Parliamentary questions

United Nations

Matt Carthy

76. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his proposals regarding reform of the United Nations institutions, in particular the UN Security Council and the use of a veto by the permanent five members; the engagements he has had in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19729/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

77. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of appointments available for urgent passport renewal in Cork, Dublin and London, by month, in each of the years 2019, 2023 and 2024, by month; the number of which were availed of, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19730/24]

Departmental Staff

Matt Carthy

78. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and roles of local staff employed in Irish missions abroad, by mission; the associated cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19731/24]

Departmental Staff

Matt Carthy

79. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and cost of staff within his Department not currently posted abroad, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19732/24]

Departmental Staff

Matt Carthy

80. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and cost of staff posted abroad, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19733/24]

Departmental Staff

Matt Carthy

81. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the average number of staff in Irish diplomatic missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19734/24]

Departmental Staff

Matt Carthy

82. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of attaché's posted in overseas missions, by policy area and by mission, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19735/24]

Departmental Funding

Matt Carthy

83. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional funding provided to facilitate the opening of new diplomatic missions in 2023 and 2024, by capital/current and by mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19736/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

84. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 9 April 2024, if he no longer intends to increase staffing in the Passport Service to 920, per the Minister's commitment to do so by January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19737/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

85. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 9 April 2024, the cost associated with increasing staffing levels in the Passport Service by 10, 50 and 100 WTE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19738/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

86. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 9 April 2024, the WTE equivalent within the Passport Service, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19739/24]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

87. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made in relation to applications for passports lodged by a husband and wife (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the passports despite the fact that the applications were lodged on the 10 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19855/24]

Passport Services

Catherine Murphy

88. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention or that of his Passport Office officials has been drawn to the profile verification used by a company (details supplied) for accounts in that it requires an account holder to upload their passport details and also scans the e-chip of a passport; if official have engaged with the business in respect of this practice; if he and or his officials have conducted their own data protection risk analysis of this and other social media companies' requirement to upload passport details; and if he will set out his concerns in relation to these requirements. [19860/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

89. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to examine a passport issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19898/24]

Electricity Grid

Patrick Costello

90. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the business practice among electricity suppliers to prevent customers from moving back to a flat-rate tariff if they have opted in-to a smart tariff; if this practice has been examined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

91. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19573/24]

Angling Sector

Robert Troy

92. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a full update on legislation banning eel fishing. [19628/24]

EU Directives

Ivana Bacik

93. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the nature of and current situation with regard to the European Commission's announcement of 24 April 2024 that it was sending Ireland a reasoned opinion (INFR(2021)2116) for the non-conformity of Irish legislation with Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial Emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19629/24]

Grant Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what statistics are recorded regarding the recipients of the solar electricity grant, individual home energy upgrade grants (better energy homes), grants for a home energy upgrade, free energy upgrades (warmer homes scheme), with respect to the value of the grant; the number of grants availed of by the recipient (details supplied); the income of the recipient household; the value of the property; and the location of the property or any other details relating to the recipient household or property. [19675/24]

Departmental Staff

Alan Kelly

95. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of WTE accountants employed by his Department in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [19795/24]

Mining Industry

Michael Lowry

96. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will support the proposals concerning the Shallee Project and the development of facilities at Shallee Mine in Silvermines, County Tipperary; if he has been made aware of correspondence issued by email (details supplied) to his Department on 24 April 2024; if he will review the correspondence issued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19828/24]

Military Honours

Matt Carthy

97. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 5 December 2023, if he will provide an update on the review of the processes of awarding military medals; when he expects the review to be completed; if he intends to implement changes to the processes involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19712/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

98. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the work of designing a review mechanism regarding the pay and allowance structures of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19713/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

99. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the progress made regarding a pilot programme of a non-financial labour hours budget being introduced in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19714/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

100. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the progress made developing family friendly policies in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19715/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

101. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the current fleet of armoured personnel carriers; the year they were acquired; the number of which have completed mid-life retrofit; his plans to acquire new or additional APCs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19716/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

102. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number and type of aircraft in the Air Corps fleet; his plans to acquire additional aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19717/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

103. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 9 April 2024, if any Irish Defence Forces personnel took part in any of the secondary tasks of Operation Irini; if so, which tasks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19718/24]

Legislative Measures

Alan Kelly

104. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to make it a criminal offence for anyone purchasing or selling a vehicle through car dealership or private sale to knowingly provide false and or misleading information when registering or de-registering ownership of a vehicle to driver and vehicle computer sales division. [19797/24]

Road Projects

Aindrias Moynihan

105. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be allocated to Cork County Council to address the shortfall in funding required to address the works required for road repairs in mid Cork due to major deterioration of roads by recent high levels of rainfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19927/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

106. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline who has responsibility for the planning, choosing of locations, management and maintenance of the national on-street EV charging network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19605/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

107. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the number of on-street EV charging stations per capita that his Department is aiming to see in place over the next decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19606/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

108. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the contract tender and procurement policy around the provision of on-street EV charging stations for State and private operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19607/24]

Electric Vehicles

Neasa Hourigan

109. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the amount in funding that was utilised under the public charge point scheme; the number of councils that applied; the number of points installed under the same scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19608/24]

Road Safety

Brendan Griffin

110. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if the 50km speed limit at a location in County Kerry (details supplied) will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19625/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Louise O'Reilly

111. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if he will respect the High Court judgement (details supplied) regarding the CIÉ 1951 scheme; if he will take steps to ensure that the benefits of the 1951 scheme active members will be protected and maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19673/24]

Road Safety

Holly Cairns

112. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to a study (details supplied) into the dangers of headlight glare on road safety; if he will urge the EU to carry out a similar study on the dangers of headlight glare resulting from the use of LEDs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19696/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Cathal Crowe

113. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport with regard to the recent High Court judgement concerning the CIÉ superannuation scheme 1951 (amendment) scheme 2000, if he will respect the High Court judgment, and outline how he will take steps to ensure that the benefits of 1951 scheme active members will be protected and maintained, and that 1951 scheme pensioners will be awarded their long-awaited pension increase without delay; if he will insist that CIÉ immediately complies with its legal obligations to appoint CIÉ board-nominated members to the statutory CIÉ 1951 scheme pensions committee, pursuant to Rule 12 of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/24]

Rail Network

Alan Kelly

114. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the budget allocation in 2024 by Iarnród Éireann on personnel security within its stations and on its trains; and the percentage of the 2023 security budget allocation that was actually spent, in tabular form. [19804/24]

Road Safety

Holly Cairns

115. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport for a status update on the implementation of the legislation required for speed limit reduction, as planned for Q1 of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19890/24]

Bus Services

Brendan Griffin

116. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if a bus stop will be provided in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19895/24]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

117. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance what statistics are recorded regarding the recipients of the home renovation incentive, and the help-to-buy scheme with respect to the value of the relief; the number of reliefs availed of by the recipient (details supplied); the income of the recipient household; the value of the property; and the location of the property or any other details relating to the recipient household or property. [19675/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Paul Kehoe

118. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance further to section 39 of the Liquor Act 2000, which states that the recipient of a certificate of transfer must present this to the Revenue Commissioners within twelve months of obtaining same in order that the application for a liquor licence can be processed by the Revenue Commissioners, the reason for having a twelve months' time limit on the presentation of the certificate of transfer to Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19749/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Paul Kehoe

119. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance further to section 39 of the Liquor Act 2000, if the certificate of transfer is presented to the Revenue Commissioners within the respective twelve months, how long the Revenue Commissioners have to process the application and issue a valid liquor licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19750/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Paul Kehoe

120. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance if it is legal for a premises to continue to trade on a certificate of transfer; if so, how long is it legal to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19751/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Paul Kehoe

121. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners do not issue a liquor licence within twelve months of the expiry of the previous licence from which the certificate of transfer was derived, if it is legal for the licence applicant to continue trading indefinitely, for example for over two years on a certificate of transfer if Revenue Commissioners have not issued a liquor licence to that premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19753/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Paul Kehoe

122. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance for how long it is legal to trade on a certificate of transfer before a liquor licence is issued by the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19755/24]

