Parliamentary questions

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

61. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm why a school (details supplied) has recently been refused approval under the Emergency Works Programme for an urgent project which impacts children’s safety in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18199/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the return of essential therapists including a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, play/behaviour therapists, and social worker to a special school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18262/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the reason a special school (details supplied) is still without essential therapists including a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, play/behaviour therapists, and a social worker; the date they will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18263/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to increasing the allocation of therapists to an area (details supplied) to meet the needs of the caseload, in view that the current level of allocation does not deliver essential intervention and support necessary to every pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18264/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

201. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the grants awarded to groups under the 2023 towns and villages renewal scheme will be announced. [18209/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

187. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17166/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17191/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of a person’s (details supplied) appeal and when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17131/24]

Social Welfare Code

Colm Burke

234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the living alone increase to elderly people who have their disabled child living with them but the children attend disability day services and they cannot work due to their severe needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17150/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17192/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application for the town and village renewal scheme 2023 by an organisation (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; when they might be awarded funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17081/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

9. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for retrofitting to home boilers, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

10. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for diesel in diesel cars, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration would be given to reclassifying hydrotreated vegetable oil as a home heating fuel, in view that it is currently rated as a transport fuel and is therefore more expensive to purchase than diesel and kerosene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/24]

Housing Provision

Colm Burke

49. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes completed in Cork in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15653/24]

Grant Payments

Colm Burke

72. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money spent in Cork on housing adaption grants in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15654/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm that the family of a child (details supplied) on a HSE waiting list for an occupational therapist since 2022, who requires assisted technology for their exams and requires rest breaks, will be permitted to request this assisted technology from SENCO for their Junior Certificate if referred by their teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15799/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

123. 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. [15806/24]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

124. 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. [15807/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

190. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current number of teams for each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (EIP), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide, the current staffing levels of each of these teams and the shortfall in staff within each team as per the required number in the respective Models of Care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15778/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

191. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (EIP), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide, in the year 2023 and to-date in 2024 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15779/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of people in mental health community residences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15780/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, on the costs of accommodating people in mental health community residences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15800/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Colm Burke

261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress of the review of the two proposed national procedures for allowances towards post-mastectomy products (prostheses and specialist bras), along with hair loss products initially published in February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15941/24]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

308. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will expand the dental tax relief med 2 scheme so increase the tax band from 20% to 40% as per 2009 levels and to specifically include dentures in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14872/24]

School Facilities

Colm Burke

464. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if funding will be made available for a school (details supplied) to demolish an existing structure and build a new facility to accommodate ASD classes. [14347/24]

Development Contributions

Colm Burke

659. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a scheme (details supplied) will be extended beyond 24 April 2024 to all permitted residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

741. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13980/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

743. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer’s allowance appeal (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13988/24]

Maternity Leave

Colm Burke

756. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the duration of paid maternity leave to facilitate more women to continue breastfeeding for longer than they otherwise would have had they returned to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14235/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

793. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection is she will give due consideration to raising the full rate of the State pension (contributory) in order to restore it to its 2020 spending power, as a further step towards benchmarking the rate at 34% of average earnings, which should be achieved by 2026 as a 'living pension' alongside the introduction of the new national living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14862/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

794. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to raising the income thresholds for the State pension (non-contributory) to take account of inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14863/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

795. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the maximum rate of the State pension (non-contributory) to bring it to the same level as the State pension (contributory) and benchmark both the contributory and non-contributory State pension against 34% of average earnings, to reduce gender pension inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14864/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

796. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take the necessary steps to implement benchmarking and indexing of the State pension and reinforce this by commissioning a comprehensive analysis of the costs associated with ageing, and the cost-of-living for all older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14866/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Colm Burke

797. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to the provision of a €5 per week digital allowance to those older persons who cannot afford digital devices or internet subscriptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14867/24]

Citizenship Applications

Colm Burke

892. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Irish citizenship by naturalisation applications received by her Department for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; the number of applications which have reached a decision for each of these years; the number of applications that are still processing for each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14615/24]

Vaccination Programme

Colm Burke

1212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s recently published report (26/02/24) on the uptake of the HPV vaccine for the academic years 2022/2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13634/24]

Vaccination Programme

Colm Burke

1213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps he will take to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine in the school immunisation programme in consideration of the findings of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s recently published report (26/02/24) on the uptake of the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13635/24]

Vaccination Programme

Colm Burke

1214. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason the recently published Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s report (26/02/24) on the uptake of the HPV vaccine does not include information regarding the percentage of uptake achieved through the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13636/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

1334. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps he will take to address delays in diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in light of the fact that more than a third of people with such conditions go for more than five years without a diagnosis and in recognition of the 300,00 people living with such diseases in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14226/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Colm Burke

1335. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the up-to-date position regarding the location for the new genetics and genomics laboratory in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14227/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Colm Burke

