Parliamentary questions

Military Aircraft

Catherine Connolly

132. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what steps, if any, were taken to ensure that US Air Force C17 Globemaster aircraft number 08-8201 was not carrying weapons or munitions when it travelled through Shannon Airport on 10 April 2024, coming from Mac Dill US Air Force base in Tampa, Florida, and which then travelled on to Tel Aviv, Israel on 11 April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16760/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

176. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community-led projects successful under RESS 1 which have energised to-date; the number that remain in the process but are still due to energise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16511/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community-led projects that remain in RESS 2; for a breakdown of the number of these which are wind projects and the number which are solar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16512/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

178. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of the community-led projects in RESS 1 that have to-date received the enabling grant and the amount of grant funding received by each project, in tabular form; the details of the community-led projects in RESS 2 that have to-date received the enabling grant and the amount of grant funding received by each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16513/24]

Tax Exemptions

Catherine Connolly

238. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to grant VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16704/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

306. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 20 March 2024, her plans to develop a new policy on Gaeltacht education, to follow on from the 2017 – 2022 policy that was extended to the end of the 2023/2024 school year; the status of the research and evaluation study currently being carried out by the educational research centre to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the scheme; the terms of reference of the study; the timeline for the publication of the final report of the study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16307/24]

Disability Services

Catherine Connolly

566. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any analysis carried out by his Department regarding the adequacy of the current lower age limit for school leaver referrals for HSE funded adult day services, which can only be made once the student turns 16 years; his plans to reduce the lower age limit to 13 years to allow for a longer planning period for the transition of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/24]

Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments

Catherine Connolly

604. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 499 of 26 September 2023. if the information requested can now be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16597/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

44. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 15 February 2024, the timeline for the publication of the draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14384/24]

Departmental Communications

Catherine Connolly

46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his and his Department’s engagement with the Galway Social Housing Task Force to-date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14383/24]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Connolly

111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions of a bank (details supplied) with reference to its intentions to lay off more than 168 workers in its Dublin headquarters; if he has met with the bank to ensure that they are fully compliant with all relevant redundancy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15887/24]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance for a status update on his Department's work to develop a new scheme to replace the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme as recommended by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group; the number of meetings held by the senior officials group to date, and the dates of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14380/24]

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

42. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 1 February 2024, his plans for the phasing out of the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14379/24]

Legislative Process

Catherine Connolly

150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects to bring forward the legislation he has stated that he is preparing with regard to the Defence Act 1960 and changes to the Triple Lock arrangements; if he plans to bring this before the Houses of the Oireachtas prior to the summer 2024 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14409/24]

Tax Reliefs

Catherine Connolly

297. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 February 2024, the status of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; the number of appeal hearings that have taken place since the Board recommenced its work; the number of outstanding appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14355/24]

National Development Plan

Catherine Connolly

346. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected timeline for the publication of the revised National Development Plan allocations out to 2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14350/24]

Ethics in Public Office

Catherine Connolly

347. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to the review of the statutory framework for ethics in public office, the status of the development of the scheme for legislative reform in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14353/24]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Connolly

348. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the review of the freedom of information regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14354/24]

Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge

Catherine Connolly

484. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais an é an tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta atá ag stiúradh an bheartais don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge atá le foilsiú in 2024, ar beartas é a bhaineann le taighde agus taithí agus le comhairle ar phróiseas oifigiúil a bheidh ag an Roinn Oideachais chun scoil a iompú ina scoil lán-Ghaeilge, nó chun soláthar lán-Ghaeilge nua a bhunú laistigh de scoil reatha; an dáta a fhoilseofar an taighde sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [14589/24]

Housing Policy

Catherine Connolly

645. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 14 February 2024, the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14356/24]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

646. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 14 February 2024, the status of the steering group which will agree and guide the implementation of the Ministerial Action Plan to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector; the timeline for the publication of the Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14357/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Catherine Connolly

762. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to widen eligibility to the long-term caring contribution scheme, to allow for caring periods under 20 years to be eligible for long-term caring contributions for the purposes of the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14281/24]

Nitrates Usage

Catherine Connolly

930. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail, in tabular form, the number, type and outcome of Nitrate Action Plan derogation inspections for each year since 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13572/24]

Horticulture Sector

Catherine Connolly

932. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times and the specific dates on which he or his Department has formally requested the European Commission to allow for a derogation or temporary derogation to facilitate the import of seed potatoes from the UK, in particular from Scotland, since the introduction of a post-Brexit ban on the import of UK seed potatoes after 1 January 2021; if he or his Department has further sought a derogation in light of the Windsor Framework in March 2023 which enabled the resumption of trade in seed potatoes into Northern Ireland; if he is aware that the Canary Islands currently imports UK and in particular Scottish seed potatoes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13675/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

