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with the organisers of a campaign (details supplied). [4816/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Gary Gannon

181. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when the review of alternative education which started in 2018 will be published; when the review was received by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4814/22]

Artists' Remuneration

Gary Gannon

315. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the pilot basic income scheme for artists will be eligible for comedians and comedy writers to apply for; if comedians and comedy writers are included in the definition of arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4836/22]

Artists' Remuneration

Gary Gannon

316. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way that well-being measurements will be included in the pilot basic income scheme for artists. [4838/22]

Disabilities Assessments

Gary Gannon

746. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the current number of children waiting for assessment of needs by county and waiting periods of less than three months, three months plus, one year plus and two years plus. [4837/22]

Medicinal Products

Gary Gannon

747. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the actions that are being taken to support women and pregnant persons with hyperemesis who face significant financial costs to access HSE recommended treatment of pyridoxine and doxylamine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4839/22]

Medicinal Products

Gary Gannon

748. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if there are any licensed brands for treating hyperemesis that have an application for reimbursement on the drugs payment scheme card and the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4840/22]

Hospital Admissions

Gary Gannon

749. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of women and pregnant persons that required hospital care as a result of untreated hyperemesis or dehydration or other effects of hyperemesis in 2019, 2020 and 2021. [4841/22]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

284. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if a standardisation model was used in the leaving certificate 2019; and if so, the detail of the process of standardisation used by the State Examinations Commission prior to subsequent calculated grades and accredited grade models of standardisation. [4207/22]

Early School Leavers

Gary Gannon

285. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of early school leavers in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and the latest data available for 2022, by county. [4209/22]

Further and Higher Education

Gary Gannon

302. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science The number of students in further and higher education that have dropped out during the academic year 2021-2022, by institution and year group, that is, first year, second year, third year and fourth year [4208/22]

Pension Provisions

Gary Gannon

441. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the recommendation in the report on the Commission on Pensions that the method for calculating entitlement to the State pension (contributory) should fully transition to a total contributions approach as soon as possible with the consequent abolition of the yearly average approach; the planned schedule for such a transition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3599/22]

Care Services

Gary Gannon

442. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on family carers being excluded from the recently announced payment of recognition of €1,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3601/22]

Care Services

Gary Gannon

443. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of providing family carers with a once-off payment of €1,000 in recognition of their work and hardship over the pandemic. [3602/22]

Naturalisation Applications

Gary Gannon

480. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the status of an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied). [3077/22]

Naturalisation Applications

Gary Gannon

481. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants waiting for a decision on naturalisation; the number of applications that have waited 12 months plus for a decision; the number of applications that have waited 24 months plus for a decision; and the average wait on a decision. [3078/22]

Immigration Support Services

Gary Gannon

515. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) will be granted an appointment at the INIS office on Burgh Quay given that they cannot get an appointment through existing means and it is causing distress. [3603/22]

Immigration Support Services

Gary Gannon

516. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the status of the new immigration service appointment and scheduling systems; if they have eliminated the practice of the appropriation by third parties of immigration appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3604/22]

Health Services

Gary Gannon

572. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made an allocation for the operational budget of the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force for 2022 as with the other 23 task forces nationally; and if this allocation for the task force, set at €224,000 for 2021, is included in the HSE budget for 2022. [3079/22]

Dental Services

Gary Gannon

666. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of primary school children who missed dental screenings due to external circumstances such as school building closures and redeployment of staff that will be accommodated in the future. [3600/22]

Sports Facilities

Gary Gannon

82. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on retaining two stadiums (details supplied) to ensure equal access for both clubs’ League of Ireland and Women’s National League teams. [2648/22]

Arts Policy

Gary Gannon

120. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the pilot for a basic income for artists. [2649/22]

Sports Facilities

Gary Gannon

135. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the significant importance of a stadium (details supplied) for women’s football in Ireland; the way that women’s football will be supported in the absence of the stadium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2647/22]

