Parliamentary questions

Departmental Staff

Michael Fitzmaurice

57. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of employees employed by his Department at the end of 2022 and at the end of 2023; the current numbers for 2024; if there is an embargo on recruitment in his Department at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Fitzmaurice

220. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if, in light of the announcement of the proposed changes to mandatory retirement age in An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Irish Prison Service, he can confirm when these changes will come into effect; if the new legislation will include changes to post-1995 pensions in the public sector which may allow retired staff to work in another job without losing their entitlement to a supplementary pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

496. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Department can provide a table of afforestation applications received in January 2024 and every month since; if they could send it monthly excluding NTA and felling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17989/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

497. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, due to the collapse in the number of new afforestation enquiries that the industry is receiving from landowners and farmers, if he will now meet with stakeholders to make the necessary changes to the forestry programme to better suit Ireland and promote industry expansion. [17990/24]

General Practitioner Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

591. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that approximately 15 retired GPs over the age of 72 unhesitatingly responded to the pleas of the HSE to remain in their posts, given the critical shortage of family doctors in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17445/24]

General Practitioner Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

592. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the appreciation of the State for the doctors who deferred retirement, giving up a good portion of a well-earned retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17446/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Fitzmaurice

593. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the extraordinary situation where it seems to be the case that the primary care reimbursement service, despite contractual obligations, failed to contribute towards these doctors' pensions the agreed 15% of the doctors' monthly capitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17447/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Fitzmaurice

594. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he is familiar with the strict investment rules, which has resulted in this group of doctors being denied a retirement lump sum and a pension sine die unless/until this matter can be resolved; if he will commit to rectifying this situation without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17448/24]

Teacher Training

Michael Fitzmaurice

52. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education if students from Ireland who have done their teacher training course in the UK can return to Ireland to complete their induction rather than doing so in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17011/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

476. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of increased qualified adult payments that have been made to those living outside Ireland in 2023, in tabular form; the list of countries and the total amount paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16522/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

477. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for increased qualified adult payment; the percentage that was refused to applicants living in Ireland; and the percentage refused to applicants living outside of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16523/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

478. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of increased qualified adult payment being means tested, how the Department can adequately ascertain people are eligible when they live abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16524/24]

Departmental Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

479. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments made in respect of the living alone allowance to those living outside of Ireland; the list of countries and how much was paid in total; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16525/24]

Departmental Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

480. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments made in respect of the cost-of-living allowance paid to those living outside of Ireland; the number of recipients; the list of countries and how much was paid in total; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16526/24]

Ukraine War

Michael Fitzmaurice

481. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Ukrainians living in Ireland who are in receipt of the carer's allowance, disability allowance and jobseeker's allowance, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16527/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Fitzmaurice

18. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made in the application for foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied), who applied in August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13981/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

575. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 173 and 174 of 6 March 2024, the amount of funding provided by either Horse Sport Ireland and Sport Ireland to equestrian related bodies in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; under what programmes and for what purposes, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14823/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

1000. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in the application submitted for the fodder support scheme by a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14780/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1002. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 153 and 154 of 6 March 2024, to name the contractors/employees named as part of the management team in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse-marketing services; the qualifications, QQI Framework Level of said qualification and name of institution awarding such qualification, of each contractor/employee identified as delivering said contract if successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14811/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1003. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 6 March 2024, the reason an official from his Department is listed on a website (details supplied) as the FOI contact for the Irish Horse Board; what measures to comply with freedom of information (FOI) have been taken by the Irish Horse Board; if he has trust in the organisation's ability to comply with FOI and further GDPR regulations; if he has sought a report on the measures taken by the Irish Horse Board since January 2023 to comply with FOI and GDPR legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14812/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1004. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the number of panel members involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender; to provide the names of any public/civil servant and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the names and grade of any other civil servants present or attending the evaluation meeting(s); any memberships held by members, or memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institute where such qualifications were awarded of each member of the panel; any other "necessary skills" he considers each member of the panel to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1005. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, to provide the names/confirm the officials and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; any memberships held by members, memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institutes where such qualifications were awarded to each member of the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14814/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1006. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the reasons for awarding a contract given a separating score of 1.1% between two bidders; if he will provide a full objective assessment of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of all tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14815/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1007. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, if he will publish all tenders submitted in the public interest; if he will publish elements not deemed commercially sensitive; if he will seek consent from bidders to publish their respective tenders in full; in failing to publish any of tenders received, if he will publish the table of contents of each bid received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14816/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1008. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a series of procurement processes undertaken by Government (details supplied); if he is satisfied that correct procedures have been adhered to throughout the processes; what verifications he has that such adherence is independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1009. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 6 March 2024, if, given that no reasons were provided, he will now provide the reasons for awarding an approximate €4 million marketing contract to an organisation with no marketing staff, no website, no social media presence and no history of marketing experience at the time of the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14818/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1010. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 6 March 2024, if, given the overall value of the tender in questions and other tenders (details supplied), the tender processes in question was notified to the Official Journal of the European Union; if the tender notification required notification to the Official Journal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14819/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1011. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 6 March 2024, if he will consider appointing his full cohort of three directors to the Board of Directors of the Irish Horse Board, including directors with international marketing expertise and governance expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1012. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain how a company with a stated objective within its constitution/rules to promote one studbooks above all others won a tender to promote all Department-approved studbooks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14821/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1013. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 6 March 2024, the terms of such exit agreement to a named member of staff within a named organisation (details supplied); the costs to his Department of such agreement; if the named individual was named as part the management team/project team of a series of tenders submitted to his Department during a period under which the person was exempt from competing against their former employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14822/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1014. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 6 March 2024, the number of engagements or interactions undertaken by his Department with industry stakeholders, including studbooks either face-to-face, event or by video platform during 2023 regarding the sport horse sector; if he will provide details of the various officials involved in such interactions; their grade; each individual organisation that was interacted with, in tabular form; if similar information can be provided for each organisation delivering equine services under contract to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14824/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