1100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify how much of the estimated €800 million earmarked for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme will be allocated to an organisation (details supplied) for the administration of the scheme; to clarify the estimated total amount that will be allocated under the scheme to former residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14129/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

1101. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an organisation (details supplied) was the sole bidder in the procurement process for the administration of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if not, to clarify the total number of bidders. [14130/24]

Hospital Services

Catherine Connolly

1353. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1397 of 18 April 2023, his plans to allocate additional funding and resources to genetics services in Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin, in light of the ongoing delays in waiting times for diagnosis; the details of his plans to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14284/24]

Tribunals of Inquiry

Catherine Connolly

6. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 23 January 2024, the status of the tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12835/24]

Ukraine War

Catherine Connolly

19. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 23 January 2024, the total military aid given by the EU to Ukraine since February 2022; the details of the contribution given by Ireland to-date; the details of the contribution given by Ireland towards common costs of the EU military assistance mission in support of Ukraine; the details of any contributions or donations made by the Defence Forces to Ukraine to-date since February 2022, and any contributions or donations planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12834/24]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2024, the status of the feasibility study for light rail in Galway, which is being undertaken as part of the development of the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; the details of the strategic roads feasibility study referenced in the NTA's reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12836/24]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2024, the terms of reference of the strategic roads feasibility study; who is carrying out the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12837/24]

Public Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach his plans for long-Covid to be included in the terms of reference for the upcoming Covid inquiry. [12139/24]

Defence Forces

Catherine Connolly

142. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the details of the new working group to develop a complaints process for civilian employees and civil servants who work with the Defence Forces; the membership of the working group; the number of meetings held to-date by the working group, and the dates of same; if minutes are taken in respect of the meetings of the working group, and if any minutes taken will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12832/24]

Defence Forces

Catherine Connolly

143. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the details of Ireland's contribution to the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025; the total number of personnel posts to be filled by members of the Defence Forces; the number of posts filled to-date by members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12833/24]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Catherine Connolly

189. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 1 February 2024, the status of the roll-out of park and ride in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12829/24]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

341. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 8 February 2024, for an update on plans to remove dental nurses from the ineligible occupation list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12926/24]

Residential Institutions

Catherine Connolly

446. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the package of supports for survivors of abuse in industrial schools, reformatories and related institutions to include a pension in recognition of the unpaid labour many did while in institutions or boarded out as children, access to the Health Amendment Act (HAA) medical card and housing supports as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12241/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

513. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 24 March 2024, the status of the development of the next policy on Gaeltacht education, to replace the 2017-22 policy that was extended to the end of the 2023-24 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12857/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

514. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 24 March 2024, the status of the Gaeltacht education policy advisory committee; for an update on the work of the committee; the role being played by the committee in the development of the next policy on Gaeltacht education; the terms of reference of the committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12858/24]

Local Elections

Catherine Connolly

629. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the official date of the forthcoming local elections; to confirm his intention to sign the statutory order for that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11917/24]

Nitrates Usage

Catherine Connolly

668. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide outline details of the results of the 2023 Interim Review of the State's current Nitrates Action Programme (NAP); the details of where the 2023 Review is published and available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12664/24]

Waterways Issues

Catherine Connolly

682. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the reason for the delay in adopting the third-cycle 2022-2027 River Basin Management Plan for Ireland; the date he expects the final plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12841/24]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

734. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the independent external evaluation of the proposal that claims that higher financial returns can be achieved for automatic enrolment pension participants at lower costs; her plans to publish the report by the independent external evaluator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12066/24]

Asylum Seekers

Catherine Connolly

795. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice what provision her Department has made for Palestinians who have fled the war in Gaza to seek asylum in Ireland in circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13364/24]

Asylum Applications

Catherine Connolly

796. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of family reunification applications received in 2023; the number of family reunification applications pending before FRU at the end of the year; the average time taken to decide an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11565/24]

Victim Support Services

Catherine Connolly

871. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice if she has received the final report of the Law Reform Commission's project on compensating the victims of crime, which was due to be delivered in 2023; her plans to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12234/24]

Victim Support Services

Catherine Connolly

872. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the actions undertaken by her Department to ensure that all new staff in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal receive training in dealing with victims; if all new staff receive this training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12235/24]

Victim Support Services

Catherine Connolly

873. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the actions undertaken by her Department to ensure that all staff in her Department and in organisations under the aegis of her Department, working with victims of crime, receive training in providing trauma informed care and support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12236/24]

Victim Support Services

Catherine Connolly

874. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases currently waiting to be heard by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; the average length of waiting times; the measures taken and planned by her Department to clear any backlogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12237/24]

Victim Support Services

Catherine Connolly

875. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the total funding provided to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12238/24]