Parliamentary questions

Pension Provisions

Dara Calleary

409. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38952/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

427. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38947/22]

Departmental Data

Dara Calleary

483. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the number of staff who are abated under her Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38948/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

535. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff who are abated under her Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38959/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

595. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38946/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

619. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/22]

Pension Provisions

Dara Calleary

651. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice the number of staff who are abated under her Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38956/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

706. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38954/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

883. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38945/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Dara Calleary

908. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff who are abated under her Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38958/22]

Departmental Functions

Dara Calleary

12. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [35906/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dara Calleary

179. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the initiatives being taken to meet the challenge of long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37495/22]

Home Help Service

Dara Calleary

196. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the number of home care support hours being provided in each LHO area in CHO1 and CHO2 in 2022; the way that this compares for each of the LHO areas in 2019; the number of persons currently waiting for home care in each LHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dara Calleary

960. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if members of the Defence Forces will receive a special recognition payment given their services in support of the HSE during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34023/22]

Grant Payments

Dara Calleary

24. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline measures to improve funding supports for students in further and higher education, including an update on the review of the SUSI grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36755/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Dara Calleary

31. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the provision of apprenticeship programmes, including new programme provision expected in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36754/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Dara Calleary

126. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ELC and SAC providers who have closed down in each of the past five years and to date in 2022, by county in tabular form; the steps he intends to address any increase in closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36694/22]

Departmental Funding

Dara Calleary

142. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of projects that are funded under the Community Integration Fund announced recently; the purposes for the moneys provided; if he has earmarked any funding specifically for the Ukrainian community now in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36693/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Dara Calleary

233. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the reason that a DEIS appeal by a school (details supplied) has been unsuccessful; the details of the analysis process that was undertaken in reaching the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36938/22]

An Garda Síochána

Dara Calleary

19. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in County Mayo at the end of June 2022, or the latest date available; the number of gardaí in County Mayo at the end of 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35738/22]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Dara Calleary

75. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice if existing community CCTV schemes are precluded from funding under the community safety partnership funding stream; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35737/22]

Vacant Properties

Dara Calleary

210. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available for a private citizen to redevelop a derelict building in rural towns for social or affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35268/22]

Foreign Birth Registration

Dara Calleary

264. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when two foreign births registration applications will be processed for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35477/22]

Flexible Work Practices

Dara Calleary

914. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline any supports for a private commercial concern who wishes to develop a remote working hub in a rural town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35263/22]

Derelict Sites

Dara Calleary

915. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline any supports for a private commercial concern who wish to refurbish semi-derelict properties in rural towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35264/22]

Educational Reform

Dara Calleary

93. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education her views on the reform of the senior cycle; the expected timeframe for the implementation and planned consultation processes of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34981/22]

Departmental Schemes

Dara Calleary

107. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the introduction of sustainable energy grants for new builds; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that all new builds are now bound by regulations dictating the type of home heating that can be installed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who are constructing a new build are facing multiples of the costs facing a person carrying out a retrofit; his views on whether it is fair that a person carrying out a retrofit qualifies for assistance but a person constructing a new build does not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35044/22]

Defective Building Materials

Dara Calleary

146. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is no provision in either the existing or in the proposed revisions of the defective concrete blocks scheme that will preclude a defective concrete block homeowner from either availing of the rent-a-room relief or renting a room in their house via a short-term letting platform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35063/22]

Defective Building Materials

Dara Calleary

147. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the current proposed revisions of the defective concrete blocks scheme and pending the ISO 465 review of foundations will not penalise a defective concrete block qualified homeowner who is availing of option 1 of the scheme and who is in a position to pay separately of the defective concrete block scheme to remove their foundations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35064/22]

Defective Building Materials

Dara Calleary

148. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the costs of the specialised disposal of damaged blocks and material via the defective concrete blocks scheme are included in the calculation of costs that are part of the proposed caps of the revised defective concrete block scheme; the plans that the Government has to reduce these particular costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35065/22]

