Parliamentary questions

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1293. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the interests of a company (details supplied) which primarily promotes the genetics of Angus and Hereford breeds is contrary to the interests of the majority of suckler farmers in developing our preferred continental blood lines. [1970/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1294. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current policy within an organisation (details supplied) on genetics is overly influenced by a private New Zealand corporation whose interests are not in Ireland's world renowned continental blood lines. [1971/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Fitzmaurice

316. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give clarity to Roscommon County Council on a query which they have whereby an applicant’s application (details supplied ) requires for safety three walls to be removed and rebuilt under council notice, with one remaining wall being left in place; to give direction to the council on this to allow for the croí cónaithe grant application being applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55897/23]

Sports Funding

Michael Fitzmaurice

378. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when a decision will be made on the applications submitted under the 2023 sports capital and equipment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55320/23]

Departmental Staff

Michael Fitzmaurice

573. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 341 of 10 October 2023, if she will confirm the number of staff suffering from long-Covid who have had their employment terminated by her Department in particular (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55189/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

278. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will commence for ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54233/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

289. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the specific section of the specific policy document that specified a maximum peat depth of 50 cm applied to the afforestation scheme in the last forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54368/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Michael Fitzmaurice

530. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when building works will commence on the planned 50-bed building at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53362/23]

Community Employment Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

416. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the proposal submitted by the rural social scheme and Tús supervisors to her Department for pay parity with community employment supervisors, who earn 15% more following discussions over the past two years through a tripartite forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53115/23]

Health Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

335. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application submitted by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51706/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

365. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given that at a recent forest service training day in Killaloe, County Clare, the forest service representative stated that the new protocol or procedure for assessing and measuring peat-oregano mineral soil was trialled on 25 sites across Ireland prior to it being implemented as department policy and procedure, if he will detail, in tabular form, the counties in which the 25 sites are located; the dates on which the trial took place, per county; and the results of the trial, per site, detailing the areas plantable with FT 11 and 12, the areas plantable that did not require additional drainage, the areas unplantable due to the requirement for additional drainage, the areas plantable with all other forest types, per site, that did not need additional drainage, the time spent doing the trial on each site and all other details derived from the trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49359/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

366. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will organise for the industry to visit the 25 sites, or a portion of same, trialled by the forest service of his Department in the assessment of the new protocol-procedure for assessing and measuring peat-oregano mineral soil for training purposes, as the full results of the 25 sites are known to his Department and will make very good productive training and verification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49360/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

367. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, following the issuance of an afforestation technical approval for afforestation and a corresponding financial approval, and subsequent to ground cultivation taking place on a peat-oregano mineral soil site, that species selection needs to change from one forest type to another due to peat-oregano mineral soil depth, if this is a material change to an afforestation technical approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49361/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

368. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm as per a recent forest service training event in Killaloe, County Clare, on the new forestry programme, a department official stated that if peat depth is greater than 30 cm after cultivation is completed on a site that has received a valid technical and financial approval, that foresters should convert to another forest type such as FT1, and in such instances deer fencing allocation be available for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49362/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

728. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the review requested on behalf of a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) and,, as a result of an error, has had their qualified adult allowance stopped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47744/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

240. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost to his Department of outsourced ecology services for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47140/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

241. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected cost of outsourced ecology services to his Department for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47141/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

242. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the weekly average number of forestry licence issued across all sections by his Department to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47142/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Fitzmaurice

121. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied) who applied in August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46297/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

337. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the income thresholds for those applying for the Rebuild Ireland Local Authority Home Loan under the fresh start principle; if there was a change in this rate in Budget 2024; if he will consider an increase in the threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46555/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

114. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education if the school transport bus route that operates from Kilteevan to Dunmore can return to its original route passing to accommodate children (details supplied) that would benefit from this stop; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44529/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Fitzmaurice

13. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on the application for foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied) who applied in February 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43894/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Fitzmaurice

179. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of staff suffering from long-Covid who have had their employment terminated by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43525/23]