1336. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm if the new genetics and genomics laboratory will be located at the new National Children’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14228/24]

Hospital Services

Colm Burke

1337. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm what interim measures are in place, if any, to ensure genetics testing continues to be carried out during relocation from its current home in CHI Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/24]

Hospital Services

Colm Burke

1338. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the addition of screening for SMA and SCID to the newborn bloodspot screening programme will commence given the fact that screening for SMA and SCID is not scheduled to take place at the current lab in Temple Street, but rather at the new National Children’s Hospital. As the new NCH is not due to open until at least Q2 2025, and an interim location has not been announced, this has led to confusion around when implementation will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/24]

Hospital Services

Colm Burke

1339. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm when newborn babies will be screened for SMA and SCID as part of the newborn bloodspot screening programme; and where the testing for these conditions will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14231/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1340. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to the establishment of an infant feeding communication forum across departments that is, with responsibility for children, health, and marketing of commercial formula milks and the Health Service Executive to align government policy, funding and Health Service Executive practices for the purposes of increasing breastfeeding initiation rates and the duration of breastfeeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14232/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1341. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to standardise breastfeeding education for healthcare professionals in maternity units and support in-service, role-specific breastfeeding education and training to enable implementation of the Baby Friendly Initiative in all 19 maternity units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14233/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1342. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to fully implement the World Health Organization Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and its subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions in legislation and ensure that this legislation is monitored and enforced in a transparent manner independent of industry, with particular attention paid to advertising and marketing online via baby clubs and social media influencers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14234/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1343. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide independent, evidence-based breastfeeding-related education and training to all healthcare professionals likely to encounter breastfeeding mothers or infants/young children in their clinical practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14236/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1344. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to provide for greater availability of breastfeeding preparation classes and breastfeeding support groups, and modes of delivery of same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14237/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1345. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will develop effective strategies for increasing awareness of infant and young child feeding materials within other sectors outside of the health service, for example, workplace settings, county councils, and allocate resources as required by the Health Service Executive to implement breastfeeding campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14238/24]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

1346. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will develop an up-to-date infant feeding policy for those with HIV in Ireland, in line with recent British HIV Association guidance, that would facilitate shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14239/24]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

1347. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will develop an infant and young child feeding in emergencies preparedness plan specific to the Irish context in line with international guidance, incorporating and building on the operational guidance prepared by the Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group of the Emergency Nutrition Network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14240/24]

Departmental Data

Colm Burke

1348. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to develop an electronic child health record to collect and report on breastfeeding metrics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14241/24]

Substance Misuse

Colm Burke

1499. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing an office for alcohol harm reduction to operate within his Department which would take the lead across Government Departments in developing the policy measures needed to address alcohol harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14858/24]

Substance Misuse

Colm Burke

1500. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence dedicated funding for the provision of alcohol care teams within all major hospitals and which would be linked to community services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14859/24]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

1501. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence dedicated funding to the relevant bodies to support the national Hidden Harm framework that recognises the adverse childhood experience of growing up with parental problem substance use; if he will take the necessary steps to ensure current funding for services for children and families who are impacted by parental drug and alcohol use is doubled for five years with a review of the services provided evaluated at the end of that time, as recommended by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14860/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

1502. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the mental health allocation of 10% of the overall health budget is reached by 2030, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14861/24]

Departmental Funding

Colm Burke

1503. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence dedicated funding of €2 million estimate to create a Commissioner for Ageing and Older Persons as part of a package of measures to counter ageism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14865/24]

Dental Services

Colm Burke

1505. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will grant an immediate allocation of €7 million to hire 76 HSE whole-time equivalent dentists to bring service levels back to 2007 levels, thereby cutting waiting lists for service and treatments in the public system that is, the children's school screening programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14869/24]

Dental Services

Colm Burke

1506. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding to hire 30 specialist orthodontists to address the up to three-year waiting lists for orthodontic care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14870/24]

Medical Cards

Colm Burke

1507. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to deliver a reformed medical card scheme through the provision of a voucher or credit towards dental care of between €100 to €500, respectively (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14871/24]

Dental Services

Colm Burke

1508. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set aside funding to reintroduce a foundation training scheme to facilitate new dental graduates to gain experience in a mentored environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14873/24]

Dental Services

Colm Burke

1509. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what new proposals will be put in place to assist in the delivery of the new dental hospital in UCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14874/24]

Dental Services

Colm Burke

1510. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside additional funding of €20 million for the two dental schools at UCC and TCD to increase the number of dental graduates that will practice in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14875/24]

Health Services Staff

Colm Burke

1599. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed within the health service, by categories (details supplied) for each year from 1 January 2014 to 29 February 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15363/24]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

18. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what progress has been made to date in respect of current accommodation projects being carried out by his Department to accommodate members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13076/24]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the progress made to date to increase the Defence Forces to 11,500 members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13077/24]