Culture Policy

Gary Gannon

144. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the absence of cultural spaces in Dublin city and county specifically for performance and artistic exhibitions; and the actions she plans to take to address same. [2650/22]

Air Corps

Gary Gannon

699. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence if additional funding will be allocated to radar surveillance capability for the Air Corps; and if so, the timeline for such funding given the increasing threat concerns and flight safety concerns as outlined by the IAA (details supplied). [2667/22]

Departmental Reports

Gary Gannon

870. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the date the advisory report by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the senior cycle that was submitted to her Department will be published. [2668/22]

Departmental Reviews

Gary Gannon

871. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the details of the review process that took place prior to reinstating banked hours in relation to banked hours which have been reinstated from January to February mid-term; if the situation will be reviewed prior to the removal in February mid-term and the use of banked hours potentially extended if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2669/22]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

872. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reason the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has not committed to a specific date in May 2022 for the publication of special class teacher and SNA allocations on the NCSE website; if the NCSE will commit to a specific date in May 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2670/22]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

873. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the lack of junior certificate graduates among the 2021-2022 sixth year cohort was factored into contingency planning for the leaving certificate if in-person examinations could not go ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2671/22]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

874. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the details of the contingency plans in place if in-person State examinations cannot take place as planned in 2022. [2672/22]

School Inspections

Gary Gannon

408. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of incidental inspections that took place in primary schools for the academic years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. [62850/21]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

409. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if special needs assistants, SNAs, on the inclusive school support course beginning in September 2022 as part of the national training programme for special needs assistants will receive an accredited qualification; if she has engaged with the current cohort of SNAs who will not receive a qualification at the end of their course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62851/21]

Departmental Data

Gary Gannon

410. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers who worked on summer provision 2021; the number who have not received payment to date for their work; if it will be ensured that those awaiting payment will receive it on the next pay day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62852/21]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

411. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the alternative plans in place if students are unable to sit in-person State examinations in 2022; if calculated grades have been considered for use in the examinations for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62856/21]

Domestic Violence

Gary Gannon

454. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the review by Tusla of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62855/21]

Departmental Reviews

Gary Gannon

482. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62854/21]

Work Permits

Gary Gannon

112. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the options open to persons in cases in which they have an employment permit which is due to expire in the short-term in view of the fact that persons with expired workplace permits are not permitted to work as in the case of a person (details supplied); if the renewal will be expedited given their employer is experiencing a staff shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62006/21]

Departmental Data

Gary Gannon

419. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of school inspectors in her Department; and the number of these inspectors that are registered with the Teaching Council. [62000/21]

An Garda Síochána

Gary Gannon

420. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the status of a centralised system for vetting SNAs. [62001/21]

Public Sector Pay

Gary Gannon

421. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the status of the implementation of an electronic payroll system. [62002/21]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

422. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the mechanism in place for school principals to contact teachers on secondment who have been released in order to be available for substitute work; and the reason these teachers were not deployed temporarily to the substitute panels across the country. [62003/21]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

423. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if he will address the issue of principals not being able to contact teachers on secondment who have been released in order to be available for substitute work by placing these teachers on the substitute panels in order they can be easily accessed by schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62004/21]

Residency Permits

Gary Gannon

527. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if the temporary extension on immigration permissions until 15 January 2022 allows for those with temporary extension to be able to travel outside of Ireland and return on the expired work permit stamp and the Irish residence permit card (details supplied). [62005/21]

Departmental Bodies

Gary Gannon

189. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the working groups his Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [61105/21]

Departmental Bodies

Gary Gannon

213. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the working groups her Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [61106/21]

Departmental Bodies

Gary Gannon

247. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the working groups her Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [61104/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

248. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that not all principals have received the document FAQ in relation to face masks and coverings in primary schools as of 6 December 2021; her views on whether this is sufficient; and if she will review the way her Department communicates with principals to ensure safe, reliable and timely information. [61113/21]

Social Welfare Inspections

Gary Gannon

259. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of home inspections that have happened in the past 12 months. [61111/21]

