Parliamentary questions

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

68. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if he or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25667/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

69. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department and each body and agency under the remit of his Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25685/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Louise O'Reilly

70. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 249 and 258 of 23 January 2024, the current percentage of Irish SMEs that export services; if exporting by SMEs has increased, decreased, or remained the static since this Government came to office; if his Department has a target to increase SME exporting; if so, the target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25735/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Louise O'Reilly

71. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 249 and 258 of 23 January 2024, to provide an update on the percentage of Irish SMEs currently exporting services and the domestic value added in Irish service exports from SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25736/24]

School Enrolments

Bernard Durkan

72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that school places will be provided to children (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25622/24]

School Enrolments

Paul Murphy

73. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will request that a reason is provided explaining why a child was not accepted as a pupil at a school (details supplied); and the reason the newly built section is not being used to allow for a bigger capacity for pupils, given that there are waiting lists for entry. [25628/24]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Howlin

74. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will review the decision not to provide an additional ASD class at a school (details supplied), despite the school having been contacted by her Department in March asking if the school was interested in opening an additional class to cater for pupils in the school in need of ASD support, some of whom have now been advised to transfer to a school some distance outside of the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25632/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig O'Sullivan

75. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if her Department will engage with the NCSE regarding the sanctioning of a special class at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25640/24]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

76. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the Project Boyne school building initiative; how this bundle is being progressed; if it is to be split, how that will proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25641/24]

Special Educational Needs

Louise O'Reilly

77. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools who agreed to open special classes in modular units for the school year starting September 2024; the number of these schools who had their request rejected by the Department; in tabular form by school name and county. [25651/24]

Special Educational Needs

Louise O'Reilly

78. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary schools who agreed to open special classes in modular units for the school year starting September 2024; the number of these schools who had their request rejected by the Department; in tabular form by school name and county. [25652/24]

Special Educational Needs

Louise O'Reilly

79. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if her Department rejected the opening of a special class in a modular unit at a school (details supplied), citing that the area did not have the numbers for additional classes; how this decision was arrived at given the level of need which exists in the Swords area, and given that Fingal is the fastest growing area in Ireland. [25653/24]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Ring

80. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the up to date position with applications for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25658/24]

Special Educational Needs

Bernard Durkan

81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a dedicated SNA can be assigned to the child of a person (details supplied), given the combination of her autism diagnosis with her intellectual disability diagnosis are giving rise to extremely difficult in-school circumstances; the procedure to apply for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25660/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

82. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if he or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25666/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

83. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education if her Department and each body and agency under the remit of her Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25684/24]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

84. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education if she will review the decision to withdraw five hours of special education teaching from a school (details supplied); the basis for this withdrawal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25699/24]

Grant Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

85. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25708/24]

School Transport

Bernard Durkan

86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all is in order with the school transport application of the children of a person (details supplied); when confirmation of a bus ticket will be forthcoming for the next school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25710/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sean Fleming

87. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education when the circular on the allocation of special needs assistants for the coming school year will be published in order that each school will know which pupils with special needs they can enrol as they are waiting on the circular for clarification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25720/24]

School Accommodation

James O'Connor

88. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding two external works scheme applications for a school (details supplied); if every effort can be made to ensure that decisions are returned on both applications at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that the approved ASD class can be facilitated following completion of necessary health and safety works and to ensure that efforts can commence on reconfiguring a space into a sensory room for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25722/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

89. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a breakdown, in relation to the summer programme, of the number of children in each of the primary inclusion scheme, post-primary inclusion scheme and special school scheme respectively in 2023 and expected in 2024, in tabular form. [25726/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

90. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of increasing the rate of payment for the primary inclusion scheme and the post-primary inclusion scheme from €30 to €45 per week. [25727/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

91. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children who availed of the home-based summer programme in 2023 and expected to avail of it in 2024; and the number of children who were eligible for the programme in each of these years. [25728/24]

School Accommodation

Richard Bruton

92. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if an application has been made by a school (details supplied) for redevelopment of its school hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25729/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Cian O'Callaghan

93. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will look at a case (details supplied) whereby a teacher cannot register for route 1 primary teaching due to a delay in receiving their QTS, despite having worked at primary level since January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25764/24]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Cian O'Callaghan

94. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a future Teaching Council CAR system; if the scheme will be re-opened to allow teachers to complete their induction here in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25765/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

95. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of her Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if she or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25679/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

96. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department and each body and agency under the remit of her Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25697/24]

Water Services

Patrick Costello

97. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage where an end-of-terrace property is derelict but the water mains pipework on the derelict site is damaged and affecting the water supply for a row of terrace properties, what the appropriate avenue is for maintenance to be carried out, given Uisce Éireann has no jurisdiction over pipework on private property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25625/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

98. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if he or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25673/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

99. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department and each body and agency under the remit of his Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25691/24]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Frankie Feighan

100. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cross-border or shared island initiatives currently being progressed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/24]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Frankie Feighan

101. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the Ulster canal project; how many phases of the project have been completed to date; the total spend on each phase of the project to date; the total amount committed by Government for the next phase of the project; if negotiations with landowners have started in respect of future phases of the project; the expected completion date for the overall project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25725/24]

Tourism Industry

Cian O'Callaghan

102. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if traditional bed and breakfasts (details supplied) will be impacted by the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25773/24]

Housing Policy

Violet-Anne Wynne

103. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the national rightsizing policy; when his Department plans to have that published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25779/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Kehoe

104. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the carer's allowance application for a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue from the appeals office following an oral hearing in January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25661/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

105. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of her Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if she or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25677/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department and each body and agency under the remit of her Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25695/24]

Victim Support Services

Seán Haughey

107. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if she will amend current legislation as a matter of urgency to ensure that a victim of a serious assault has the right to information about the release date of their convicted attacker in circumstances where the attacker is being detained in the Central Mental Hospital for a different crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25647/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

108. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of her Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if she or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25674/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

109. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice if her Department and each body and agency under the remit of her Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25692/24]

Work Permits

Bernard Durkan

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the status of an application for EUTR1 application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25701/24]

Victim Support Services

Cian O'Callaghan

111. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has made any progress in relation to a situation (details supplied) where a victim of a crime has not been given the release date of the convicted person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25762/24]

An Garda Síochána

Violet-Anne Wynne

112. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of elder abuse; if there are data collated by an Garda Síochána in respect of incidents reported of elder abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25781/24]

Domestic Violence

Violet-Anne Wynne

113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 522 of 16 April 2024, when a response will issue to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25782/24]

Agriculture Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a licence required from his Department for the selling of vermicast (the processing of organic wastes through earthworms) in Ireland; what is being done by the Department to promote this industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25654/24]

EU Meetings

Denis Naughten

115. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if he or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25663/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Denis Naughten

116. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department and each body and agency under the remit of his Department has achieved the Government-mandated public sector remote working target of 20%; when this was achieved in each instance; the current percentage of staff working remotely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25681/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Ring

117. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the low-emissions slurry spreading scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) given that their payment claim was submitted several months ago and the delay is causing undue financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25721/24]