Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out his proposals to alter the current triple lock mechanism governing the deployment of Irish Defence Forces overseas; when he proposes to introduce amending legislation on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21844/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

12. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of personnel who have joined each branch of the Defence Forces in each of the past two years and in the first quarter of 2024; the number who have retired or left each service branch over the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21846/24]

Departmental Projects

Brendan Howlin

19. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out the role and function of the new civil-military branch established within his Department; the structure and management of this branch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21845/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

47. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Irish Defence Forces personnel currently deployed on overseas missions; the location of each deployment; the further plans he has, if any, for future deployment overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21847/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Howlin

198. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will personally intervene to assist in an appeal to her Department for a domiciliary care allowance and carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) to avoid severe hardship and allow the child to be discharged from hospital and return home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22184/24]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Howlin

212. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the expected timeframe of the next intake to begin their training at the Garda College, Templemore; the number of Garda recruits in the next intake; whether there will be further intakes in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22187/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

230. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in accordance with the implementation plan for the neurorehabilitation strategy, and the commitment given by the HSE CEO that a community neurorehabilitation team would be provided for CHO 5, if funding will be provided for this team in the immediate future; if it is his intention that this service will be in place in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22162/24]

Hospital Services

Brendan Howlin

248. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure Wexford General Hospital has access to consultant neurology services; the reason Wexford General Hospital is the only model 3 hospital in the south east without outreach neurology clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/24]

Healthcare Policy

Brendan Howlin

249. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if in the determination of health service provision, levels of social deprivation are taken into account by the HSE and his Department; the level of specific extra funding made available to areas with vulnerable populations above the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/24]

Asylum Seekers

Brendan Howlin

77. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the contacts he has had with UK ministers to address the issue of asylum seekers crossing the border from Northern Ireland; the views of the UK government on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20909/24]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

86. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the average waiting time for the issuing of new passports; for the renewal of passports; the issuing of passports to newborn children; the number of staff currently working in the passport office; if he believes that there will be an increase in wait times as we approach the summer season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20910/24]

Middle East

Brendan Howlin

109. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out his actions of recent times to end the Israeli assault on Gaza; the discussions he has had with governments in the region; the contacts he has had with the US government; the attitude of other EU foreign ministers to the ongoing tactics being employed by Israel; the efforts made to secure an immediate ceasefire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20908/24]

Military Aircraft

Brendan Howlin

99. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 21 March 2024, if, in relation to the purchase of a new mid-sized jet aircraft for Ministerial air transport, he will set out the timeline for the completion of this process; the number of tenders received to date; the closing date for tenders; if an advisory panel has been established to make recommendations on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20106/24]

National Development Plan

Brendan Howlin

132. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to set out the capital allocation under the National Development Plan to expand the capacity of the schools of dentistry in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin; the plans he has in the NDP to deliver a new dental school and hospital in UCC and the timeline envisaged for such developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19912/24]

Industrial Development

Brendan Howlin

154. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; the number of site visits organised by the IDA for companies in each of the past three years, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20103/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Howlin

155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20104/24]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

318. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the proposed expansion in the number of dentists to be trained in Ireland, if he will set out the optimum number he believes should be catered for annually in third level colleges in Ireland; his plans to expand the number of dentistry places available at University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin; the plans he has to provide a new dental school and hospital at UCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19910/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Howlin

157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined legislation introduced in France to address the issue of fast fashion; his views on whether this issue should be addressed in Ireland; if he plans to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/24]

Coastal Erosion

Brendan Howlin

165. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 18 April 2024, and in view of the timelines set out by him for the development of an appropriate coastal and flooding protection scheme for Rosslare, County Wexford, if he will ensure that progress of this scheme is accelerated, having regard to the impact of climate change on the coastline at this location; if he will arrange to have interim measures put in place to protect the coastline until the major scheme is developed. [18588/24]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

300. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists that will be trained in Ireland in 2024; the capacity of the existing schools of dentistry; his views on whether the number of dentists currently being trained is sufficient to meet the future needs of a growing Irish population; if he supports the building of a new school of dentistry and dental hospital in University College Cork; the discussions he has had with the Minister for Higher and Further Education in relation to the future provision and training of dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18484/24]