Parliamentary questions

School Enrolments

John McGuinness

280. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if a school place will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if the matter will be expedited. [24789/24]

Farm Inspections

John McGuinness

577. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the issue of farm waste recorded during a Bord Bia audit on a farm (details supplied) can be rectified as agreed on the day before the next audit due in 2025. [25155/24]

Departmental Funding

John McGuinness

641. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what state supports and benefits are paid to foster families who have cared for a special needs person for over 20 years from childhood to adulthood; if there are ongoing care payments that they are entitled to; if the individual that requires the care is automatically entitled to some form of payment and/or a social welfare payment in their own right. [25157/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

John McGuinness

786. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment with a gastroenterologist at St. James's Hospital, Dublin for a person (details supplied) and make a comprehensive statement on the case. [25117/24]

National Children's Hospital

John McGuinness

789. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the current projected final cost of the National Children’s Hospital; if he is satisfied that the projected final cost is accurate; if any extension of time has been granted to the contractor and, if so, for how long; the quantum of claims and variations issued by the contractor to date; the amount of money certified to date and the quantum of claims and variations certified to date; if the contractor has an entitlement to seek increased costs in light of the inflation experienced in 2022, 2023 and 2024; if any liquidated or other damages have been sought from the contractor, and the quantum of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25131/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John McGuinness

795. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if full payment will continue to be made to a person (details supplied) out of work since 2020 with COVID related health issues [25160/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

John McGuinness

195. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the drafting of new guidelines for renewable energy projects includes the requirement that an SEA be carried out in advance to address environmental and health issues; if in this regard he will outline any practical basis for setting a target of producing 80% of Ireland's energy from renewable sources; if measures to protect the rural environment, landscape and the health of rural dwellers will be part of the consideration in this process; the forward planning measures that are in place or that will be put in place to deal with the Issue of turbine carcasses and other materials that cannot be recycled when they become obsolete; if he will consider putting the guidelines before Dáil Éireann for debate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

John McGuinness

206. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a new bus pass will be issued immediately to a person (details supplied). [24518/24]

Social Welfare Payments

John McGuinness

212. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an invalidity pension will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24471/24]

Social Welfare Payments

John McGuinness

214. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the funeral costs associated with the death of a person (details supplied) will be paid to a local undertaker, as the deceased had no family or next-of-kin. [24509/24]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

215. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the queries from her Department relative to the State pension (non-contributory) of a person (details supplied) have been resolved; and if they are in receipt of the maximum pension. [24510/24]

Social Welfare Payments

John McGuinness

216. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance in the name of a person (details supplied); if the appeal submitted by this Deputy has been considered; and if a positive response will be issued. [24515/24]

Child Protection

John McGuinness

240. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to a previous Parliamentary Question, if Tusla will issue the payments due to a person (details supplied). [24497/24]

Health Services

John McGuinness

255. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the services and supports that have been put in place for a child (details supplied); if he has responded to correspondence from the child’s mother; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24504/24]

Disabilities Assessments

John McGuinness

257. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange an immediate autism assessment for a child (details supplied); if the range of services they urgently require will be put in place; and if he will expedite the matter. [24517/24]

Social Welfare Payments

John McGuinness

138. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if disability allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [24255/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

John McGuinness

476. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a definite date for a knee operation will be scheduled in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will expedite the matter. [23980/24]

Vacant Properties

John McGuinness

142. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the reason a former station master's house at Glendonnell, Mullinavat, County Kilkenny, lies vacant during a housing crisis; the reason such properties are not being sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23408/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

217. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if full carer’s allowance will be approved and back dated in the case of a person (details supplied) as they are currently on half carer's; and if the matter will be expedited. [23400/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

John McGuinness

267. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an urgent appointment will be arranged at the orthopaedic department WUH or Kilcreene Hospital, Kilkenny, for a person (details supplied). [23381/24]

Traffic Management

John McGuinness

202. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to deal with the road traffic issues on the N25, Waterford to Glenmore Road, relating to the volume and speed of traffic and the dangers of accessing the N25 from the local roads network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22664/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

374. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22398/24]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

378. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a contributory state pension and if their contribution record can be provided. [22431/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

John McGuinness

563. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if immediate appointments will be given to a person (details supplied). [22438/24]

Heritage Sites

John McGuinness

162. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will investigate the extent of the maintenance required to make safe the structure known locally as Ballyshaun Castle (details supplied); if information boards will be provided at each location giving a brief history of the structures; if there are grants available to local community groups or property owners for such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/24]

Schools Building Projects

John McGuinness

179. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the reason that after receiving official sanction on 30 April 2019 for a school building project, a school (details supplied) is still waiting for construction to commence; and if she will confirm a date to commence the project as a matter of urgency. [22243/24]

School Funding

John McGuinness

182. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will review immediately the arrangements for payment of the ancillary services grants and the SSSF secretary grants, as communicated to schools on 26 April 2024, given that what is being proposed will cause serious financial problems for some schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22278/24]

Housing Provision

John McGuinness

193. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a complaint submitted to him (details supplied) relative to the purchase of 17 houses at Ogenty, Gowran, County Kilkenny, is being processed; and if he will confirm a timeframe for a response. [22241/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

203. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance submitted in November 2022, which was refused in 2023 and then reconsidered and refused again under review in the name of a person (details supplied), will be approved based on the further information submitted being considered in far greater detail in the appeal process. [22244/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

204. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension in the name of a person (details supplied) has been fully processed. [22245/24]

Health Services

John McGuinness

254. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if section 39 funding will be put in place immediately for a project (details supplied) as the project is under considerable financial pressure.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22180/24]

Road Projects

John McGuinness

162. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if he has assessed the recent submission from Kilkenny County Council dated 19 April 2024 in response to the SRAD queries relative to the next phase of the Kilkenny ring road extension; if he will provide the appropriate level of funding to allow the project to proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21241/24]

Road Projects

John McGuinness

163. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if the required amount of funding will be allocated immediately to allow a continuation of the N24 road project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21242/24]

Rail Network

John McGuinness

171. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if the lift, which was installed by a company (details supplied) to facilitate access for all passengers to the railway station and which was to be commissioned by Iarnród Éireann, will be made operational; the reason the lift has never been used since it was installed 20 years ago; and if immediate action will be taken. [21278/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

John McGuinness

250. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the indicative timeframe for the various stages of planning and construction of a flood relief scheme for Freshford, County Kilkenny; and if he will confirm the current status of the scheme. [21269/24]

Special Educational Needs

John McGuinness

283. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the rationale relative to the decision to withdraw the sanction for five classrooms to accommodate special needs children at a school (details supplied) and instead to offer a standalone prefabricated single classroom, completely disconnected from the existing building; if the decision was based solely on cost and method of construction; if the needs of the children and families waiting for a place in the school this year carried any weight in the decision process; if she is aware that the school's board of management will accept the modular-build five classrooms connected to the existing building, as approved, contrary to what her Department states; if her Department will now engage with the school to find an immediate solution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21294/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

399. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension, which is under appeal, will be approved for a person (details supplied). [21274/24]

Probation and Welfare Service

John McGuinness

433. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if the issues regarding funding of an organisation (details supplied) by the probation services and the HSE have now been resolved; the status of the appeal; and if a decision will be expedited as the funding is urgently required. [21276/24]

Child and Family Agency

John McGuinness

511. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if family support payments will be put in place immediately for the grandparents of the children referred to in a Tusla report (details supplied) as they have been supporting the children for weeks without the appropriate financial support; and if the matter will be expedited. [21273/24]

Disability Services

John McGuinness

512. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment for autism will be arranged immediately for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21275/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

John McGuinness

557. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an urgent appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied) at the neurosurgical clinic at Cork University Hospital as this was requested by their GP on 9 January 2023; if he will expedite a positive response as the patient's condition has seriously deteriorated; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21271/24]

Hospital Procedures

John McGuinness

558. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a date for an operation will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21272/24]

Addiction Treatment Services

John McGuinness

559. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the issues regarding funding of an organisation (details supplied) by the probation services and the HSE have now been resolved; the status of the appeal; and if a decision will be expedited as the funding is urgently required. [21277/24]

Wind Energy Generation

John McGuinness

211. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the indicative timeframe for receipt of the Attorney General’s response to the landmark High Court ruling on noise from wind turbines; if he has considered the wind energy policy outlined in the Kilkenny county development plan which was submitted to his Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications for consideration by both Ministers; if he has carried out any analysis on the regulations required relative to the Kilkenny plan; if he is aware of the different legal opinions obtained by Kilkenny County Council and Government Departments which are at odds relative to the interpretation of the planning laws and regulations that should be applied during the current impasse; if he will accept it is bad practice in terms of good governance to allow this unsatisfactory situation to continue as it is causing serious concerns for local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21103/24]

Waterways Issues

John McGuinness

257. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the programme of maintenance relative to the River Barrow, and the cost of work in each of the last five years; if there are any impediments on the river and canals section that prevent or hinder barges and boats from using the amenity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

305. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) has been approved. [20261/24]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

312. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the State pension (non-contributory) will be approved for a person (details supplied); if they are entitled to the State pension (contributory); and if they will be paid supplementary allowance as they have no income. [20492/24]

Animal Diseases

John McGuinness

406. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the actions taken by his Department following recent meetings with a person (details supplied) relative to the ongoing health issues they are experiencing with their horses; if the tests and examination of the horses affected have been analysed; if current test results have been compared with the results of tests taken some years ago by UCD and his Department; if there is a course of treatment or interventions that his Department will now undertake; if his Department is concerned that the health issues identified some years ago still persist; if this is an isolated case or similar to other cases investigated; if his Department will continue to work with the person until such time as the issues are fully resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20435/24]

Departmental Contracts

John McGuinness

448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if payments due to a company for the provision of accommodation (details supplied) will be paid immediately; if a designated official will be appointed to contact each company directly to resolve any issues that may be delaying the payments due, and if he will expedite the matter. [20424/24]

Departmental Contracts

John McGuinness

449. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if payment due to a company (details supplied) for the provision of accommodation will be paid immediately. [20425/24]