Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

72. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of special educational needs classes that are currently being taught by mainstream teachers due to shortages of special educational needs teachers. [45066/23]

Information and Communications Technology

Gary Gannon

78. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when primary schools, particularly DEIS primary schools, can expect to receive their Information and Communications Technology (ICT) grant. [45067/23]

Special Educational Needs

Gary Gannon

81. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of new special needs assistants who were hired since 2022; and if there is an action plan outlining how the1,200 additional SNA posts provided for in Budget 2024 will be filled. [45064/23]

Bus Services

Gary Gannon

62. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport the consultation that took place with residents when deciding to remove two bus stops (details supplied) on the North Strand Road, Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43772/23]

Commemorative Plaques

Gary Gannon

247. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current position regarding an initiative to erect a commemorative plaque at the birthplace of War of Independence leader, Rory O’Connor, as we approach the close of the Decade of Centenaries. [43768/23]

Child and Family Agency

Gary Gannon

438. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of complaints received by Tusla in relation to an organisation (details supplied) since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43770/23]

Child and Family Agency

Gary Gannon

439. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide Tusla inspection records since 2021 regarding an organisation (details supplied). [43771/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

92. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects to have the staffing capacity to have more than one naval vessel at sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42591/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

100. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the number of married quarters and houses that remain within the possession of the Defence Forces or his Department; and the number currently vacant. [42593/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

122. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of vacant married quarters and houses that were in the possession of the Defence Forces or his Department on 1 January 2023 and have been occupied by new tenants since that date. [42594/23]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he used the phrase "apartheid" in any formal engagement during his recent visit to Israel. [41913/23]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

6. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 will be examined on Committee Stage. [41910/23]

Disaster Response

Gary Gannon

12. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what supports the Government is providing for the people of Morocco following its recent earthquake; and what actions his Department is taking to ensure the supports reach the people on the ground. [41912/23]

Disaster Response

Gary Gannon

41. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what supports the Government is providing for the people of Libya following Storm Daniel; and what actions his Department is taking to ensure the supports reach the people on the ground. [41911/23]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

67. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a detailed itinerary of his recent visit to Israel. [41909/23]

Student Accommodation

Gary Gannon

78. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he deems it appropriate for universities and colleges to increase their cost of accommodation for this academic year while the country experiences a cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40450/23]

Third Level Fees

Gary Gannon

94. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide clarification on the status and cost of the student contribution fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40448/23]

Further and Higher Education

Gary Gannon

112. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if university-funded PhD scholarships will be allocated additional State funding for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40452/23]

Grant Payments

Gary Gannon

116. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the number of complaints submitted concerning the SUSI application process this year by students or parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40449/23]

Further and Higher Education

Gary Gannon

120. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the recommendation to increase PhD stipends to €25,000 per annum from 1 January 2024 applies to all PhDs, inclusive of SFI, IRC, and university/college-funded scholarships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40451/23]

School Transport

Gary Gannon

786. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the options that are available for school transport for a pupil (details supplied). [39423/23]

Urban Development

Gary Gannon

2107. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for a breakdown of spending, in tabular form from, for 2016 to 2023, listed under the Dublin's North East Inner City Initiative (which is operated out of her office). [39421/23]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

529. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the case of an exam candidate (details supplied) regarding deferred exams for illness; her views on whether it is fair that a student be denied the ability to resit the deferred exam due to their particular illness; and what can be done to rectify this kind of issue in the future. [37174/23]

Sports Facilities

Gary Gannon

53. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will engage with the various stakeholders involved in the development of a campaign (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35132/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Gary Gannon

61. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she became aware of RTÉ’s secret payments to a person (details supplied); and what actions she took upon finding out about it. [32524/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Gary Gannon

85. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the extent of her knowledge regarding RTÉ’s secret payments to a host (details supplied). [32523/23]

Waterways Issues

Gary Gannon

209. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what engagement his Department has had with the relevant stakeholders with regard to reanimating the River Liffey. [35474/23]

Revenue Commissioners

Gary Gannon

330. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Finance if an in-person meeting could be arranged for an individual (details supplied) to address an ongoing issue they have had with Revenue. [35473/23]

Departmental Staff

Gary Gannon

310. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the possibility of a charity having a designated liaison in her Department (details supplied) has been considered. [34389/23]

Residency Permits

Gary Gannon

554. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the €312 million generated from IRP cards over the past ten years; and where this is reinvested. [34390/23]

Departmental Schemes

Gary Gannon

555. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the expected processing times for remaining undocumented scheme applications; and the staffing numbers in the scheme unit from the start of the scheme to date. [34391/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Gary Gannon

106. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if core social welfare rates will be adjusted in the next budget (details supplied) to match the rate of inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33417/23]

Visa Applications

Gary Gannon

423. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the timeframe for when a person (details supplied) may receive news on a visa application. [32218/23]

Ambulance Service

Gary Gannon

587. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made to retain paramedics in the National Ambulance Service. [32219/23]

Further and Higher Education

Gary Gannon

726. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to prevent paramedicine students from not having sufficient work experience during their degree to meet the needs of their chosen career. [32220/23]

Consumer Protection

Gary Gannon

26. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce a new statutory consumer advocacy agency; and if there are existing plans within his Department in relation to its creation. [24645/23]

School Textbooks

Gary Gannon

90. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the excess waste and spend of buying physical copies of textbooks only to load the virtual version they contain onto an electronic device (details supplied); and if she will outline what her Department is doing to reduce this waste and spend. [31572/23]

Departmental Data

Gary Gannon

93. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of resignations (including notices of resignation) of primary and secondary school teachers since the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year. [31568/23]

