Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Steven Matthews

53. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether a close to nature model of forestry is likely to be adopted as policy in the new forestry strategy currently being developed through Project Woodland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51555/21]

Crime Prevention

Steven Matthews

91. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if discussions are expected in the coming weeks with the Garda Commissioner on the plans of An Garda Síochána to ensure a safe Hallowe'en; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51093/21]

Court Accommodation

Steven Matthews

96. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the need to clean and carry out minor repairs to the old courthouse façade in Wicklow town (details supplied); her views on whether this work can be prioritised in the coming months to coincide with the large investment in the town square; the position regarding the proposed return of court services to this building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51092/21]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

219. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a site (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51822/21]

Mental Health Services

Steven Matthews

125. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of existing mental health supports for children in County Wicklow; the number of children under 18 years of age who are waiting three months or longer to see a psychologist following a referral from a general practitioner; the steps he is taking to reduce the wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50772/21]

Dental Services

Steven Matthews

218. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to medical card holders being unable to get dental appointments due to ongoing issues between dentists and the HSE; his plans to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50773/21]

Passport Services

Steven Matthews

506. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50853/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

120. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her plans regarding the banking of hours by primary schools in cases in which mainstream classroom teachers are replaced by special education teachers due to absences; if her attention has been drawn to the demands of a union (details supplied) to reinstate this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50188/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

121. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her plans regarding teacher supply panels at both primary and secondary school level; if she plans to expand the existing coverage of supply panels to make them accessible to schools nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50189/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

122. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her views on the adequacy of the number of teachers currently allocated to supply panels for substitute teachers at a primary school level; if her attention has been drawn to cases in which three substitute teachers are covering up to 14 schools in a district as is the case in north County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50191/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Steven Matthews

81. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the initiatives that he has facilitated to encourage the recruitment of mature apprentices; if he is considering additional measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49347/21]

Third Level Education

Steven Matthews

85. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding the percentage of third-level courses that have not yet returned to full-time in person learning; the steps he is taking to reduce this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49346/21]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

117. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which a local authority can apply for funding to employ a full-time biodiversity officer; the number of officers that he proposes to be employed nationally; and the local authorities that currently employ a biodiversity officer in tabular form. [50162/21]

Capitation Grants

Steven Matthews

132. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her views on the adequacy of the school capitation grant levels for primary schools; if she will report on the basis for the discrepancy between the per pupil allocation between primary and secondary school students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50058/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

133. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if the level of retirement from the primary school system is matched by the number of newly qualified teachers; the research her Department has commissioned to ensure the system is future-proofed in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50059/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

134. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the requests from a union (details supplied) to restore the level of AP1 and AP2 posts in primary schools to pre-2010 levels; if her attention has been drawn to the need to restore these positions to ease the burden on school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50063/21]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Steven Matthews

135. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the average pupil teacher ratio in primary schools at a national level if only schools with a full-time administrative principal are included (details supplied); the steps she is taking to improve this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50064/21]

Housing Schemes

Steven Matthews

182. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby individuals and couples who wish to purchase a second-hand home but earn above the limit for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan; the supports available to persons in this situation in the context of the Housing for All strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49504/21]

Housing Schemes

Steven Matthews

183. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if second-hand homes are to be included in a Housing for All initiative or related schemes other than the Rebuilding Ireland home loan in cases in which an individual or couple purchasing earn more than the income threshold for this scheme but still require support. [49505/21]

School Curriculum

Steven Matthews

296. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to proposals by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment that appear to suggest a change in the Irish leaving certificate exam for students in Gaelscoileanna; if she will outline the full consultation process for such a change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49662/21]

Hospital Staff

Steven Matthews

593. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an association (details supplied) seeking extra neurology nurse specialists across Irish hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49622/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

43. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the deadline for moving those in receipt of €203 on the pandemic unemployment payment to the jobseeker’s payment specifically for those in industries that have not yet fully opened such as the live entertainment sector until such a time when employment opportunities are readily available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48521/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

76. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the number of persons currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment in County Wicklow; the steps she is taking with regard to engaging with local employment services in the county to reduce the figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48601/21]

Asylum Seekers

Steven Matthews

115. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees from Afghanistan that have been accepted into the IRPP following the seizing of power by the Taliban in August 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48302/21]

Tax Code

Steven Matthews

20. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a campaign led by a group (details supplied) that is seeking comparable tax liability for owner-occupiers and social landlords paying defect levies as compared to commercial landlords that have the capacity to right these levies off against their tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48579/21]

Swimming Pools

Steven Matthews

40. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the campaign by a group (details supplied); if she will examine the need for a pool facility in this part of County Wicklow; and if she will consider meeting the volunteer board to discuss the project and its plans going forward. [47459/21]

