Parliamentary questions

Cabinet Committees

Patrick Costello

1. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs has met in each year of this Dáil Éireann term. [18319/24]

Cabinet Committees

Patrick Costello

2. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination has met in each year of this Dáil Éireann term. [18320/24]

Cabinet Committees

Patrick Costello

3. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Housing has met in each year of this Dáil Éireann term. [18321/24]

Cabinet Committees

Patrick Costello

4. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Migration, Integration and Ukraine has met in each year of this Dáil Éireann term. [18322/24]

Cabinet Committees

Patrick Costello

5. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland has met in each year of this Dáil Éireann term. [18323/24]

Cabinet Committees

Patrick Costello

6. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services has met in each year of this Dáil Éireann term. [18324/24]

Inspector of Prisons

Patrick Costello

19. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when existing unpublished centre reports (details supplied) will be published. [17832/24]

An Garda Síochána

Patrick Costello

25. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the introduction of an online portal for uploading and reporting of digital evidence, such as video of road traffic offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17844/24]

Heritage Projects

Patrick Costello

70. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the works being carried out at the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park; and the timeline for completion and its opening as a visitor site. [17835/24]

Heritage Sites

Patrick Costello

71. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the efforts his Department is making to liaise with An Garda Síochána regarding policing of road speed within the Phoenix Park. [17834/24]

Commemorative Plaques

Patrick Costello

142. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 653 of 18 January 2023, if an update will be provided. [17311/24]

Departmental Reviews

Patrick Costello

150. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the strategic defence review and provide a timeline on the publication of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18008/24]

Departmental Strategies

Patrick Costello

181. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the development of a national strategy for camera-based enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17953/24]

Commemorative Plaques

Patrick Costello

221. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will erect an additional plaque in Kilmainham Gaol regarding the Civil War executions that took place there in order to acknowledge Leo Dowling and Terrance Brady, who, it has been recently established, were executed there but are not recognised on the existing memorial (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17304/24]

Corporate Governance

Patrick Costello

248. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions being taken by the Companies Registration Office and the Corporate Enforcement Authority in relation to the owners’ management companies and ensuring that they are adhering to the necessary rules and regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17321/24]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

258. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for a breakdown, by county or local authority area, of the number of children waiting for special education school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17337/24]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

259. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for a breakdown within the Dublin City Council area for the number of special schools operating in the area and their capacity; the number of special classes operating in the area and their capacity; the number of mainstream schools with special needs assistants, outlining the number assigned to each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17338/24]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

260. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the measures her Department is taking to increase the provision of special education places throughout schools in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17339/24]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

261. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the review of contracts for special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17340/24]

Special Educational Needs

Patrick Costello

262. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17341/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patrick Costello

282. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to confirm if her Department is indeed putting an expedited plan for the provision of a new gaelcholáiste or gaelcholáistí in the south Dublin area together currently (details supplied); and when this expedited plan will be completed by her Department. [17437/24]

School Transport

Patrick Costello

332. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department will liaise with the relevant authorities to introduce a school pupil's free travel scheme bus pass, similar to the free travel scheme for adults, recognising that children in rural areas can avail of free travel, but not those in urban areas, and recognising that, if delivered upon, this would be directly meeting one of the objectives in the school transports review. [18091/24]

Housing Policy

Patrick Costello

346. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to ensure older people who wish to downsize or right-size are able to do so; the assistance provided in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/24]

Legislative Reviews

Patrick Costello

426. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she would be willing to carry out a review of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 and issues relating to the operation of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17322/24]

Legislative Measures

Patrick Costello

427. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice in instances where residents feel aggrieved by decisions taken or feel owners’ management companies are acting outside the scope of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, the mechanisms under which residents can submit these actions for review or enforcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17324/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

442. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the progression unit in Mountjoy Prison, which was previously used only for model generic prisoners but which has now had sex offenders placed there; if this allocation of sex offenders to the unit will continue to take place; if so, why is the facility not being used for it's designed purposes; and what other building will act as a new progression unit to take its place. [17686/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

443. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners being put forward for early or temporary release in the past 12 months, but who were not released due to the fact early probation supervision is not available for them in the community. [17688/24]

Probation and Welfare Service

Patrick Costello

444. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to provide in tabular form a Statewide list of community probation teams, by area, the number of staff employed in each and the number of vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17689/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

445. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure other addiction counsellors are sourced as a matter of urgency for the prison service; her views on the situation whereby in Mountjoy Prison there is currently only two addiction/MQI counsellors for the entire prison, given by her own admission (details supplied) 70% of the population have addiction issues in a prison of approximately 800 prisons; and her views on whether two addiction councillors for 550+ prisoners with addiction issues is an adequate number for provision of services. [17690/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

446. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 10 October 2023, if seven out of every ten prisoners have addiction issues, the reason millions are being spent on hundreds of new places in prison, when the money could be better spent addressing the root cause of incarceration for many of the existing populations, i.e. addiction, which would entail hiring more addiction counsellors. [17697/24]

Legislative Reviews

Patrick Costello

456. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for the establishment of an independent examiner of security legislation following the enactment of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2023. [17877/24]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

508. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to reports (details supplied) whereby a child with complex needs was placed in a special emergency arrangement, despite concerns that this setting may exacerbate their self-harming behaviours; the steps being taken by his Department to ensure children with complex needs have a stable, appropriate and regulated placement, particularly in relation to increasing the number of special care placements available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17397/24]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

509. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to statements attributed to Tusla’s acting head of practice assurance reported in the media (details supplied) of “immediate safeguarding concerns” within special emergency arrangements; to respond to Tusla audit reports outlining a “lack of recording of child protection matters” by one provider of these arrangements; the interventions his Department has made to ensure the welfare and protection of these children is upheld; if his Department believes children in these placements should have their own bedroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17398/24]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

510. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to statements attributed to Tusla’s acting head of practice assurance reported in the media (details supplied) that some providers of special emergency arrangements do not have plans in place for when a child goes missing from their accommodation; if his Department will investigate if safeguarding procedures outlined in the Joint Protocol between An Garda Síochána and Tusla and the Children’s First Act 2015 are being adhered to by private providers of special emergency arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17399/24]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

511. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to public health concerns raised by Tusla’s acting head of practice assurance and reported in the media (details supplied) of “high occupancy rates” in special emergency arrangements, reports of bed bugs and scabies infestations in some settings and findings of “obvious health and safety hazards” at one special emergency setting; the plans his Department has taken or intend to take to ensure these health risks are not repeated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17400/24]

Primary Care Centres

Patrick Costello

576. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 21 November 2023, if an update will be provided. [17310/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

587. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if there are longer-term plans to bring the vacant units in Cherry Orchard Hospital back into use in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17427/24]

Primary Care Centres

Patrick Costello

603. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he or his officials will meet with local residents’ groups in Drimnagh to discuss the timeline for construction of the Drimnagh primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17487/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

628. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a new comprehensive newborn screening programme that is adequately resourced and ensures that babies born in Ireland are screened for the European average of 18 conditions at a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17692/24]

Third Level Education

Patrick Costello

695. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on Trinity College’s policy (details supplied) which prevents any external tour guides from using the campus and/or Book of Kells for guiding purposes. [17314/24]

Third Level Education

Patrick Costello

696. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on Trinity College’s policy (details supplied) which prevents any external tour guides from using the campus and/or Book of Kells for guiding purposes. [17315/24]

Grant Payments

Patrick Costello

703. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the grants or scholarships available to Irish students studying for masters degrees in UK institutions. [17591/24]

Sports Funding

Patrick Costello

25. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to detail what core funding has been allocated to support sporting organisations, national governing bodies of sport and local sports partnerships through Sport Ireland for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16937/24]

Sports Funding

Patrick Costello

52. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the recommendations of the recently published review of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund; the reason for the new similar access requirement policy in respect of men and women having access to publicly funded sporting facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16938/24]

Period Poverty

Patrick Costello

175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that higher education institutions are sufficiently resourced to be able to provide free on-campus sanitary products to their students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16948/24]

National Security

Patrick Costello

185. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether his Department or the Naval Service plans to conduct a security assessment on the potential of an attack on any proposed floating storage and regasification unit, during both its construction phase and after project completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16271/24]

State Properties

Patrick Costello

244. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the OPW Jamestown Road workshop; the current and future utilisation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16183/24]

State Properties

Patrick Costello

245. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on potential actions he will take to deal with the large amount of birds on OPW Jamestown Road workshop site, which is negatively impacting on nearby residents; if he will consider erecting some tethered hawk kites to deter birds from the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16184/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

562. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he agrees that there is a significant difference in the assertion contained in a report commissioned by Greyhound Racing Ireland and published in 2021 (details supplied) and the assertion contained in a reply to a Parliamentary Question provided to the Minister by Greyhound Racing Ireland in relation to the importance of the greyhound industry as a provider of employment in this country; if he agrees that the claim contained in the industry-commissioned report in this respect is one of several examples of inaccurate and misleading information contained in that report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16678/24]

Healthcare Policy

Patrick Costello

679. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if will he publish the updated HSE palliative care strategy as a matter of urgency in line with recommendation 12 of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16195/24]