Local Government Reform

Dara Calleary

152. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the programme for Government commitments in regard to town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35130/22]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Dara Calleary

263. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice if community safety partnership funding can be used to fund the maintenance and expansion of an existing community CCTV scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35157/22]

Defence Forces

Dara Calleary

110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence when the European Working Time Directive will be implemented for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34024/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Dara Calleary

141. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that all processes in relation to existing exploration licences are managed expeditiously in the context of RePowerEU; his plans for ensuring that Ireland meets the ambitions outlined in RePowerEU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33764/22]

Tax Yield

Dara Calleary

218. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance the projected receipts from excise duty on motor fuels for each of the first five months of 2022 versus in each month of the actual recorded receipts in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33766/22]

Tax Yield

Dara Calleary

219. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance the projected receipts from excise duty on home heating oils for each of the first five months of 2022 versus in each month of the actual recorded receipts in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/22]

Passport Services

Dara Calleary

101. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications for passports from counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal to date in 2022, from each county; the number of passports issued; and the number of outstanding applications for passports currently awaiting processing in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32932/22]

Brexit Issues

Dara Calleary

110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he accepts the assertions made by the United Kingdom government that it has been actively trying to make the Northern Ireland Protocol work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32933/22]

Departmental Appointments

Dara Calleary

365. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of directly employed job coaches who have been put in place by her Department; the number of appointments that is envisaged for the years 2022 and 2023; if all appointments will be publicly-advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33370/22]

Employment Schemes

Dara Calleary

366. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to support persons currently availing of Jobs Clubs nationwide; the future of Jobs Clubs in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33371/22]

Medicinal Products

Dara Calleary

420. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if the epilepsy drug nifedipine will be added to the medical card scheme. [33351/22]

Defective Building Materials

Dara Calleary

33. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the discussions that his Department had with Sligo County Council in relation to the inclusion of the county in the defective concrete blocks scheme; the current status of that work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32858/22]

Broadcasting Sector

Dara Calleary

57. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department’s strategy to support the Irish language broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32416/22]

Climate Change Policy

Dara Calleary

99. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Climate Action Fund for Community Climate Action projects will be announced for County Mayo (details supplied). [32525/22]

Legislative Measures

Dara Calleary

105. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline plans to change the law to allow bus drivers over the age of 70 years to drive buses up to the age of 75 years; the prosed timescale and conditions of the change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31779/22]

Community Employment Schemes

Dara Calleary

612. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has any plans to review the community employment schemes. [32781/22]

Insurance Industry

Dara Calleary

7. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance the measures that he is taking to increase competition in the Irish insurance market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30073/22]

Tax Yield

Dara Calleary

24. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that the public finances are forecast to remain heavily reliant on corporation tax receipts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30074/22]

Budget 2022

Dara Calleary

101. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of the €7 billion in contingencies for spending set out in Budget 2022 which remains unallocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29750/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Dara Calleary

104. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount that he has sanctioned in expenditure measures to ease cost of living pressures since and including Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29749/22]

Pension Provisions

Dara Calleary

226. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has plans to review current pension abatement arrangements for public service staff who complete their employment in one area of the public sector and subsequently take-up employment in another area of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31712/22]

Rural Schemes

Dara Calleary

244. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when community activity grants will be announced. [31163/22]

Arts Council

Dara Calleary

429. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that there is such a delay in considering a request on behalf of the superannuation fund of a semi-State body (details supplied) to increase the pension awarded to its members; his views on whether such delays are unfair on those awaiting the decision; and if he will give urgent attention to the situation given the current cost-of-living crisis. [30365/22]

Sports Facilities

Dara Calleary

443. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the financial support or grants that are available for a rural school to build a small all-weather sports facility on its grounds for the use of its students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29344/22]