Departmental Staff

Michael Fitzmaurice

341. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff suffering from long-Covid who have had their employment terminated by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43526/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Fitzmaurice

472. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of staff suffering from long Covid who have had their employment terminated by his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43524/23]

Tax Code

Michael Fitzmaurice

207. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance to provide, in tabular form, a sectoral breakdown of the estimated annual costs to the Exchequer of reverting to the previous temporary 9% VAT rate for tourism-related industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43336/23]

Tax Code

Michael Fitzmaurice

208. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance to provide the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of creating a specific 9% VAT, as opposed to the current 13.5% VAT rate, which would apply only to food sales, be it restaurant, takeaway, hotel food sales and so on, assuming that bed and breakfast deals would simply attract the current rate of 13.5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43337/23]

Tax Code

Michael Fitzmaurice

209. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted a balancing exercise to determine the impact of the reversion of temporary VAT rate of 9% to the current VAT rate of 13.5% for tourism-related activities, in the context of reduced employment, closures, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43338/23]

Tax Code

Michael Fitzmaurice

210. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has not conducted a balancing exercise to determine the impact of the reversion of temporary VAT rate of 9% to the current VAT rate of 13.5% for tourism-related activities, in the context of reduced employment, closures and so on, if it will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43339/23]

Tax Code

Michael Fitzmaurice

211. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department has considered splitting VAT rates on accommodation between rural accommodation providers and urban accommodation providers, given the vast differences in rates and price gouging being engaged in by some urban accommodation providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43340/23]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

373. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 26 September 2023, if he can confirm whether he or persons (details supplied) consulted with the Commission for Public Service Appointments prior to issuing said order; if so, if there is any documentation evidencing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42684/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

463. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment under the fodder scheme for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42153/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

464. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, and his reply, in stating that he wants to ensure that the farmer deferential benefits farmers directly and exclusively, if other landowners recognised and registered as carrying out a farming activity in other sections of his Department are not actually recognised as farmers by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42157/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

465. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, to provide necessary documentation to show that considerations were made regarding the implications of the farmer definition as it appears in the scheme document, considering the clarifications sought by stakeholders; to confirm that his Department has not changed any of the rules on farmer definition since the launch of the scheme document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42158/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

282. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied) who has no other means of getting to school, and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41505/23]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

336. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify which functions have been delegated under legislation (details supplied); if an order is still in place; if not, when it expired and what has replaced it; if he or named persons consulted with the Commission for Public Service Appointments prior to issuing said order; if so, if there is any documentation evidencing of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41181/23]

Rights of Way

Michael Fitzmaurice

442. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the legal division within his Department will make a decision in respect of a request by a person (details supplied) in December 2021 seeking its consent and-or agreement to discharge a right of way from their folio in order to facilitate the sale of said person's lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41361/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

451. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment under the fodder scheme for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41493/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Fitzmaurice

585. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 658 of 7 March 2023, when staff from a nursing home (details supplied), which has since closed down will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41484/23]

Hospital Facilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

256. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon can now return to the admission of new patients in view of the closure of the church in the facility which has been the reason for no intake of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40814/23]

Hospital Facilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

257. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when will works commence on the upgrading of facilities at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40815/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

307. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue for two siblings (details supplied) who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40014/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

310. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied) who has no other means of getting to school, and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40029/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

311. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue for two siblings, (details supplied), who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets and have no other means of getting to school, with the bus passing their gate twice daily; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40030/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

313. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied) who is now entering 5th year in secondary school, has always had a ticket and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40051/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

315. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education whether two siblings (details supplied) can travel together on wheelchair-accessible transport, where one child has been approved this service and the other gets the regular Bus Éireann school bus and cannot be at the bus stop at the allocated time due to their parent assisting with the other child being put into the wheelchair-accessible transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

316. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a bus will be made available for students on route F661, who have already been allocated tickets and are attending a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40058/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

318. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child, (details supplied) who has no other means of getting to school, and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40064/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

353. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to four families (details supplied) who have no other means of getting to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40317/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

761. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total hectares of high nature value grassland now excluded from the forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39996/23]