Parliamentary questions

Schools Building Projects

Mark Ward

145. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the progress made on a school extension (details supplied) to the final stages of the tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8548/24]

Schools Building Projects

Seán Canney

146. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the new modular building for an autism class will be in place in a school (details supplied); what updates have been provided to the school since the announcement was made four months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8549/24]

Schools Building Projects

Eoin Ó Broin

147. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the building project for a school (details supplied); the timeframe for when the tender will progress; the timeline for the completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8551/24]

School Transport

Seán Canney

148. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the euro amounts of net surplus cash derived from school transport by Bus Éireann that the auditors and directors categorised in the accounts as profit in the profit and loss balance sheet and cash flow statement for each of the years 2005 to 2015, in tabular form. [8560/24]

Parliamentary Questions

Seán Canney

149. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her officials obtained legal assistance from the Office of the Attorney General regarding complaints about information being withheld in answers to parliamentary questions between 2013 and 2015; and the assistance provided in relation to same. [8561/24]

School Enrolments

Bernard Durkan

150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in securing primary and second level educational school places in Prosperous, County Kildare, for September 2024; the progress to date in proceeding with the replacement of a school (details supplied); the proposals at present; when the new school will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8579/24]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which replacement facilities or a new school (details supplied) is progressing; whether the causes of the delay can be ameliorated in the short term; the extent to which security costs and maintenance in the interim might be a factor in the determination of any outcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8580/24]

School Admissions

Bernard Durkan

152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if provision can be made for a second level place for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8589/24]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which provision and work is in hand to replace a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8590/24]

School Enrolments

Bernard Durkan

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she is satisfied that all primary and second level school places required for September 2024 are available throughout County Kildare, including but not limited to Prosperous, Clane, Naas, Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge, Kilcock and Straffan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8591/24]

Tourism Policy

Steven Matthews

155. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding updated regulations that will require owners who rent out their property under short-term holiday lets (details supplied) to register under Fáilte Ireland, among other requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8432/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

156. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, what discussions her Department had with RTÉ and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in summer 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8494/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in the summer of 2023, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, the reason she informed the committee on 28 November 2023 that the matter had not been discussed with her Department; if she will request that the records of the committee be changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8495/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

158. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, if she was party to these discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8496/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

159. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, if she was not party to these discussions, whether she was briefed on these discussions; if so, on what date any such briefing took place; if she will provide a copy of any documentary or digital briefing that exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8498/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

160. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in the summer of 2023, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, if minutes of these discussions were kept; if so, if these minutes will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8499/24]

An Clár Caipitil Spóirt

Éamon Ó Cuív

161. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a fhogrófar na deontais faoi na scéimeanna deontais do threallamh spóirt agus do saoráidí spóirt bunaithe ar iarrratais a rinne an bhliain seo caite faoin scéim "Sports Capital Grants"; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8504/24]

Tourism Industry

Ged Nash

162. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department and the relevant agencies are aware of the fact that a hotel (details supplied) in Drogheda will, from March 2024, no longer have beds available for tourism use; if she and the tourism agencies are concerned about this, given the level of investment in Drogheda's tourism product in recent years; if she and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment have engaged on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8538/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Robert Troy

163. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will expedite an application (details supplied) for a domestic wastewater treatment grant for a person. [8471/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Robert Troy

164. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the administration of the recently enhanced domestic wastewater treatment system grant; and if applications are being selected randomly rather than on a priority basis from an environmental impact point of view. [8473/24]

Electoral Process

Violet-Anne Wynne

165. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an accessibility update (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8541/24]

Wildlife Regulations

Robert Troy

166. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allow an extension to cut diseased ash trees to 1 March 2024 to ensure all dangerous trees are removed as soon as possible, given the large number of trees to be felled at the same time. [8559/24]

Building Regulations

Seán Sherlock

167. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what legislation is used for rental inspections by contractors of local authorities in terms of criteria of ventilation, etc, and if it is based on the year the property is built. [8405/24]

Building Regulations

Seán Sherlock

168. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if inspectors of local authorities are using ventilation measurement machines when inspecting homes and, if so, the number of ventilation measurement machines being used by each local authority, in tabular form. [8406/24]

Defective Building Materials

Steven Matthews

169. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding fiscal oversight and management of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; what mechanisms and structures will be in place to ensure full oversight of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8434/24]

Septic Tanks

Niamh Smyth

170. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of septic tank inspections carried out in the past three years in counties Cavan and Monaghan, in tabular form; how those due inspection are selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8465/24]

Housing Provision

Niamh Smyth

171. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable housing schemes in conjunction with Cavan and Monaghan County Councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8466/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Pearse Doherty

172. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the EU is still taking proceedings against Ireland due to the failure to install the Gweedore sewerage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8483/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

173. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the NSAI has received research results and-or statements from the research partners engaged by the GSI to investigate the issue of defective concrete in Ireland. [8521/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

174. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if in the interest of transparency for families impacted by the defective concrete crisis, he will ensure that all research results, whether interim or final, and all statements received by the NSAI to date from the Geological Survey Ireland and research partners are published forthwith. [8522/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

175. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all research results, whether interim or final, and statements from the independent research partners commissioned by Geological Survey Ireland into the issue of defective concrete are being acted upon with due diligence with immediate effect by his Department, NSAI and the Housing Agency. [8523/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

176. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on his Department, the NSAI, the Housing Agency and local authorities persisting to administer the multi-billion euro defective concrete block scheme based upon a flawed desktop study, without prudently and immediately taking into account the clear scientific evidence from independent researchers that the primary cause of defective concrete in all counties is internal sulphate attack. [8524/24]

Local Authorities

James Lawless

177. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there are no supports for local authority members to have an office; and if he will consider bringing in an allowance for same. [8536/24]

Defective Building Materials

Violet-Anne Wynne

178. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 15 February 2024, the number of houses that will be remediated in 2024; the targets he has set in relation to completions for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8544/24]

Housing Provision

Violet-Anne Wynne

179. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what proposals have been received from a local authority (details supplied) with respect to support from his Department for affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8547/24]

Vacant Properties

Pat Buckley

180. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the vacant property refurbishment grant, particularly in relation to Cork County Council; the stage of applications at present, particularly in relation to a person (details supplied); the number of applicants who have drawn down and received the grant to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8555/24]

Planning Issues

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

181. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make changes to the guidelines that deny planning permission to applicants in Donegal who would have to access on to the N56. [8558/24]

School Meals Programme

Noel Grealish

182. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection they way in which a company applies to provide school meals under the school meals programme; when applications will open and the way in which applications are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8570/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Lowry

183. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if a prepaid return envelope can be included when requests are issued from the child benefit section asking parents to confirm their children's details concerning continued entitlement to child benefit payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8418/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Paul Kehoe

184. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the review of the disability allowance means review for a person (details supplied), and when she could expect payment to increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8421/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Paul Kehoe

185. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection following the welcome news that full-time second level students over 18 years of age will be re-eligible for child benefit from May, if the arrears of missing months before May will be paid from when they turned 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8423/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

John McGuinness

186. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a one-parent family payment will continue to be paid to a person (details supplied). [8428/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Howlin

187. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if, pending the submission of additional information requested for a disability allowance for a person (details supplied), she will allow continued payment of the allowance until eligibility has been established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8438/24]

Parental Leave

Fergus O'Dowd

188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8442/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8474/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8577/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Bernard Durkan

191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number might issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8581/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8583/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement to an appropriate payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8586/24]

Social Welfare Code

Bernard Durkan

194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum hours or income a person (details supplied) can work or receive to retain the one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8604/24]