Parliamentary questions

Diaspora Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

72. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 30 April 2024, if he will revisit the question and itemise the 30 recommendations in the report, with a correlated update on what work has been undertaken to address and progress the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20593/24]

Work Permits

Fergus O'Dowd

177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide their views on a report in relation to work permits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20598/24]

Departmental Policies

Fergus O'Dowd

180. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond and address serious concerns raised by local business owner in respect of the current pressures facing the food and hospitality sectors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20727/24]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail if any consideration has been given to the reintroduction of over the shop grants to compliment the croí cónaithe schemes to ensure the Government are doing all they can to reduce vacancies in towns and villages across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/24]

Departmental Programmes

Fergus O'Dowd

488. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the funding requirements of the seeking safety Ireland programme, a vital and very successful programme that supports women who have experienced trauma and addiction; if a funding request has been received and reviewed; when he expects to sign off the funding to allow the programme to continue to provide the services and expand the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20170/24]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

638. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if, given the significant number of people diagnosed with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, there are any plans to include it on the long-term illness scheme, considering that the medication required to treat this condition is a considerable expense to those who suffer from it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20870/24]

Motor Industry

Fergus O'Dowd

128. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 190, 191 and 192 of 23 April 2024, if he will address matters in respect of the difficulties second hand car dealers are facing with regard specifically to the mobile VRT trade appointment procedure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19928/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

231. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the contract for IPAS accommodation at a location (details supplied) was cancelled, paused or if the Department have to contractually pay for any invoices received for the premises since the contract commencement date of 17 January 2024, despite no IPAS applicants being on site since 17 January due to planning issues raised at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19971/24]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

259. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in relation to speech and language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19931/24]

Hospital Services

Fergus O'Dowd

273. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on remedial plans to address the structural problems identified by HIQA within Cherry Orchard Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19960/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

235. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasons Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) who were moved from a previously contracted residence under the BOTP and were subsequently moved to Drumcar and informed that they would be moved into any available residencies in Drogheda at the earliest opportunity; the reasons they remain in Drumcar despite the undertaking by his Department almost a year ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19899/24]

Diaspora Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

141. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the 30 recommendations of a report (details supplied) provided to the Government on the plight and problems of returning Irish citizen immigrants to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18868/24]

Recycling Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

164. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, with respect to the deposit return scheme, he will provide an update on the meeting which was due to take place in March with a company (details supplied) and a number of disability organisations to assist in a review of the scheme’s infrastructure to make the scheme more accessible for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/24]

Energy Conservation

Fergus O'Dowd

177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with regard to the launch of the home energy upgrade (low-cost) loan scheme, if applicants who wish to install solar panels to counter the extortionate energy costs in Ireland will be in a position to apply under this scheme without installing other additional retrofitting measures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19421/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

268. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18732/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

269. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond to concerns raised by a local business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18805/24]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

274. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in a situation where a business in the hospitality trade is paying above the €30 thousand rates criteria to access the ICOB grants, if he will provide details of all other supports that would be available to this business considering the pressures on the sector at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19318/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

435. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18733/24]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

551. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how he and his Department will ensure that the Government urgently puts funding in place to develop the HSE clinical pathway for functional neurologic disorder and the multidisciplinary teams urgently required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18801/24]

Departmental Policies

Fergus O'Dowd

592. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full details of the supports offered to a local hotel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19381/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Fergus O'Dowd

290. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline if offers on modular units for BOTPs are still being considered; to outline the process on same; the number of units currently under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

333. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns and proposals raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18620/24]

Motor Industry

Fergus O'Dowd

190. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the significant delays for motor traders in securing registration appointments to import cars from the UK, which is causing major business disruptions and cash flow problems, putting many businesses at risk of closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17334/24]

Motor Industry

Fergus O'Dowd

191. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the current wait times to secure appointments through a company (details supplied) and the NCT to import and register cars from the United Kingdom over the years 2022 and 2023 and to date in 2024, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17335/24]

Motor Industry

Fergus O'Dowd

192. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that in some cases motor dealers are waiting for up to four weeks and beyond for appointments to import and register cars in County Louth through a company (details supplied) for the second-hand marketplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17336/24]

Schools Building Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

321. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18002/24]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

345. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications received for the community monument fund 2024, by county, in tabular form; if there is an appeals process a local authority can enact whereby a project that is of an urgent nature can be reassessed or placed on stand-by if any other funding is returned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17309/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

570. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1166 of 20 March 2024, if he will clarify statements (details supplied); his views on whether these statements directly contradict each other; his further views on whether there is no transparency regarding the entire process, no separate tendering for security services and presently no way of stating what security services cost; if this has been commented on by the auditor for his Department; the professional security advice his Department use when forming an opinion on the level of security required and the background checks, if any carried out into the security staff employed; the background checks that are carried out separately into all employees of the centre management company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18017/24]

Law Reform Commission

Fergus O'Dowd

649. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the recommendations made in the recent report by the Law Reform Commission on the need for the Government to establish a regulatory framework for adult safeguarding and to introduce the recommended necessary legislation and other fundamental changes necessary to protect vulnerable adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17865/24]

Tourism Industry

Fergus O'Dowd

17. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will expedite a review and provide supports to address the lack of hotel beds for the tourism sector in Drogheda, the largest town in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16857/24]

Tourism Industry

Fergus O'Dowd

54. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on the role of the night-time economy manager in Drogheda since the Government policy decision to close the last remaining hotel beds of scale in the town, thereby majorly impacting the tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16858/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Fergus O'Dowd

92. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will meet with the local business community and stakeholders in Drogheda to discuss their significant concerns on employment and trade within the town of Drogheda, the largest town in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Fergus O'Dowd

108. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will organise urgent meetings with officials within his Department to formulate a dedicated plan to provide employment in Drogheda, with consideration of the very significant number of workers commuting from the town daily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16859/24]

School Enrolments

Fergus O'Dowd

178. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No.119 of 11 April 2024, if she will arrange for a further response to issue to follow-up queries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17090/24]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Fergus O'Dowd

210. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a pause on wind farm developments until the new guidelines are put in place to replace the current 2006 wind energy development guidelines, which remain in force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17092/24]

Local Authorities

Fergus O'Dowd

216. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount sought by each local authority from his Department for each of the past two years for housing adaptation grants; the amount granted by his Department; if further allocations were sought by any local authority; if so, the amount granted for each of the past two years; if any funds were returned by any local authority; the waiting list for each such local authority and the amount returned, in tabular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17149/24]

Departmental Contracts

Fergus O'Dowd

276. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of properties and corresponding beds offered to his Department that met the requirements under both the IPAS and BOTP schemes, by county, since 1 January 2023 to date, in tabular form; the total number of contracts entered into by his Department; the opposing number of contracts that were not progressed, by county, in tabular form for the corresponding period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17083/24]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

45. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to urgently review and action the very concerning case of revoked autism places for the coming school term (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16921/24]

Museum Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

62. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 11 July 2023, considering the ongoing funding issues that continue with the Drogheda Museum, if she will assist in organising a meeting with officials competent in the sector who could advise the museum on the best way forward for the organisation, with a view of future funding options and supports at the forefront of its requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16814/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Fergus O'Dowd

83. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will seek a review of a domiciliary care allowance case (details supplied) where the child is profoundly deaf but this is not seen as meeting the required criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16900/24]

Legislative Measures

Fergus O'Dowd

84. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to concerns raised in respect of the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16982/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

127. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can confirm with regard to the IPAS contract signed with a hotel (details supplied), if the contract is being paid at a rate of 500 beds, which was the original stated figure provided under the initial Department briefing issued on 13 February, or if the State is funding the maximum allowable number of applicants under the current fire safety certificate, which is approximately half of the quoted 500 in the original brief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17000/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Fergus O'Dowd

136. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health how many adults are currently waiting for audiology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16815/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Fergus O'Dowd

137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce waiting times for audiology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16816/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Fergus O'Dowd

138. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the development of any future national hearing care plan will include consideration for adult medical cardholders to be assessed and treated by community audiologists, who currently provide care to working age adults under the Department of Social Protection’s treatment benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16817/24]

Tax Exemptions

Fergus O'Dowd

229. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance to respond to proposals raised in respect of extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16595/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

251. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide the details of the CFRAM assessment in Termonfeckin, County Louth, which suffered from extremely damaging floods in the recent flooding events, given the OPW indicated that a possible structural flood relief measures for Termonfeckin was not an economically viable scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16616/24]

Schools Building Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16503/24]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

375. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding and supports are available to assist a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16191/24]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

400. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any further supports or review of the croí cónaithe application (details supplied) can be undertaken; if there are any additional supports that he is aware of that might assist in such a circumstance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16507/24]