Customs and Excise

Paul Kehoe

123. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider postponing the introduction of carbon tax increase on agricultural diesel from 1 May 2024 to 1 October 2024 due to the additional costs imposed on contractors by the unprecedented inclement weather over the past number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19564/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

124. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Finance to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19574/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Michael Healy-Rae

125. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19583/24]

Customs and Excise

Michael Lowry

126. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will postpone the planned introduction of the latest round of carbon tax increases for agricultural diesel from 1 May 2024 until 1 October 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/24]

Housing Schemes

Michael Creed

127. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance when the help-to-buy scheme will be approved for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19697/24]

Protected Disclosures

Paul Murphy

128. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will address a matter in relation to the Protected Disclosures Amendment Act 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19580/24]

Heritage Sites

Johnny Guirke

129. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if a start date has been agreed for the commencement of remedial works on Cairn T at the Loughcrew heritage site near Oldcastle, County Meath; if he can confirm the plan and schedule for the re-opening of Cairn T to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19626/24]

Heritage Sites

Brendan Griffin

130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when Ratoo Round Tower in Ballyduff, County Kerry, will be open to the public as no access is currently available to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19893/24]

Public Expenditure Policy

Rose Conway-Walsh

131. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the total projected Exchequer capital spend for 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027; what the Exchequer expenditure represents as a percentage share of GNI* based on the updated projections in the stability programme update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19900/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

132. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19572/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Neasa Hourigan

133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to small and medium enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Jim O'Callaghan

134. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his response to the recommendations of the Report on Offshore Renewable Energy published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19905/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Niamh Smyth

135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for a sole trader (details supplied) to deal with rates; and what grants are available to them. [19906/24]

School Enrolments

Alan Kelly

136. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the enrolments number as of 30 March 2024 for all post primary schools in County Tipperary. [19806/24]

Schools Building Projects

David Stanton

137. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the situation with respect to her decision to sanction an extension to a school (details supplied); the further permissions her Department needs to make to facilitate the construction of the extension; when she expects work to commence on the extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19542/24]

School Transport

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken by her Department to better manage data on busy school transport routes to ensure that all places allocated are being utilised and being reassigned in the event that they are not to ensure that all school transport offered is being utilised to its highest capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19563/24]

Schools Building Projects

David Stanton

139. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the situation with respect to proposed works for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19567/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

140. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide details on the measures being taken to address the following concerns for teachers and special needs assistants injured at work; the current provision of immediate financial assistance available to cover medical bills and medications for teachers and SNAs who have been assaulted at work; if she will consider the extension of assault leave for teachers/SNAs to cover the entire duration of medically certified leave, as opposed to the current limit of three-six months; if she will establish a comprehensive support system for educators who have been injured at work; if her Department has completed a review of current policies and supports for schools and educators dealing with instances of extreme and frequent violent behaviours (details supplied); what steps are being considered to address these issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19577/24]

State Examinations

Neasa Hourigan

141. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the response of her Department to the March 2024 ruling on the legal access of students with visual impairment to the junior certificate exam; if she will outline the provisions her Department will make to vindicate the judgement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19579/24]

Social Insurance

Michael Creed

142. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if a person now resident and retired in the UK who worked in the Irish education system from 1973 to 1976 as a teacher is entitled to a refund of her social insurance contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19582/24]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

143. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to implement a pay increase for bus escorts for special schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19601/24]

School Facilities

Duncan Smith

144. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to instruct her Department to engage with Fingal County Council to provide a long-time parking solution for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19602/24]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

145. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the number of new places for children with special educational needs that has been secured for the 2024/2025 school year following the package announced in Budget 2024 for special needs education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19609/24]

Schools Building Projects

Willie O'Dea

146. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education when she intends to sanction a new school building for a school (details supplied), as the current building and prefabs are no longer fit for purpose for the 870 children currently attending and who all started school with the promise of a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19612/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if her Department has applied for an extension of the existing planning permission for a school (details supplied) in light of current delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19621/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

148. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education what contingency plans are in place for pupils in a school (details supplied) for the 2024/2025 school year in light of current delays with the anticipated new school building; if additional accommodation will be available; if this will be at the current site; if agreement has been reached with the local landlord in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19622/24]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

149. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when and where a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will be given a school place in an autism class for September 2024; if the NCSE will engage urgently with the parents to ensure this child will get an appropriate school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19659/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the frequent assaults on special education teachers; if she will ensure that assault leave is increased to cover the duration of assault injuries; if she will ensure her Department meets the costs of medical bills and counselling for employees arising from assaults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19660/24]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

151. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education where a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will be given a school placement in September 2024; if she will ensure that the NCSE offers appropriate assistance to the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19674/24]

Home Schooling

Peadar Tóibín

152. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the disparity among home schooled children and children in mainstream education with regard to access to assistive technology (details supplied). [19682/24]

Schools Administration

Mary Lou McDonald

153. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when the updated guidelines/procedures on the use of school buildings outside of school hours will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19704/24]

Schools Administration

Mary Lou McDonald

154. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education if any consultation has taken place with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Youth regarding the updating of guidelines/procedures on the use of school buildings outside of school hours, noting the challenges being faced by afterschool services in securing sustainable use of school buildings to accommodate afterschool services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19705/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

155. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19752/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

156. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19754/24]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

157. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education whether she will meet with parents and staff of a school (details supplied) regarding their sanctioned ASD classes and her Department's refusal to sanction an extension to allow for these classes to be established. [19765/24]

School Enrolments

Alan Kelly

158. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the enrolments numbers as of 30 March 2024 for all national schools in County Tipperary. [19805/24]

School Funding

Patricia Ryan

159. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 24 April 2024, what steps she will take to speed up the late payment of the ancillary services grant and ICT digital strategy grant to schools that are out of pocket due to having bought such equipment, her response merely set out the details of the grants, and did not provide a date or commitment to speed up the payment, which was the question asked; the steps she will take to speed up the payment; and when she anticipates the payment being made. [19845/24]

Adult Education Provision

Catherine Murphy

160. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her Department provides grants for e-reader pens in respect of learning support aides to support adult learners (details supplied). [19887/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

161. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19576/24]

Sports Facilities

Leo Varadkar

162. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the construction of a velodrome at the Sport Ireland Campus. [19671/24]

Departmental Staff

Alan Kelly

163. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of WTE accountants employed by her Department in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [19794/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

164. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has received copies of a review (details supplied) concerning bogus self-employment at RTÉ; if not, if she has sought it; if she understands the importance of this review for the future of the national broadcaster; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19829/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

165. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will request a copy of the completed Government commissioned report into RTÉ; if she will publish each respective report as they each become available to publish, rather than waiting for both to be published together; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19830/24]

Sports Funding

Brendan Griffin

166. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details regarding the sports capital and equipment programme in Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19894/24]

Housing Policy

Thomas Gould

167. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for households that do not qualify for social housing, cannot access a mortgage and live in an area with no proposed cost rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19540/24]

Derelict Sites

Michael Ring

168. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if progress has been made in relation to an acquisition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19548/24]

Housing Schemes

Willie O'Dea

169. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give consideration to increasing the property price ceiling of €400,000 for purchasing houses in Limerick under the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19566/24]

Housing Provision

Cormac Devlin

170. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the locations of the 30 sites identified in Housing for All for accelerated builds; if he will outline the plans for the provision of modular homes in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area; the sites under consideration there for the provision of modular homes; the status of such considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19569/24]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm where the legislation for the establishment of defects scheme for apartments and duplexes is currently at and to confirm when the draft legislation will be published; when he believes that OMCs will be able to apply for and receive funding for permanent remediation of defects; if he will commit to passing the legislation before the budget and if so, if he will clarify what financial allocation will be required for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19589/24]

Economic and Social Research Institute

Cian O'Callaghan

172. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the terms of reference of the ESRI study that he committed to share with Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage during the Committee stage of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, will be shared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19603/24]

Rights of Way

Steven Matthews

173. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns of local authorities regarding the establishment of rights of way in county development plans (details supplied); if his Department has considered establishing a judicial-led arbitration process to resolve complex disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19702/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

174. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the length of time it is taking to complete new social housing applications in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19853/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

175. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the extraordinarily long time that it is taking to complete and award HAP applications, following approval for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19854/24]