School Facilities

Gary Gannon

262. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Montessori schools or early learning centres that closed in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if the closures were due to disputes with the landlords of the premises. [61107/21]

School Facilities

Gary Gannon

263. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the closure of a facility (details supplied) due to fire safety concerns of the landlords despite the premises being inspected by Tusla, Pobal and independent fire experts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61109/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

264. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if antigen tests will be provided for the childhood sector free; and if his attention has been drawn to a crèche (details supplied) that cannot afford antigen tests. [61112/21]

Departmental Consultations

Gary Gannon

281. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the working groups his Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [61103/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Gary Gannon

342. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the status of the trials of antigen tests in the early childhood sector. [61110/21]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

282. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take tangible action at European Union level to bring forward the adoption of import and export prohibitions towards illegal settlements such as those in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Defence in view of the announcement on 27 October 2021 by Israel that it has given final approval for the building of 1,800 housing units and initial approval for another 1,344 and the earlier announcement that construction tenders for 1,355 housing units in the occupied West Bank are at an advanced stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60547/21]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

283. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the comments made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur (details supplied) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 that the illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territory continue to attract international corporate engagement; his further views on whether the involvement of these corporations with the settlements assists them economically to grow and thrive as well as providing a form of political legitimisation against the wishes of the international community; his further views on whether Israel will continue to ignore international law with impunity unless definite action is taken, including the provision of political and financial support to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to fulfil its mandate to annually update and publish the United Nations database of business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60548/21]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

284. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 18 November 2021, his views on whether years of dispossession, confiscation, segregation and disintegration of the Palestinian people coupled with a strategy of surrounding Palestinian communities with thousands of Zionist settlers has ensured that a two-State solution is farther away now than ever (details supplied); his further views on whether the present extent of the occupation reaffirms Zionist claims to all of Palestine and effectively ensures that a two-State solution will only come about if the international community gives immediate recognition to a Palestinian State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60549/21]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

345. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the status of the negotiations ongoing between her Department and representatives of school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60550/21]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Gary Gannon

346. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers qualified outside the State registered by the Teaching Council in each of the years from 2017 to date. [60551/21]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Gary Gannon

347. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers registered by the Teaching Council in each of the years from 2017 to date. [60552/21]

Schools Administration

Gary Gannon

348. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of days that went uncovered by a substitute teacher in primary schools from 1 November to 30 November 20221 according to the online claims system. [60553/21]

Schools Administration

Gary Gannon

349. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of days went uncovered by a substitute teacher in post-primary schools from 1 November to 30 November 20221 according to the online claims system. [60554/21]

School Inspections

Gary Gannon

350. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the total number of inspections carried out in primary schools by type of inspection for the period 1 September 2021 to the most recent data available in tabular form. [60555/21]

School Inspections

Gary Gannon

351. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the total number of inspections carried out in post-primary schools broken down by type of inspection for the period 1 September 2021 to the most recent data available in tabular form. [60556/21]

Legislative Measures

Gary Gannon

7. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the research on conversion therapy to support legislation for banning the practice as committed to in the Programme for Government; the timeline for the research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59510/21]

Housing Policy

Gary Gannon

58. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will establish a specific taskforce to review the impact of housing insecurity on one-parent families as part of the campaign by an organisation (details supplied). [59686/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

110. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the significant delays in birth registration causing subsequent delays for claims for child benefit placing significant financial stress on parents particularly one parent families; if she will ensure that financially vulnerable parents are identified and supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59687/21]

Health Service Executive

Gary Gannon

221. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a HSE travel abroad scheme travel claim to be processed. [59682/21]

Health Service Executive

Gary Gannon

222. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of applications submitted for travel reimbursement under the HSE’s travel abroad scheme; the number approved; the total amount paid yearly for approved travel claims from the travel abroad scheme for the past seven years in tabular form. [59683/21]

