Parliamentary questions

Tribunals of Inquiry

Darren O'Rourke

19. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the way persons can make submissions to the tribunal of inquiry into the Defence Forces handling of bullying, harassment and sexual assault allegations; if there will be a public notification of the process; if there will be restrictions on who can submit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18416/24]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

30. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown of the number of Garda officers, by rank, attached to all Meath East Garda stations in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of Garda officers who retired from Meath East Garda stations in the same period; and if this is commensurate with population increases in Meath from 2020 to 2024 to date, in tabular form. [17701/24]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

35. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to establish a dedicated transport police; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17702/24]

Heritage Sites

Darren O'Rourke

66. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to report on progress to retrofit traditional and historical buildings; if district heating will play a role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17705/24]

Flood Risk Management

Darren O'Rourke

69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to report on the progress of the OPW in assessing the impact of climate change on flooding and flood risk assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17706/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the SRESS; when he expects details of the scheme to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17492/24]

Water Pollution

Darren O'Rourke

130. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the preparations his Department is making to ensure there are adequate measures in place to mitigate the risk of toxic water run-off as part of the development of the energy storage policy framework due to be published in quarter 2 of this year; what work his Department has done to mitigate the risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17762/24]

Departmental Offices

Darren O'Rourke

139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the work of the climate action regional offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17936/24]

Public Procurement Contracts

Darren O'Rourke

232. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to report on the review his Department is undertaking regarding the budgetary treatment of EPCs; when he expects this review to be completed and results published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17921/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Darren O'Rourke

379. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on MPA legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17947/24]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to report on the progress to date in the development of the national counter disinformation strategy; when she expects this strategy to be published; to report on the meetings of the national counter disinformation strategy working group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16999/24]

Tourism Industry

Darren O'Rourke

49. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to report on progress on action number JM/24/1 in the 2024 climate action plan annexe of actions; to provide a breakdown of supports provided to enterprises in the regenerative tourism sector to expand their services and develop their capabilities; to provide a summary of outputs achieved so far in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16998/24]

Employment Rights

Darren O'Rourke

77. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the number of statutory sick days will increase as per the timeline of seven days from January 2025 and ten days from January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16987/24]

Business Supports

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on progress on industrial heat decarbonisation; the supports available for industry to decarbonise; his plans to increase these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16988/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 9 April 2024, to report on Ireland’s engagement rate with the deposit return scheme, compared with other similar schemes abroad at the stage of introduction; to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of Ireland’s engagement in comparison with the other countries cited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17129/24]

Military Aircraft

Darren O'Rourke

4. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of US military aircraft inspected in Shannon by the IAA for weapons on stopover while en route to Israel since 7 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16946/24]

School Staff

Darren O'Rourke

53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how many permanent teaching posts are currently unfilled for the 2023-24 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17030/24]

School Staff

Darren O'Rourke

54. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how many fixed-term teaching posts are currently unfilled for the 2023-24 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17031/24]

School Staff

Darren O'Rourke

55. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how many maternity leave positions are currently unfilled for the 2023-24 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17032/24]

School Staff

Darren O'Rourke

56. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the collective number of unused substitute days for the 2022-23 school year; the resulting saving in wages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17033/24]

School Staff

Darren O'Rourke

57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how many teachers are expected to retire in the next five months, by 8 September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17034/24]

School Staff

Darren O'Rourke

58. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how many unqualified teachers are currently working in the primary education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17035/24]

Environmental Policy

Darren O'Rourke

73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to issue an ocean environment policy statement; if so, what this statement will incorporate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17012/24]

Cabinet Committees

Darren O'Rourke

2. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will next meet. [8950/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

87. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the building programme for a school (details supplied); when construction will commence; when the school will be notified with an update; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16227/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the building programme for a school (details supplied); when construction will commence; when the school will be notified with an update; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16228/24]

Trade Data

Darren O'Rourke

129. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach to report on the levels of exports to Israel in 2020, 2021, 2022; 2023 and to date in 2024 and if there has been any change in the level of agricultural exports since 7 October 2023. [16030/24]

Official Travel

Darren O'Rourke

140. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs If he plans to visit Turkey in 2024. [16279/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the energy storage policy for Ireland; if there are plans to alter EirGrid’s market systems in order to allow that energy storage asset to trade in the market; the reason that the participation of energy storage assets is restricted in EirGrid’s market systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16110/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

160. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide up update on co-located projects; how he plans to address the barriers that currently exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16111/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has plans to establish investment frameworks for long-duration energy storage; to report on progress on long-duration energy storage in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16112/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

162. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Electricity Storage Policy Framework; if he expects that this will be published in Q2 this year; how he plans to ensure that the regulatory structure delivers high standards of safety and environmental standards; what international standards will be followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16113/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

163. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Electricity Storage Policy Framework; if the safety standards will take account of the international recognised NFPA 855 (2023) in which all battery cells to conform with UL9540a specifications and testing (including second-life batteries) and be up to date in regard to NFPA, EPRI and independent experts in the field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16114/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

164. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the development of a large battery storage facility at Shankill, Cavan (108mw); what measures have been put in place to address safety concerns of local residents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16117/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

172. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 132 and 133 of 21 March 2024, which body will have a safety regulatory remit when it comes to energy storage; if he expects the CRU or the Health and Safety Authority to hold this responsibility following the conclusion of a review (details supplied); where or to whom concerns about the safety of energy storage should be addressed; who currently holds this responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16250/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Darren O'Rourke

173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of the Capital Budget for his Department that has been spent in Quarter 1 of 2024. [16288/24]

Departmental Budgets

Darren O'Rourke

186. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the percentage of the Capital Budget allocation for his Department that has been spent in Quarter 1 of 2024. [16286/24]

Air Corps

Darren O'Rourke

187. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if funding will be secured for the replacement of the eight Pilatus PC-9M aircraft within the Air Corps; and the estimated lifespan of this type of aircraft. [16287/24]

Legislative Process

Darren O'Rourke

205. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the railway safety amendment Bill; and when this Bill will move to the next stage. [16274/24]

Departmental Communications

Darren O'Rourke

220. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance If he has spoken with his Australian counterpart to date in 2024. [16272/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

247. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount that the OPW received from allowing Iveagh Gardens to be used as a summer concert venue. [16284/24]

Trade Data

Darren O'Rourke

260. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of trade between Taiwan and Ireland in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [16281/24]

Special Educational Needs

Darren O'Rourke

286. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an outline of special education teacher allocation for schools and how it is determined; to provide a breakdown of the average number of hours per capita in each county in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16033/24]

Special Educational Needs

Darren O'Rourke

287. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if he will report on the special education teacher allocation for schools; the breakdown of the average number of hours allocated per capita in each school in Meath in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16034/24]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

303. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for funding under the emergency works scheme being processed within her Department as of 5 April 2024. [16273/24]

Public Sector Staff

Darren O'Rourke

376. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of WTE staff by job title working in the marketing Department of Fáilte Ireland as of 8 April 2024; the number of WTE staff vacancies, by job title within this Department; and when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [16280/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

462. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of PPS numbers issued in Ireland from 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2024; and the breakdown, by nationality that each of the PPS numbers was issued to, in tabular form. [16282/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Darren O'Rourke

463. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost if the maximum rate of disability allowance rate increased to €242.50 per week. [16283/24]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

509. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who successfully completed the van/personal carrier course in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and the duration of this course. [16285/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

698. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of skull base surgeries performed at Beaumont Hospital in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [16275/24]