Housing Schemes

Dara Calleary

510. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to re-examine the means testing criteria for social housing. [29628/22]

Schools Building Projects

Dara Calleary

961. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the financial support or grants that are available for a rural school to build a small all-weather sports facility on its grounds for the use of its students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29343/22]

Care Services

Dara Calleary

1147. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider improving measures within the social welfare system to support existing foster carers and to encourage additional foster carers such removing the 20 year cap on homecare provision for foster carers, changes in the contributory pension to allow for periods spent fostering to count towards a state pension (contributory); and her views on the initiatives she is pursuing with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to assist foster carers and promote foster caring. [30772/22]

Child and Family Agency

Dara Calleary

1206. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will comment on Tusla’s preparations for the introduction of the child abuse substantiation procedure; the number of foster carers who have received training on the issue as of 8 June 2022; the training that is planned; if the introduction date of 27 June 2022 is still proceeding given the lack of training to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30768/22]

Child and Family Agency

Dara Calleary

1207. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the different procedures in place across different Tusla regions in relation to a number of issues affecting foster carers including issues such as therapy provision and dental care provision; if he will engage with Tusla to ensure standardisation at the higher level of service to foster children and their carers across each region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30769/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Dara Calleary

1208. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had or intends to have engagement with the Minister for Social Protection around issues within the social welfare system to support existing foster carers and to encourage additional foster carers, including removing the 20 year cap on homecare provision for foster carers, changes in the State pension (contributory) system to allow for periods spent fostering to count towards same; the initiatives that he is pursuing with the Minister for Social Protection to assist foster carers and to promote foster caring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30770/22]

Sports Funding

Dara Calleary

2010. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial support or grants that are available for a rural school to build a small all-weather sports facility on its grounds for the use of its students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29346/22]

Departmental Schemes

Dara Calleary

2020. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of a CLÁR application by a club (details supplied). [30521/22]

Ukraine War

Dara Calleary

29. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that his Department has in place for Ukrainian nationals arriving in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28461/22]

Departmental Strategies

Dara Calleary

73. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Community Integration Fund will be ready for announcement; if he will outline the aims of the fund and the type of projects which have been funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28462/22]

Rail Network

Dara Calleary

125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport the reason that a number of rail projects have been given approval to proceed whilst others are delayed under the All-Ireland Rail Review; the method of selection for the projects that are proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27683/22]

Rail Network

Dara Calleary

126. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport the work that has been completed to date on the All-Island Rail Review; the timeline for the completion and publication of the review; the monies spent to date; the remaining budget to be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27684/22]

Road Projects

Dara Calleary

201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to re-introduce funding for the repair of local roads in Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27648/22]

School Transport

Dara Calleary

373. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education if her Department is in receipt of an application for a new school bus route (details supplied) in County Sligo; if the application is being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27265/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Dara Calleary

488. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are in place to support people with chronic illnesses and with disabilities who require additional heating to access the fuel allowance on compassionate grounds. [28059/22]

Legislative Programme

Dara Calleary

587. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice the proposed timeline for passing the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27644/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Dara Calleary

712. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no unit for the treatment of intestinal failure in adults in Ireland and up to 100 people are diagnosed with intestinal failure in Ireland every year and must travel to England for treatment; and if he will engage with the HSE to pursue the establishment of this unit, particularly when one exists for children in Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin. [27641/22]

Rural Schemes

Dara Calleary

844. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the application process and qualification criteria for a community services programme scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27643/22]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Dara Calleary

19. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to increase sentences for sexual assault and violent offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25995/22]

Proposed Legislation

Dara Calleary

36. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to update and revise bail laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25994/22]

Planning Issues

Dara Calleary

211. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options that are available to a community in which an unauthorised development is being constructed in spite of the first planning enforcement letter having been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25735/22]

Enterprise Support Services

Dara Calleary

76. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies in each of counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal that have applied for funding under the Irish Innovation Seed Fund Programme in tabular form; the number that have been successful in each county; and the total funding awarded in each county to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24973/22]