Health Service Executive

Gary Gannon

223. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of approved travel claims paid under the HSE travel abroad scheme that included reimbursement for a travelling companion for the past five years. [59684/21]

Health Service Executive

Gary Gannon

224. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if travel that is not air or sea travel is eligible for reimbursement under the travel abroad scheme; his views on whether it is appropriate for only part of the journey to be recouped by those who are not able to access treatment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59685/21]

Health Service Executive

Gary Gannon

225. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if additional staff in the HSE will be made available to process birth registration systems to deal with the current backlog of registrations; if not, the additional resources being provided and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59688/21]

Civil Registration Service

Gary Gannon

226. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of staff working in each of the 25 civil registration service offices in 2006, 2011, 2016 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [59689/21]

Economic Policy

Gary Gannon

18. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of his Department on the development of the well-being framework [59099/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

122. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will address the heating issue currently facing schools by providing air filtration for schools given windows are being left open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59512/21]

Direct Provision System

Gary Gannon

134. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department holds responsibility for the daily expenses allowance. [59513/21]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

11. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Education last met; and when it is next due to meet. [59098/21]

Schools Refurbishment

Gary Gannon

371. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the total number of applications for emergency works grants; the number that were successful in accessing the grant and the total amount awarded for the past five years in tabular form. [59100/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

372. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the total number of schools that identified a further requirement for CO2 monitors and submitted a request through the dedicated helpline and email account (details supplied); the number of schools that received additional CO2 monitors; and the total number of reserve CO2 monitors that have been distributed to schools via this method in tabular form. [59101/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Gary Gannon

413. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a working family payment claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [59102/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

467. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to higher education institutions holding in-person examinations at the end of term some in large venues to accommodate large number of students despite the growing number of Covid-19 cases; if his Department will work with public health to ensure guidelines are provided to institutions to ensure the health and well-being of staff and students are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59107/21]

Programme for Government

Gary Gannon

468. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government for addressing the gap in postgraduate grants particularly in relation to part-time postgraduate grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59108/21]

Legislative Measures

Gary Gannon

490. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the expected timeframe for when the private security agency sector will finish the development of training and standards for enforcement officers as per the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59104/21]

Legislative Measures

Gary Gannon

491. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if enforcement officers are currently covered by the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59106/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Gary Gannon

771. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of Irish recipients of European Union farm subsidies, including organisation names and amounts received listed in descending order by value for the period 2018 to 2021, in tabular form. [59103/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

75. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if clarity will be provided to schools regarding communication of a positive Covid-19 case in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57313/21]

School Inspections

Gary Gannon

91. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the non-essential school inspections visiting schools given the evolving and growing concern of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57310/21]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

119. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the steps that have been taken to ensure that the requirement for close contacts to restrict movements for five days will not further impact on school staffing worsening the already existing staffing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57311/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

121. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when school leaders can expect to receive antigen testing for the school community; if antigen testing will require additional expenditure by the school or parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57312/21]

School Curriculum

Gary Gannon

129. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the status of introducing legislation to create an inclusive relationships and sexuality education programme as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57314/21]

Overseas Development Aid

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will reaffirm the commitment to reaching a spend of 0.7% of GNI on official development assistance by 2030; the status of a roadmap to achieve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56772/21]

Departmental Priorities

Gary Gannon

101. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has carried out a threat assessment in relation to Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56547/21]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

124. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider a reform of the process by which medals are awarded and honour the service men and women following on from the independent review into medals awarded to those involved in the Jadotville siege; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56546/21]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

131. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties being experienced by members of the Naval Service; the practical measures he plans to take to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56545/21]

Naval Service

Gary Gannon

133. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the actual measures or protocols in place to protect undersea fibre optic cables that run under Irish waters from interference or tampering by foreign or hostile agents; if a risk assessment of the likelihood of such an incident has been carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56548/21]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

134. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the reason Ireland has withdrawn two officers from the MINURSO mission in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56549/21]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

121. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the steps taken to incorporate the student voice when it comes to leaving certificate reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56560/21]