Parliamentary questions

Referendum Campaigns

Mattie McGrath

1173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will now immediately publish in full the minutes and documents associated with the interdepartmental group that met to discuss the referendums on family and care; to provide details of the membership of the group; the number of times it met; the attendees at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

1181. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can stand over a situation in Tipperary south where a child (details supplied) who was referred for an ASD assessment in 2017 has still not received an assessment seven years later; if he will urgently review this case; the steps his Department will take to ensure this child receives an assessment and all associated supports without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12814/24]

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

1286. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline plans for the use of the HSE-owned lands on the Heywood Road, Clonmel, County Tipperary; if these lands are being considered for the provision of modular homes by the Department of Children, Equality, Disabilities, Integration and youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11891/24]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

1488. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the primary residence is included in the assessment for the nursing home support scheme; if he plans to amend this to exclude the primary residence from the means assessment; if a person can appeal the decision to include the primary residence in the assessment, in cases in which they worked all their lives to pay for their house, the reason this is now being assessed against them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12913/24]

Schools Building Projects

Mattie McGrath

301. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to confirm the position in relation to sanction of a new precast modular building for a special school in Tipperary; to confirm the status of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10239/24]

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

538. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements his Department has had with Tipperary County Council in relation to the use of HSE owned land in Clonmel for a modular type accommodation centre; details of all plans for the provision of modular type accommodation for use by his Department in Clonmel Co. Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9945/24]

Departmental Data

Mattie McGrath

558. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding being provided by his Department to the National Women’s Council; the level of funding the organisation is expending on the referendum campaign; if he will outline all funding and expenditure by his Department on the upcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10218/24]

Ambulance Service

Mattie McGrath

3. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a local recruitment campaign is carried out in south Tipperary for the National Ambulance Service; if the NAS will commit to providing a recruitment officer to visit schools and attend job recruitment seminars locally and develop local advertising to improve recruitment prospects in south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8947/24]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

101. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for details of all properties offered to his Department for accommodation for either beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9433/24]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for details of all properties offered to this Department for accommodation for either beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants in Cahir, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9434/24]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

103. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for details of all properties currently being assessed by his Department for accommodation for either beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9435/24]

School Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

194. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on a stage 2b report for a schools additional accommodation project that was received by her Department in November 2023 (details supplied); the turnaround time for a decision on such reports; if she will expedite the project, given the long delays already experienced by this project which was sanctioned in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8703/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

285. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties that have been refurbished under the refurbishment programme for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the details of all properties refurbished under the scheme; the cost of each refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9052/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

421. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAS applicants now residing in a facility (details supplied), by status that is, male, female or child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8747/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

425. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the stages involved in the assessment of properties offered for IPAS accommodation; the timeframe for assessment from time of offer to signing of contracts; the date offer was received for a property in Tipperary (details supplied); the current stage of assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8805/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

439. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will have a full cognitive assessment funded privately due to long delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8951/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

441. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the payment rates per resident per night to each property owner accommodating international protection applicants; how the rate is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9053/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

32. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on a foreign birth register application (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8240/24]

Septic Tanks

Mattie McGrath

98. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of septic tanks inspected, by county, since the inspection scheme was introduced in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8149/24]

Citizenship Applications

Mattie McGrath

116. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8239/24]

Hospital Facilities

Mattie McGrath

170. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the numbers of patients seen in the Cashel minor injury unit each year for the past three years; the number of staff available at the unit; the reason the public is never recommended to use Cashel minor injury unit when local hospitals are experiencing overcrowding; the efforts taken to advertise and increase the use of this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8260/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Mattie McGrath

443. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7414/24]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

485. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if the former St. Luke's Hospital Farm, Glenconnor, Clonmel, County Tipperary is being considered as a location for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers; to give details of any contracts issued to develop this farm for a reception centre; if his Department has had any engagement in relation to this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7592/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if his Department have any plans to use a hotel in Tipperary as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers (details supplied); if his Department has had any engagements with owners in relation to this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/24]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

487. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if his Department have any plans to use a property in south Tipperary as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers (details supplied); if his Department have had any engagements with owners in relation to this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/24]

International Agreements

Mattie McGrath

538. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the Government, given the implications of the adoption and ratification of the proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty and proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations, will enable a recourse to the people (details supplied) and thereby enable a constitutional referendum to be held to ascertain the views of the people, who are guardians of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7599/24]

Septic Tanks

Mattie McGrath

65. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will expand the scope of the septic tank grants from local authorities to cover larger geographical areas in order for more rural homeowners to avail of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7351/24]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

230. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the long-awaited review for local authority housing adaptation grants will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7352/24]

Departmental Data

Mattie McGrath

287. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons refused entry to the state every year for the past four years; the reasons for refusal; the point of entry where entry was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7309/24]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

288. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been refused asylum in Ireland every year for the past four years; the number of deportations that have been carried out each year for the past four years; the number of people given self-deportation orders; the number of those that have been carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7310/24]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

207. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if grant funding is available to support an organisation (details supplied) in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6335/24]

Sports Funding

Mattie McGrath

371. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if grant funding is available to support an organisation (details supplied) in Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6337/24]

Fire Service

Mattie McGrath

404. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grant funding is available to support an organisation (details supplied) in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6336/24]

Immigration Policy

Mattie McGrath

369. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice to provide details on each EU immigration policy that Ireland has opted into, including the dates when the Government decided to opt in or out and when the measure was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5514/24]

Immigration Policy

Mattie McGrath

370. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that have been criminally prosecuted under section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 for arriving at an Irish port of entry, including Dublin Airport, without valid travel documents, which is an offence, in each of the years 2018 to 2023, and to date in 2024. [5515/24]

Departmental Consultations

Mattie McGrath

551. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the responses his Department received on the public consultation in respect of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 ; when the results will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5516/24]

Road Projects

Mattie McGrath

49. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the reason the proposed N24 upgrade does not include a dual carriageway for the entire route in the interests of safety and forward planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4490/24]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

40. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education her plans to reintroduce the allowance for teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4346/24]

Planning Issues

Mattie McGrath

78. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to his response during Leaders' Questions on 18 January 2024 (details supplied), if he will provide details of the request issued to Tipperary County Council to review the situation with regard to log cabins; to provide a copy of the correspondence issued to Tipperary County Council in this regard; the details of the review being carried out in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/24]

Planning Issues

Mattie McGrath

83. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently update the rural planning guidelines to loosen the restrictions on modular/log cabin type accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4434/24]

Housing Provision

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of modular homes that have been built for Ukrainian accommodation; the provider of such homes; the planning requirements relating to these homes; the reason why modular homes are being used for Ukrainian accommodation but are not being permitted for homeless citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4434/24]

Cabinet Committees

Mattie McGrath

1. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [1151/24]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

271. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason it has taken more than 22 weeks to approve an application for an incremental increase for an SNA who applied for an increase based on past experience in August 2023 (details supplied); when this person will receive their incremental increase; the reason delays are experienced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3917/24]

Immigration Policy

Mattie McGrath

396. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the reason Ireland has not opted out of EU immigration policies, considering that under Article 29.4.7 of the Irish Constitution, Ireland can legally opt out of such policies under Protocol 19 of the Lisbon Treaty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3748/24]

Immigration Policy

Mattie McGrath

397. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice to provide details on each EU immigration policy that Ireland has opted into, including the dates when the Government decided to opt in or out and when the measure was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3749/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

490. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location of the proposed six new accommodation centres; the details of any contracts issued to develop these centres; the properties being examined or considered for redevelopment as these new centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4273/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3282/24]

Immigration Policy

Mattie McGrath

167. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of individuals who have arrived in Ireland at any port of entry, including Dublin Airport, without valid travel documents, despite presenting them at their point of departure, for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3283/24]

Work Permits

Mattie McGrath

235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update in relation to the extension of work permits to the equine industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2521/24]

Grant Payments

Mattie McGrath

480. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an ACRES appeal; the reason for the delay in finalising this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2687/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

515. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a copy of all communication between his Department and An Garda Síochána in relation to events in Roscrea between 11 and 16 January 2024; if his Department requested the assistance of An Garda Síochána to deliver international protection applicants to Racket Hall, Roscrea while the community was involved in protests; who made the decision to bring women and children to the hotel while a protest was ongoing; what efforts were made to engage with the community and those engaging in a protest to relieve tensions prior to the arrival of these applicants to avoid introducing them to a tense environment; the reason a decision was not taken to mediate with the community prior to the arrival of applicants to ease tensions to report on assurances given by him during a meeting of Roscrea community representatives in relation to the number of IP applicants and Ukrainians already being accommodated in Roscrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2601/24]

Care Services

Mattie McGrath

518. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when transport to a rehab day service will be restored in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2664/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

48. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1796/24]

Road Projects

Mattie McGrath

235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the expected timeline for completion of the inner relief road Thurles, County Tipperary linking Slievenamon Road to the Mill Road; if funding is in place for same; if a route been finalised; if all land required has been secured; if the Thurles Bypass project will be considered for inclusion on the National Development Plan in the review to take place in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1096/24]

Road Safety

Mattie McGrath

275. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport his plans to make the wearing of high-visibility clothing a legal requirement for pedestrians and cyclists due to the high level of pedestrian fatalities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1396/24]