Sports Funding

Steven Matthews

55. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the case of a club (details supplied) and the need to upgrade existing pitch facilities to accommodate the growing club; and if she will consider a visit to the club to meet the board to discuss its strategy going forward. [47101/21]

Passport Services

Steven Matthews

19. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the delay in processing passport applications, in particular first-time passports for children and new citizens; the steps his Department is taking to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/21]

International Protection

Steven Matthews

65. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to cases of Afghan citizens who had been long-term residents of Ireland and have a large support network here but who do not hold Irish EU visas and who are currently stuck in Kabul; if advice will be provided to anyone in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46210/21]

State Bodies

Steven Matthews

184. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the time limit for serving as a member of the Board of An Bord Pleanála; the approximate date of expected vacancies that will likely be filled before February 2025; and the way board members are selected. [47270/21]

Pesticide Use

Steven Matthews

76. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the use of chemical pesticide weed killers to clear rail tracks; if he will investigate this policy and consider the use of alternative methods of weed removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47108/21]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

118. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which a local authority can apply for funding to employ a full-time biodiversity officer; the number of officers that he proposes to be employed nationally; and the local authorities that currently employ a biodiversity officer, in tabular form. [47107/21]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

93. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the current allocation of resources and staffing levels in planning departments at a local authority level; if his attention has been drawn to the extra demands that will be put on these departments with regard to the requirements under the large-scale residential development Bill, the Maritime Area Planning Bill and the monitoring and reporting proposals in the draft development plan guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46310/21]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

157. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the Departmental working group set up to investigate potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied) in suitable public buildings; the number of times the group has met; if he plans to meet with the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46211/21]

Driver Test

Steven Matthews

258. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently on the waiting list for the standard driver test in test centres in County Wicklow; the mechanisms being put in place to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46341/21]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

323. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times between January 2017 to August 2020 that the board of An Bord Pleanála overruled the recommendation of case inspectors with regards to decisions on planning applications and appeals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47135/21]

Housing Policy

Steven Matthews

274. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding first-time buyers who wish to purchase second-hand homes; the initiatives that will be made available to them through the Housing for All strategy or related initiatives from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44678/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

544. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether there has been sufficient advertising of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; and if she will consider any future advertising and awareness campaigns in advance of the final application deadline. [40598/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

545. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; the number of applications have been made both successful and unsuccessful to date; if all successful grants have been drawn down; and if there is a timeline for payment of outstanding monies owed to applicants. [40609/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

546. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason business costs are included in the music and entertainment business assistance scheme when they are not a qualifying criterion for other Government grants including the small business assistance scheme for COVID; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40611/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

1148. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a potential conflict between two Government supports, the live performance support scheme and the pandemic unemployment payment, by which if a person in the live entertainment sector gets short-term employment through the live performance support scheme it may force them permanently off the pandemic unemployment payment by going above the €960 allowable income threshold; her views on whether this will act as a disincentive to take up short-term employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40599/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

2065. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of students who will be going on Erasmus as a mandatory aspect of their college course in August 2021 given that as per the current projections many in this situation will not have been reached by the vaccination programme; if there are plans in place to deal with this cohort in advance of their scheduled departure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36485/21]

Disability Services

Steven Matthews

2257. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if a transfer of HSE disability services funding will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in view of the long delay since initial request. [37179/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

2708. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Irish citizens who received the required dosage of EMA approved vaccines in other jurisdictions; and if they will be registered on the HSE system and by extension be eligible for the EU digital Covid certificate for travel if they can prove their vaccine status. [38825/21]

Health Services

Steven Matthews

2783. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the multidisciplinary team for adolescent trans healthcare; if he will provide an outline regarding the process of it being established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39155/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

2879. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding children under the age of 16 who have conditions that place them at high risk if they contract Covid-19; the plans he has put in place to deal with this cohort regarding immunisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39471/21]

Animal Culls

Steven Matthews

3380. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the total amount spent on badger culling by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow; the number of badgers that have been culled each year in the same time period in the county; and the research that has been carried out to research the impact of culling on the prevalence of tuberculosis. [39594/21]

Animal Diseases

Steven Matthews

3381. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the total amount spent on the vaccination of badgers for tuberculosis by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow in tabular form; the number of vaccinations that have been administered to the badger population in the same time period in the county; and the research that has been carried out on the impact of vaccination as a means of dealing with the prevalence of tuberculosis in the badger population. [39587/21]

Animal Welfare

Steven Matthews

27. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has taken to improve the welfare of animals during his first nine months in office; and the plans he has to build on these improvements over the lifetime of this Government. [37090/21]

Forestry Sector

Steven Matthews

73. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the independent regulatory review on forestry licensing announced recently by his Department. [37091/21]