Parliamentary questions

Tourism Industry

Marian Harkin

14. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional measures she has put in place to support downstream businesses whose revenue has dropped mainly due to the fact local tourism accommodation is being used to accommodate Ukrainians, refugees and international protection applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17060/24]

Business Supports

Marian Harkin

85. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional business supports, apart from the increased cost of business scheme, he is considering putting in place, particularly for SMEs to meet the increased cost of doing business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17051/24]

Food Promotion

Marian Harkin

270. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the application for PGI status for boxty. [17128/24]

Education Schemes

Marian Harkin

62. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the reason no counsellor is available to a school in north Leitrim under the Counselling in Primary Schools pilot (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16346/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Marian Harkin

460. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a decision on a social welfare appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16189/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Marian Harkin

560. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a detailed outline of the reasons for the non-payment of the sheep improvement scheme for 2023 to a person (details supplied); if the person is included in the scheme for the future years of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16593/24]

Housing Policy

Marian Harkin

42. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what measures he has put in place to support renters seeking accommodation who are not eligible for local authority housing in the north-West. [15766/24]

Housing Schemes

Marian Harkin

77. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to stage payments for paying out the croí cónaithe grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14385/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Marian Harkin

134. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government is putting a fund in place to support farmers in the implementation of the nature restoration fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10697/24]

Departmental Reviews

Marian Harkin

9. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance for an update on the review of the disabled drivers scheme; and the new criteria being considered line with international best practice. [15225/24]

Medical Cards

Marian Harkin

142. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to increasing the income threshold for qualification for a medical card for under-70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15583/24]

Organ Donation

Marian Harkin

163. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the register for opting out of organ donation will be up and running. [15613/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Marian Harkin

45. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on the reinstatement of Villa Spada as Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15139/24]

Telecommunications Services

Marian Harkin

122. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to introduce any restrictions in regard to the pricing model being used by broadband and mobile phone service providers who impose annual price rises that are linked to the rate of inflation, plus a certain set percentage, at the same time each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14768/24]

Tax Data

Marian Harkin

289. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance to detail in percentage terms (in tabular form, on 1 January for the year 2014 and the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive), each of the following taxes/levies where relevant (excise, NORA, carbon tax, better energy) on the pump price of a litre of petrol and diesel. [14053/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Marian Harkin

429. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if a non-EU/EEA citizen, qualified as a primary teacher (details supplied) can teach in Ireland without having Irish; if not, what mechanisms are open to this person to teach primary school children in Ireland; what training will need to be undertaken to teach in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14038/24]

School Staff

Marian Harkin

509. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if a decision on an application for redeployment could be brought forward for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14769/24]

Legislative Programme

Marian Harkin

820. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the legislative programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13617/24]

Immigration Policy

Marian Harkin

848. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice the visa requirements for a non-EU/EEA citizen who wishes to work in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14039/24]

Mental Health Services

Marian Harkin

1327. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment with a psychologist for a minor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14184/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Marian Harkin

1374. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive a medical appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14397/24]

School Enrolments

Marian Harkin

201. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education given the shortage of school places for first years in Athenry, County Galway, what are her Departments plans to provide for additional places for first years in Athenry so that no incoming first year is without a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13367/24]

School Accommodation

Marian Harkin

458. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education for an update and timeline for a decision on an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12332/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Marian Harkin

1227. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive a date for surgery (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11611/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Marian Harkin

1546. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 28 February of 2024, the amount of the €40 million relates to payment of social protection allowances which are transferred to training allowances once a person enrols in an STP/ETB programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12085/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Marian Harkin

1547. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the fee to STP providers has not been increased since 2011, despite significant and inflationary pay pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12086/24]

Public Transport

Marian Harkin

193. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to extending the maximum age of 2015 registered small public service vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11275/24]

Child and Family Agency

Marian Harkin

193. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla carries out any inspections or audits to ensure compliance with child protection rules where children are accommodated in refugee or IPAS accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11185/24]

Defective Building Materials

Marian Harkin

389. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if County Leitrim will be included in the defective concrete blocks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10010/24]

Housing Provision

Marian Harkin

398. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to increase the income thresholds for social housing in any or all of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10176/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Marian Harkin

435. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection how plans are advancing in introducing a pay related benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9967/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Marian Harkin

624. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will give a commitment to extend the special pay with leave long-Covid scheme for healthcare workers past 31 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9984/24]

Third Level Education

Marian Harkin

795. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of international students to Irish students in the Royal College of Surgeons for the last five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9959/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Marian Harkin

42. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the establishment of a dedicated intestinal failure unit in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9482/24]

Disability Services

Marian Harkin

81. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to progress residential care accommodation in south Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9890/24]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

130. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what therapy and intervention supports are available to children who are unable to access these supports through the public disability network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/24]

Consular Services

Marian Harkin

9. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 215 of 23 January and 89 of 17 October 2023, if further consular assistance will be given in this matter (details supplied). [9595/24]

Further and Higher Education

Marian Harkin

200. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the independent evaluation of the specialist training provision carried out by SOLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9651/24]

Further and Higher Education

Marian Harkin

201. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will agree to ensuring that a threshold of core funding is put in place to enable supported training organisations such as the National Learning Network to carry out their vital role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9652/24]

Bus Services

Marian Harkin

113. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to the provision of fast bus services from Sligo to Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8943/24]

Rail Network

Marian Harkin

114. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to the upgrade of the train line from Sligo to Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8944/24]

School Accommodation

Marian Harkin

229. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) will be considered as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9199/24]

Coroners Service

Marian Harkin

21. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice in the recent Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024, what is her rationale for proposing a change of employment status for coroners to designate them as civil servants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8270/24]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

83. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the recent power outages in parts of County Leitrim during storm Isha as a result of poorly maintained forests, where some areas in County Leitrim were without power for up to six days, what actions he plans to take to ensure remediation works are carried out as a matter of urgency and furthermore that proper planning is adhered to in the planting of new forests. [8279/24]

Legislative Measures

Marian Harkin

94. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given there is no EU funding in place to support farmers to implement the nature restoration law, if he still support this legislation. [8335/24]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

227. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures will be taken to deal with circumstances where forestry planting has occurred close to power lines, resulting in power outages due to power lines being knocked over by trees and sallies in their vicinity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5475/24]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

228. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action he is taking to ensure proper maintenance of forestry plantations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5476/24]

Noise Pollution

Marian Harkin

191. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider an independent body to deal with complaints to the DAA in regard to noise pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8038/24]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

466. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the location of the commercial plantations in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, that have power lines running through them and how many there are; with the possibility of more storms in the future, how are both Coillte and the ESB going to address the issue of badly maintained forests, trees falling over and accessibility issues for repair crews, where thousands of homes lost electricity for days, during storm Isha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8114/24]

Departmental Policies

Marian Harkin

626. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposal to appoint an independent commissioner for ageing and older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8027/24]