Road Safety Authority

Mattie McGrath

281. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the reason seven driving testers are being made redundant by the RSA in February and March this year, particularly given the current backlogs; the reason these driving testers have not been given permanent contracts to date despite being employed by the RSA as driving testers for three years; to list the areas where redundancies are being made in 2024 together with the waiting lists in those areas; if he will urgently review this issue to avoid further backlogs particularly when Government policy is to increase the number of tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1511/24]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

341. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the change to the refund of VAT for unregistered farmers; if this change will be reversed immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1026/24]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

459. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers waiting for payment for the July home provision scheme; the reason there is such a delay in processing payments; the steps that will be taken to address this problem to ensure no such delays will take place in 2024; her views on whether the delays in processing payments are leading to teachers withdrawing from the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56285/23]

Education Schemes

Mattie McGrath

636. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason the Youth Encounter Project operated by the Tipperary ETB has to be relocated from Ferryhouse where it has been located for years; if the needs of a school (details supplied) have been considered when considering the relocation; if she is aware of the concerns of the school in relation to the proposed relocation of the Youth Encounter Project; if this proposed relocation can be reconsidered given the concerns of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1420/24]

School Funding

Mattie McGrath

654. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to list all of the schools awarded STEM grants in 2023, by county and school type, that is rural, urban and DEIS; the reason she feels a lottery system to allocate the funding was appropriate, given the time and effort required to submit applications; the reason her Department did not select roll numbers at random to avoid schools wasting time with an application process when the applications were not selected on merit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1565/24]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

668. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the current status of the additional ASD classroom project for a school in County Tipperary (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1654/24]

Water Services

Mattie McGrath

803. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the promised referendum on the public ownership of water services will be held (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1156/24]

Water Services

Mattie McGrath

804. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage due to the delays with the proposed eastern and midlands water supply project which was due to go for planning in 2019, if he will call for a review of this project as part of the Government review of major state infrastructure projects as the project is unnecessary and damaging to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1157/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mattie McGrath

987. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if a directive will be implemented to ensure that recipients of non-contributory pensions in Ireland who have temporary protection status must collect their social welfare payments by presenting at a post office, rather than through a bank account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1999/24]

Social Welfare Code

Mattie McGrath

988. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection what checks are being carried out to ensure that recipients of social welfare payments who have temporary protection status are still living in the State when payments are being made into bank accounts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2000/24]

Childcare Services

Mattie McGrath

1311. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding streams are available to private childcare providers (details supplied) to invest, expand and develop new facilities in areas otherwise not serviced by preschool services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56369/23]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

1420. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees-international protection applicants currently housed in Ferryhouse campus, Clonmel, County Tipperary; their age and gender; the reason the Youth Encounter Project that has been based in Ferryhouse for many years has to be relocated as a result of housing IPAS-refugees on this campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1419/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Mattie McGrath

1423. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if children attending ASD preschools are not eligible for an overage ECCE exemption; if ASD preschools are funded separately to the ECCE Programme; the reason a student attending an ASD preschool may be ineligible for an overage exemption despite fulfilling the medical criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1591/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

1445. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees-international protection applicants that are currently housed in Ferryhouse campus, Clonmel, County Tipperary, their age and gender; the reason a school (details supplied) that has been based in Ferryhouse for many years has to be relocated as a result of housing IPAs-refugees on this campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2001/24]

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

1527. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current plans for a building (details supplied) which is currently vacant and owned by HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56664/23]

Departmental Staff

Mattie McGrath

1726. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant public health nurse posts in each county and area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/24]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

127. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter concerning HAP (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55697/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mattie McGrath

150. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the extension in child benefit to those aged 18 years in full-time employment has been delayed until September 2024 and will not be introduced in January; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55597/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

417. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an eligible person can avail of the housing assistance payment scheme when renting a room in a house where the landlord resides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54922/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

418. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households that have requested flexibility to breech HAP rental limits; the number of these households to which flexibility has been approved to breech HAP rental limits for the local authority area of County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54923/23]

Local Authorities

Mattie McGrath

439. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider using net pay to calculate eligibility for local authority housing adaptation grant thresholds rather than gross pay in order to support working taxpayers who have become ill and require adaptation works in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55090/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Mattie McGrath

618. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify the reasoning behind excluding new basic payment scheme applicants from the ACRES 2 scheme in 2023; the number of affected farmers; if a review of this decision is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54921/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Mattie McGrath

622. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an ACRES appeal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54964/23]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

684. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to list the details of the 37 properties purchased by his Department to house IPAS applicants; the type of property; the size of property; the county within which each property is located; the cost of each property and the former use of each property; whether the properties were purchased on the open market or through private deals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54768/23]

Childcare Services

Mattie McGrath

695. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a child (details supplied) with ASD who cannot secure a school placement can remain in preschool for an additional year provided there is space in the preschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54929/23]

