Parliamentary questions

Control of Firearms

Michael Lowry

164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice concerning the firearms expert committee, if he has received correspondence (details supplied) from an association regarding the firearms expert committee's proposed recommendations and amendments for persons in receipt of a firearms licence; if he will meet with the organisation ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15699/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

179. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason terminally ill young children living in the south east are still being denied community paediatric palliative care services, therefore depriving them of the right to die at home; if immediate steps will be implemented to provide this critical treatment to young children in need of paediatric palliative care services; the reason home palliative care is still being denied to children in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15549/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

180. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if the recommendations listed in the Bee Wee report 2020 for the clinical governance and operational arrangements for supporting a model of care for children with life-limiting conditions towards the end of life is being implemented in the south east for paediatric palliative care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15550/23]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Michael Lowry

204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on and define the qualifying criteria for publicly funded IVF fertility treatment as outlined in the programme for Government; if people who pay for IVF treatment between now and September 2023 will be reimbursed for their costs starting in September 2023, given his stated plan to start providing interim public support for IVF treatment via private clinics in September 2023 and the urgency of receiving IVF treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15693/23]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

375. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if an additional special needs assistant will be put in place to meet the classroom education needs of a child who attends a school (details supplied); if she will provide an update and assurance on SNA staffing levels at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14695/23]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Lowry

376. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 8 February 2023, if he will provide an update on the current status of a school building project in Thurles, County Tipperary (details supplied); if the project will be expedited; when the necessary funding will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14698/23]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Lowry

415. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate the ongoing payment issue pertaining to the construction of additional accommodation or a new school building for a school (details supplied); if she is aware that construction has been halted for two weeks due to the building contractor not receiving all stage payments from her Department; when the necessary funding will be released to allow construction to resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15270/23]

Third Level Education

Michael Lowry

551. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the University of Limerick's proposed new veterinary school (details supplied); if he has received a report from the HEA expert panel concerning the relative capacities of UL for the provision of extra veterinary training places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15226/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

583. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1081 of 21 March 2023, if he will review the email address which was provided in his response; the reason the address (details supplied) is not listed in his Department's domino directory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15233/23]

Skills Shortages

Michael Lowry

155. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he last reviewed the critical skills list; his plans to expand the list to address the national skills shortages in healthcare, including the delivery of oral healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14416/23]

Work Permits

Michael Lowry

156. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he last reviewed the ineligible list of occupations for employment permits; and his plans to reduce the list to address skills shortages of dental nurses and dental hygienists in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14417/23]

Bus Services

Michael Lowry

183. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 25 October 2022, if funding will be provided to deliver a town bus service in Clonmel, County Tipperary (details supplied), considering Clonmel is now included in the ten-minute town project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14414/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

232. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a foreign birth registration for a family (details supplied) which was submitted in June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14377/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Michael Lowry

258. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the proposals, to confer DEIS status on a school (details supplied) in Thurles, County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14380/23]

School Textbooks

Michael Lowry

259. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied), concerning her Department's guidelines for the new free school books scheme; her plans to consult with the organisation and small independent retailers whose main business is the supply of schoolbooks in advance of the introduction of free books to primary schools for the 2023-2024 term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14383/23]

School Staff

Michael Lowry

261. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will detail the contacts she has had with a school (details supplied) regarding the allocation of additional mainstream teacher(s); if she will provide an update and give assurance in relation to the staffing levels at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14389/23]

Further and Higher Education

Michael Lowry

318. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the new dental school at University College Cork; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14415/23]

Departmental Policies

Michael Lowry

323. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) concerning the Firearms Expert Committee; when he will meet with members of two groups to address their concerns. [14489/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael Lowry

139. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to publish the review of Housing Aid for Older Persons, Housing Adaptation Grants and Mobility Aids Grants; if he plans to increase the grant amount available through this scheme to reflect the additional costs of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14261/23]

Business Supports

Michael Lowry

162. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department will review correspondence from a company (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the supports he intends to introduce to help such business groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12317/23]

Road Projects

Michael Lowry

272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport when the Government expects to approve the entire scheme concerning the planned road upgrades on the N24 between Cahir, County Tipperary via Tipperary town and Pallasgreen, County Limerick, in order that it can go to planning; if he expects this scheme to go to planning in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Lowry

278. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will insist that CIÉ provides answers to the issues and questions expressed in relation to the CIE '1951 Scheme' as detailed in the most recent elected trustee bulletin dated 10 March 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13264/23]

Insurance Coverage

Michael Lowry

312. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the plight of motorcycling sport clubs in the Republic as a result of massive insurance premiums, and the current prospect of the governing bodies of such clubs being unable to secure an insurance quote to run events (details supplied); the steps being taken to ensure that such motorcycling sport clubs will be able to obtain an appropriate insurance quote that would allow for the running of any road, off-road, and circuit racing on the island of Ireland in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12739/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

524. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made in respect of an application by a person (details supplied) for a foreign birth registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12503/23]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Michael Lowry

548. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been imprisoned in Mashhad Central Prison in Iran since 3 October 2022; the communications he has had with Iranian officials; the attempts that have been made to have them released from prison; the supports his Department has made available to their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13622/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Michael Lowry

634. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will detail the contacts she has had with a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary in respect of the need to progress the building programme for the school; if she will provide an update and give assurance in relation to the building programme at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12594/23]

School Accommodation

Michael Lowry

661. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied), given the tendering process for this school build was completed on 13 October 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12849/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

726. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if the possibility of extending free school transportation for the 2023-2024 academic year has been considered; if she will take into account the persistent impact the cost-of-living crisis is still having on families, and the significant demand for school transportation in rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13311/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

727. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department has completed a review of the decision made in July 2022 to allow all valid and concessionary school transport tickets to use the school transport scheme for free during the 2022-2023 academic year; if so, the review's findings and recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13312/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

728. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the eligibility for school transportation currently at primary level, that a family must reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and attend their nearest national school; if she will consider reducing this distance to less than two kilometres for the 2023-2024 academic year, given that many families have both parents and guardians working outside the home; if efforts are ongoing to ensure that more students are accommodated within the school transportation scheme for the 2023-2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13313/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

781. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will support an application for the provision of school bus transport for 14 students from Emly, County Tipperary, who require school bus transport into post primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13779/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

782. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will request that Bus Éireann school transport review the current school bus route for a school (details supplied); if she will request that Bus Éireann reconfigures this route to include the home of a student so that they can avail of school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13782/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Lowry

849. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has a policy of writing to social welfare payment recipients and asking them to change their method of payment from collection at their local post office to electronic fund transfer with their bank; if correspondence from the postmaster (details supplied) has been brought to her attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13789/23]

International Protection

Michael Lowry

920. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department can confirm the total number of persons who are permitted to reside in St. Anne's, Roscrea; if this facility is being considered as a potential site for the use of modular dwellings to house Ukrainian refugees or for persons seeking asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/23]

International Protection

Michael Lowry

981. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason his Department did not contract a property (details supplied) for the provision of humanitarian accommodation for individuals fleeing conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13791/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Lowry

1030. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has received correspondence (details supplied) from a group of 1st year students from the University of Limerick who are partaking in a business studies degree and who have been tasked with a social and civic engagement project; when he intends to review and response to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13535/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

1079. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the steps that a person should take in order to become a peace commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13282/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

1080. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the criteria which would prohibit a person from becoming a peace commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13283/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

1081. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice where a County Tipperary resident may acquire a list of all Tipperary appointed peace commissioners and their contact details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13284/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

1082. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if a peace commissioner is appointed in the Mullinahone area of County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13285/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

1083. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the number of peace commissioner applications received and pending approval from persons resident in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13286/23]

Peace Commissioners

Michael Lowry

1084. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice how frequently the list of peace commissioners is updated to reflect commissioners who have died, who have retired, surrendered or been removed from their peace commissioner appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13287/23]

Hospital Staff

Michael Lowry

1351. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if patients with hemochromatosis can still be treated in the day ward at Nenagh General Hospital by a person (details supplied); if he will review correspondence from a person and hemochromatosis patient living in Nenagh, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13094/23]

Health Services Staff

Michael Lowry

1471. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the status of discussions regarding pay increases and full pay restoration for section 39 workers and those who work in day care centres for the elderly and disabled; if he will consider communication from (details supplied); when funding will be provided to cover this organisation's annual wage increase of 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13693/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

1497. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 281 of 20 January 2022, 532 of 13 December 2022 and 528 of 5 December 2022, if he will confirm that the review and service demand need analysis which have been carried out in part to identify the allocation of long-stay, respite, palliative care beds in St. Antony's unit Clonmel can be made available to myself and the Hospital Palliative care Tipperary Group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13799/23]

Mental Health Services

Michael Lowry

1518. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary concerning proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act 2001; if he will address the concerns raised by this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13967/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

1519. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 532 of 13 December 2022 and 528 of 5 December 2022, according to the these response, University Hospital Waterford will provide 20 Level 3 inpatient beds; it is also recommended in best palliative care practice that each level 3 bed have an equal number of Level 2 support beds in the region; according to the response, 5 level 2 palliative care support beds are located in Dungarvan, and 5 to 6 palliative care beds in south Tipperary; is it not opportunistic and prudent to increase the number of Level 2 beds in urban centre also, and increase the number of palliative care bed in Clonmel at the new development in St. Anthony’s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13969/23]

Departmental Meetings

Michael Lowry

1520. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 532 of 13 December 2022 and 538 of 5 December 2022, if he will clarify a date for the meeting between the SECH Older People Services and the Hospital Palliative Care Tipperary committee, prior responses indicate that such a meeting will take place in the first quarter of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13970/23]

Hospital Services

Michael Lowry

1521. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of the design, layout and plans for the footprint of the development at St. Anthony’s unit, Clonmel to this Deputy and the Hospital Palliative Care Tipperary Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13971/23]

International Agreements

Michael Lowry

1552. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans for a sanitary agreement to be established between Ireland and Algeria for dairy and infant formula; if the principle of such an agreement is a priority; the timelines for the implementation of the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12841/23]