Parliamentary questions

Road Projects

Michael Lowry

192. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the progress being made to improve a dangerous and busy junction on the outskirts of Thurles, County Tipperary, where Turtulla Cross on the N62 has been the site of a number of serious and fatal crashes over the years; what safety works and junction redesign can be carried out at this junction on the N62 to improve safety for all road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13917/24]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

531. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 10 May 2023, if she will provide an update concerning the school bus transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15007/24]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

532. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on plans to overhaul the school transport system and the abolishing the "nearest school" rule, which requires a student applying to the school transport scheme to attend the school closest to their home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15008/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

972. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if conversion of conifer crops to native woodland is permitted under the Native Woodland Conservation scheme 2023-2027 recently launched by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14210/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

973. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if applications for Native Woodland Conservation lodged with his Department under the previous forestry programme for the NWC scheme and entail the conversion of conifer forests to native woodland in areas of high ecological and water quality values, as encouraged by his Department, will be eligible under the native woodland conservation scheme 2023 – 2027 launched by his Department recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14211/24]

Childcare Services

Michael Lowry

1164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth concerning the Building Blocks – Expansion Grant Scheme, which is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare, if he will confirm when an application from (details supplied) will be validated; if the applicant will be given the opportunity to submit additional documentation or provide clarity on their application if the same is required; when can the provider expect a decision to be issued on the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15134/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Michael Lowry

1243. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current system in place for the provision of prostheses and bras to breast cancer patients (details supplied); if he is aware of any significant delays and difficulties in obtaining a prosthesis and bras following breast cancer treatment for breast cancer patients; the average waiting time for the approval of these items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13755/24]

Dental Services

Michael Lowry

1319. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Government’s response to the recently launched policy paper by an organisation (details supplied); if he intends to adhere to the promises for reform of dentistry in Ireland; if so, what specific steps will be taken to ensure these reforms are implemented; if he will meet with representatives of the organisation to discuss its strategy for reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14089/24]

Medical Cards

Michael Lowry

1479. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the English version of the medical card application form is currently not available for download from the Health Service Executive (HSE) website and checked on 24, 25. 26 and 27 March 2024; the reason these forms were unavailable on these dates (details supplied); the measures that are being taken to ensure the availability of these forms in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14766/24]

Medical Cards

Michael Lowry

1480. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the process for online applications for medical cards (details supplied); if the HSE will make arrangements to provide an option to have these documents printed by the HSE and then have them posted to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14767/24]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

1570. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health what assistance can be offered to a day centre (details supplied); when Section 91 for practising chiropody will reopen for registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15124/24]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

65. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the current waiting times for driving tests in all County Tipperary test centres; the number waiting in each test centre; the reason for the extended delays in each test centre; the steps he is taking to address these driving test delays; these matters require immediate attention and swift action to alleviate the distress and inconvenience caused to persons in County Tipperary who are waiting for a profound period of time to have their driving test completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13476/24]

Hospital Staff

Michael Lowry

286. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is provided to allow for the employment of the required neurologist for the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise; if he will confirm that they have received correspondence from the Neurological Alliance of Ireland who is campaigning to have a neurologist situated in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13370/24]

Men's Sheds

Michael Lowry

336. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will introduce an annual men’s shed sustainability grant system to help with their running costs, for items such as electricity and insurance bills, similar to the one issued in 2023; if she will consider providing funding for small capital works projects; if she will make such grants available directly to individual men’s sheds instead of allocation through third party representative bodies; to provide an update on such funding measures that her Department will make available to men’s sheds in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13300/24]

Heritage Sites

Michael Lowry

294. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 22 March 2022, the progress made and the steps he has taken to improve ventilation for staff who work in the basement area of the Swiss Cottage in Cahir, County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to the fact the basement area has no mechanical ventilation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12643/24]

Education Policy

Michael Lowry

372. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education her Department's stance on the awarding of exemptions from the study of the Irish language for students diagnosed with dyslexia (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11771/24]

Education Policy

Michael Lowry

373. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education her Department's stance on the awarding of exemptions from the study of the Irish language for students diagnosed with dyslexia (details supplied); who interprets the criteria to satisfy their own findings; if her Department is distancing itself from these decisions; the reason is it investigating the schools for making these decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11772/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

383. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason all schools were not accepted to the recent STEM grant competition which was held for funding for a core curricular area and a key priority of the Government; if he accepts that schools such as a school (details supplied) were unfairly penalised due to the lottery system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11824/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

384. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to direct management of a school (details supplied) to the legislation that governed how the recent STEM funding competition was run and managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11825/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

385. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education what oversight measures were in place for the recent STEM grant competition; if the records of how this competition was conducted are available to school management to review and if so, how does one access the same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11826/24]