Childcare Services

Mattie McGrath

696. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a child (details supplied) with ASD who cannot secure a school placement can remain in preschool for an additional year provided there is space in the preschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54930/23]

Grant Payments

Mattie McGrath

4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the grant awards allowable for local authority housing adaptation grants to meet the increased building costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54366/23]

Legislative Reviews

Mattie McGrath

381. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice her views on the Success of the Mediation Act 2017; to outline any reviews of this legislation that have been carried out or if she intends to carry out any further reviews of the legislation; to outline what key performance indicators if any, have been met; what plans she has, if any, to further promote the role of mediation as an alternative dispute mechanism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53310/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mattie McGrath

510. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he has noted Sweden's smoking rate of 5.6%, which is lower than the EU average of 23%, while the country promotes alternatives to smoking such as vaping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53251/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mattie McGrath

511. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the success of Sweden's approach to tobacco control, embracing alternatives to smoking like vaping, will be reflected in the plan for Tobacco Free Ireland 2025, instead of adopting the more restrictive and less successful approaches by countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, where the average smoking rate across the four countries is 24.75%, compared to Sweden's smoking rate of 5.6%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53252/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mattie McGrath

512. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the efficacy of Ireland's tobacco reduction strategy, considering Ireland's smoking rate has been 18% since 2019, while Sweden's is currently at 5.6%, as an example; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53253/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Mattie McGrath

513. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the price of the licence and timeline of implementation of the licensing system contained in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53255/23]

Local Authorities

Mattie McGrath

392. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for the delays in local authorities paying out croí cónaithe grants to applicants who have completed their works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52897/23]

Local Authorities

Mattie McGrath

393. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the provision of the second vacant homes officer for Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52899/23]

Local Authorities

Mattie McGrath

394. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision of additional housing staff to Tipperary County Council for the establishment of new affordable housing schemes in towns and villages across the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52900/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health whether he or the Government have accepted or rejected amendments to Article 59 of the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, including details on the public consultation process; the rationale for not facilitating a Dáil Éireann debate, and a request to publish all communication on the matter with the WHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53021/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

487. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health what steps he proposes to take for a genuine public consultation process, potentially including a referendum and a Dáil Éireann debate, before deciding to support or reject the WHO Global Pandemic Treaty, as this consideration is crucial due to the treaty's legal binding nature and its potential impact on Ireland's democratic sovereignty, which may undermine national decision-making, especially given the WHO's influence by China and multinational pharmaceutical corporations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53023/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

488. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline all details of the Government’s engagement with the World Health Organisation concerning the controversial amendments to the International Health Regulations, providing the WHO with expanded powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53024/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

489. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to disclose publicly the legal opinion or risk assessment, if any, undertaken or provided regarding Ireland’s position on the amendments and future negotiations on a proposed WHO Global Pandemic Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53025/23]

Climate Action Plan

Mattie McGrath

15. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the latest financial modelling of the total cost of implementing all actions set out in the 2021 Climate Action Plan to achieve net-zero targets by 2030, and also targets between 2030 and 2050, including a detailed breakdown of the costings, along with details of how these broad ranges of measures will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52672/23]

Climate Action Plan

Mattie McGrath

16. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of all cost-benefit analysis studies that have been carried out on the total cost of implementing all actions set out in the 2021 climate action plan to achieve net-zero targets by 2030, and also targets between 2030 and 2050, incorporating the impact on living standards and on inflation, and to provide a detailed breakdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52674/23]

Climate Action Plan

Mattie McGrath

17. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the ground transport, heat and electrical sector generation, transmission, and distribution have been fully factored into both the 2030 and 2050 climate action targets; if so, to provide detailed financial assumptions for each, including how they will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52676/23]

Electricity Grid

Mattie McGrath

18. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline in detail the projected size requirement of the Irish electricity grid to power all the heating required for buildings, both domestic and commercial, as set out in the climate action plan using joule heat (heat pumps), in comparison to today's grid size; the financial costs of doing so; how this investment will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52679/23]

Electricity Transmission Network

Mattie McGrath

19. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the expected number of homes in Ireland that will have to be rewired (details supplied) including with a bigger mains fuse, other necessary rewiring, etc., to meet the needs of the new electrical distribution system (as set out in the climate action plan) being proposed to power EVs, heat pumps, and other energy efficiency measures; the average costs for each home; the existing proposals from the Government to fund such investment for both domestic and commercial buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52680/23]

Electric Vehicles

Mattie McGrath

20. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the analysis that has been carried out by his Department to determine if the Irish vehicle fleet were to go electric tomorrow, how many tonnes of cobalt, lithium carbonate and copper would be required; whether he agrees that this increase in metal mining via open-cast mining is unsustainable from an ecological perspective, and also from a human rights perspective due to the exploitation of workers, including child labour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52682/23]