Parliamentary questions

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]