1044. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the introduction of the BVD eradication programme in January 2013 appears to have failed in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15336/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Fitzmaurice

376. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education if she will provide further clarity on the proposed changes to the current integration model for children with autism accessing special educational settings and mainstream classes/time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11781/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Fitzmaurice

377. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education if the proposed changes are made to the current integration model for children with autism accessing special educational settings and mainstream classes/time, how will it affect the long-term integration for children with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11782/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Fitzmaurice

378. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the reason there is a proposed cut to hours available to children with additional needs in the settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11783/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Fitzmaurice

379. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education are other professionals aware of the proposed changes to the current integration model for children with autism accessing special educational settings and mainstream classes/time, how they will impact children, the impact on their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11784/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

569. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 173 and 174 of 6 March 2024, the amount of funding provided by either Horse Sport Ireland or Sport Ireland to equestrian-related bodies in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; under what programmes and for what purposes, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12907/24]

Planning Issues

Michael Fitzmaurice

676. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a private developer is to go through the normal planning process on private lands for building Ukrainian modular accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12705/24]

Public Procurement Contracts

Michael Fitzmaurice

975. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any consideration was given to dismissing a bid in a tender process for breach of publicity guidance during the tender process (details supplied); if his Department gave consent to publicity during the live tender process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11674/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1041. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 153 and 154 of 6 March 2024, to name the contractors/employees named as part of the management team in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse marketing services; the qualifications, QQI Framework Level of said qualification, and name of institution awarding such qualification, of each contractor/employee identified as delivering said contract, if successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1042. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 6 March 2024, the reason his Departmental official is listed on a website (details supplied) as the FOI contact for the Irish Horse Board; what measures to comply with freedom of information have been taken by the Irish Horse Board; if he has trust in the organisation’s ability to comply with FOI and further GDPR regulations; if he has sought a report on the measures taken by the Irish Horse Board since January 2023 to comply with FOI and GDPR legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12896/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1043. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the number of panel members involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender; the names of any public/civil servant and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the name and grade of any other civil servants present or attending the evaluation meetings; the memberships held by members, or memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institute where such qualifications were awarded of each member of the panel and any the other necessary skills he considers each member of the panel to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1044. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, to provide the name/confirm the officials and name of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the memberships held by members, the memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institutes where such qualifications were awarded to each member of the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12898/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1045. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the reasons for awarding a contract given a separating score of 1.1% between two bidders; if he will provide a full objective assessment of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of all tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12899/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1046. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, if he will publish all tenders submitted in the public interest; if he will publish elements not deemed commercially sensitive; if he will seek consent from bidders to publish their respective tenders in full in failing to publish any of tenders received; if he will publish the table of contents of each bid received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12900/24]

Departmental Contracts

Michael Fitzmaurice

1047. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a series of procurement processes undertaken by Government (details supplied); if he is satisfied that correct procedures have been adhered to throughout the processes; the verifications he has that such adherence is independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12901/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1048. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 6 March 2024, why no reasons were provided to the question; if he will provide the reasons for awarding an approximate €4 million marketing contract to an organisation with no marketing staff, no website, no social media presence and no history of marketing experience at the time of the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12902/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1049. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 6 March 2024, given the overall value of the tender in question and other tenders (details supplied), if the tender processes in question was notified to the Official Journal of the European Union; if the tender notification required notification to the Official Journal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12903/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1050. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 6 March 2024, if he will consider appointing his full cohort of three directors to the board of directors of the Irish Horse Board, including directors with international marketing and governance expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12904/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1051. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain how a company with a stated objective within its constitution/rules to promote one studbook above all others won a tender to promote all of his Department's approved studbooks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12905/24]