Bus Services

Colm Burke

79. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to improve the bus service in Cork city in view of recurring issues with reliability of bus services including cancelled and late buses, and the frequency of these issues occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/24]

Electric Vehicles

Colm Burke

110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport his views on the provision of mobility hubs nationally under the new Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022 – 2025, in particular details of the launch of pilot hubs in two cities and a major town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10955/24]

Immigration Status

Colm Burke

253. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when an application (details supplied) will be completed, given it is over six months since the application was submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13471/24]

Legislative Measures

Colm Burke

85. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he intends to legislate for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes; and if so, whether he intends this to be a standalone Bill or whether it will form part of a broader package of measures to regulate flavours and packaging as part of proposed further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11633/24]

Cycling Facilities

Colm Burke

199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the provision of additional funding for the expansion of the Cork city bike scheme into the north side of Cork city in view of the increase in bike journeys in Cork city from 2022 to 2023 as set out in a recent review undertaken by the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13074/24]

Coast Guard Service

Colm Burke

285. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when a project (details supplied) which was granted planning permission in 2022 can proceed; if this project has been advertised in order that tenders can be submitted; when is it likely that the tender process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11858/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

464. 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. [12436/24]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

497. 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. [12662/24]

Legislative Measures

Colm Burke

552. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on progress made to date in respect of legislation regarding a company (details supplied) and short-term lettings, which is to include the provision of a short-term tourist letting register through Fáilte Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11857/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

726. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal (details supplied) by a person; when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11922/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Colm Burke

752. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted a review of the optical benefit scheme; and if so, to outline in detail the outcome of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12510/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Colm Burke

753. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a change to the optical benefit scheme eye examination fee for contractors is under consideration; if this matter will be raised at her Department’s next meeting with stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12511/24]

Local Authorities

Colm Burke

1019. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider developing a national initiative in view of the success of a recent free trees initiative by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12508/24]

Local Authorities

Colm Burke

1020. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider in conjunction with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders (details supplied) the establishment of a nationwide free trees initiative, in view of the success of a recent frees trees initiative by Cork City Council during Tree Week 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12509/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider moving to a fully publicly funded model of early years and school age care to bringing Ireland line with the best-in-class systems available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with services in the local area, such as the CCCs, to source alternative places for children when child care closures are unavoidable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ringfence dedicated funding for the purposes of developing a coherent five-year plan to create a unified, publicly funded model of early years and school age care that incentivises the recruitment and retention of a graduate workforce, that is affordable and accessible for parents and crucially, places children's rights at its core (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1111. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that when a childcare setting indicates that it is going to close, it must first be signalled this within the Pobal Hive, by giving a minimum of three months' notice and six months if at all possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11816/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child care setting has confirmed with Pobal that it is to close, this will trigger a response from a Stakeholder Response Team (SRT); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11817/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that when child care settings are at risk of closures, the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with a range of local agencies and others to devise a sustainable plan for the setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11818/24]

Disability Services

Colm Burke

1154. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what action his Department is taking to ensure a standardised rate of pay for the different types of home and community care providers, given that disability home support is not operated under an authorisation scheme, which indicates that providers of disability support are paid less than those who are providers of elderly home support, wherein these providers are not guaranteed the living wage or travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12459/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

1231. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health who represented Ireland at the COP10/MOP3 global anti-tobacco conferences; what agenda items were priority for the Irish delegation; what are the outcomes of the conferences that can translate into tobacco policy or legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11631/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

1232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether progress has been made on summarising the responses to the public consultation on further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, whether pre-legislative scrutiny will be the next step of the legislative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/24]

Health Services Staff

Colm Burke

1245. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps have been taken to date to establish the grade of advanced practice physiotherapist, following his commitment to do so at a conference 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11700/24]

Health Services Staff

Colm Burke

1246. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to conduct a review of the management structure for physiotherapists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11701/24]

Hospital Staff

Colm Burke

1247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the relevant bodies to establish a defined career pathway for clinical physiotherapy tutors to include recognition of specialism and further to advance the establishment of clinical academic posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11702/24]

Hospital Staff

Colm Burke

1248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to restore the placement allowance for clinical staff providing physiotherapy students with clinical placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11703/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

1484. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will include the vaccine for chickenpox in the childhood immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12894/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Burke

1522. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to open a care facility (details supplied) where all the necessary works have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13167/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

1595. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is proposed to introduce a scheme that would help local authorities to put in place the necessary infrastructural changes in the older parts of cities and towns, for example, Blackpool in Cork, to fast track the rejuvenation of existing buildings and facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12887/24]

EU Meetings

Colm Burke

16. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on his recent meeting of the foreign affairs ministers in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10957/24]

Passport Services

Colm Burke

51. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what action his Department is taking to improve processing times of paper based renewal and first-time passport applications, in view that the current processing time is eight weeks, and in particular the efforts being made to fast-track applications where queries have been raised as this can often lead to extended delays in processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10956/24]