Regional Development

Dara Calleary

83. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the progress made to date in the implementation in the West region of the IDA Strategy - Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24972/22]

Third Level Costs

Dara Calleary

105. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline measures to improve funding supports for students in further and higher education, including an update on the review of the SUSI grant scheme and an update on the implementation group to look at the issue of future funding of our higher education institutions, grant supports and reform implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25268/22]

Further and Higher Education

Dara Calleary

172. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department is seeking to target CAO places in areas of acute skills needs as identified through our national skills architecture and workforce planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25269/22]

Employment Support Services

Dara Calleary

107. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the tender process for all public employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24668/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Dara Calleary

147. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department’s strategy to make sure that social protection payments keep pace with the higher cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24667/22]

Care Services

Dara Calleary

551. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the initiatives he has undertaken to promote fostering in Ireland since his appointment; the steps he has taken to support existing and potential new foster parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24581/22]

Departmental Data

Dara Calleary

552. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster parents and families who have left the fostering system in the past five years; if any work has been carried out to identify the key reasons for their leaving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24582/22]

Child and Family Agency

Dara Calleary

553. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers in Tusla who are dealing with foster children and foster families; if he has plans to recruit additional social workers for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24583/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Dara Calleary

554. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the concerns of smaller early childhood care and education scheme sessional pre-school services in respect of the proposed new core funding model, particularly the lack of remuneration for non-contact hours (details supplied); and if an assurance will be given that no service should be financially worse off under the new model compared with the current model. [24584/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Dara Calleary

555. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to fund early childhood care and education scheme operators to finance a graduate uplift payment for childcare staff who have skilled up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24586/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Dara Calleary

764. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the benefits and the consequences of farmers installing solar panels on commonage and in particular the impact on entitlements and payments. [24463/22]

Education Policy

Dara Calleary

66. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education her strategy to improve access to the transition year programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23660/22]

School Staff

Dara Calleary

151. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the improved employment conditions for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23659/22]

Passport Services

Dara Calleary

85. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications for passports from counties Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway and Donegal, respectively, that are currently outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22652/22]

EU Meetings

Dara Calleary

112. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22653/22]

Defective Building Materials

Dara Calleary

378. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the working group into defective housing, in particular in relation to fire safety and structural safety deficits; if he anticipates including an expenditure provision for same in his 2023 estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23392/22]

School Transport

Dara Calleary

522. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the steps that she is taking to ensure the viability of the school transport service in view of the large cost increases for operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23319/22]

Community Welfare Services

Dara Calleary

560. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officers in each county in tabular form; if she has plans to expand these numbers given the importance of ease of access to a CWO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23321/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Dara Calleary

561. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the domiciliary care allowance in each of the years 2019 to 2021; the percentage of these applications that were successful on the first application in each year; the percentage of unsuccessful applications that were appealed; the percentage of these applications that were successful in their appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23322/22]

Parental Leave

Dara Calleary

562. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she supports the extension of the parental leave allowance to the parents of foster children in order to assist the parents and the children and to encourage more persons to come forward to act as foster parents. [23323/22]

Tourism Industry

Dara Calleary

9. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her strategy to support building the capability of employees to help businesses to bridge the skills gaps they are experiencing and to drive greater employee retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22101/22]

Irish Language

Dara Calleary

42. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the Irish language planning process including outstanding commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22102/22]

Air Quality

Dara Calleary

150. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the agency that has the responsibility for the ban on burning smoky fuel in designated towns; the number of any complaints received in relation to the burning of smoky fuels in each town, in tabular form; the number of successful prosecutions taken as a consequence of any complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21538/22]

Bus Services

Dara Calleary

160. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport if the National Transport Authority can dictate the precise timings of a public service obligation-funded bus service to an operator; the flexibility the operator has in the timetabling of a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21536/22]