School Patronage

Gary Gannon

127. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education for an update on the school reconfiguration pilot programme. [31570/23]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

132. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of registered teachers at primary and secondary school level at the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year. [31569/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Gary Gannon

139. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education for an update on the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education, which was outlined in the Programme for Government. [31571/23]

Bullying in Educational Institutions

Gary Gannon

308. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education to provide a reason for the omission of the term "homophobic", "transphobic" and "biphobic" from the most recent Action Plan on Bullying, Cineáltas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31055/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Gary Gannon

422. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on her Department's report regarding a free travel scheme for people with epilepsy. [31053/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

478. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice how many holders of subsidiary protection declarations have had their subsidiary protection ceased in accordance with section 11 of the International Protection Act 2015 since the commencement of the act. [31050/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

479. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice how many holders of the subsidiary protection declarations have had their subsidiary protection ceased in accordance with Regulation 18 of SI 426/2013 European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013 since the commencement of those regulations. [31051/23]

Legislative Measures

Gary Gannon

480. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice when the Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill 2022 will be brought before Dáil Éireann. [31052/23]

Climate Action Plan

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first progress report for the first quarter of 2023 of the climate action plan. [29337/23]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

15. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economy and investment will next meet. [29338/23]

Official Engagements

Gary Gannon

27. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the meeting of the European Political Community on 1 June 2023. [29339/23]

Grant Payments

Gary Gannon

229. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason parents of Irish citizens are excluded from the SUSI grant scheme on the basis of their civil status and where the State has granted them a stamp 4 visa. [29917/23]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

2. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [29331/23]

Departmental Data

Gary Gannon

12. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland, overseen by his Department. [29332/23]

Equality Issues

Gary Gannon

23. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his Department's public sector duty equality and human rights assessment. [29333/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Gary Gannon

36. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on the evacuation of Irish citizens from Sudan in the last month. [28868/23]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

59. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will formally recognise the state of Palestine; and if not; if he will make a statement as to why not. [28869/23]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

61. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department recognises Israel's oppression of Palestine as apartheid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28866/23]

International Relations

Gary Gannon

65. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department recognises Western Sahara as a sovereign state in the wake of reports that Israel will recognise the country as a Moroccan territory. [28867/23]

Energy Policy

Gary Gannon

83. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update regarding improving measures to avoid disconnections for energy customers. [24647/23]

Energy Prices

Gary Gannon

102. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will introduce a community energy advice service; and if there are existing plans within his Department in relation to its creation. [24646/23]

Middle East

Gary Gannon

132. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the context of the stated view of the UN in 2020 that the Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are a significant source of human rights violations, and in view of the fact that the Israeli Government has now vowed to further build and expand such settlements, what actions he intends to take, in addition to condemnation and denunciation, to ensure that Ireland has no involvement with business activities in or with these settlements, or in sustaining an illegal situation which could amount to a war crime under international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27442/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

237. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current establishment of the Defence Forces, broken down by PDF and RDF, and divided by Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27724/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

238. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans in place to reach the current establishment level in each Corps in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27725/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

239. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans in place to commemorate the centenary of the Defence Forces on 1 October 2024. [27726/23]

Arts Policy

Gary Gannon

626. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of introducing a culture card voucher system worth €200 each to all 18-24-year-olds in Ireland in 2024, in order to promote engagement with culture, arts and media, based on schemes in place in Germany, Spain, France and Italy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27443/23]

Arts Policy

Gary Gannon

627. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost of introducing a culture card voucher system worth €200 each to all young people in Ireland when they turn 18, in order to promote engagement with culture, arts and media, based on schemes in place in Germany, Spain, France and Italy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27444/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

801. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseekers' allowance of €220 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27439/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

802. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseekers' allowance of €129.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27440/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

803. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseekers' allowance other than €129.70 and €220 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27441/23]

Student Accommodation

Gary Gannon

1353. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his awareness of the issues of the subsidisation of college-owned student accommodation but not for extensions of already built accommodation; if he plans to review this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27597/23]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

12. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [22916/23]

Economic Policy

Gary Gannon

24. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [22917/23]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

35. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on a Humanitarian Response to Ukraine will next meet. [22918/23]

Pensions Reform

Gary Gannon

75. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the possible effects on pensioner poverty of the proposed total contributions approach, given that it deals on a pro rata basis with people who do not qualify for the maximum payment, rather than using bands which serve to uplift the benefit people receive, as under the current averaging system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25023/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Gary Gannon

108. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will introduce a social energy tariff, targeted at households on means-tested social welfare payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24643/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Gary Gannon

135. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will adjust the rate of fuel allowance in a way which will be determined by a strong evidence base on the minimum energy needs of households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24644/23]

Education Schemes

Gary Gannon

282. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the full year cost of running the Covid Learning and Support Scheme, CLASS, 2021-2022; and the total number of beneficiaries. [24284/23]

State Examinations

Gary Gannon

286. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education to provide additional supports, specifically extra time, for students with dyslexia undertaking the junior and leaving certificate examinations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24313/23]

Third Level Education

Gary Gannon

947. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the student maintenance grant by €1,000 for full-time students at third level. [24279/23]

Third Level Education

Gary Gannon

948. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the non-adjacent maintenance grant by €1,000 to €4,225 for full-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. [24280/23]

Third Level Education

Gary Gannon

949. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of extending a non-adjacent maintenance grant by €1,000 to €4,225 to part-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. [24281/23]

Third Level Education

Gary Gannon

950. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the adjacent maintenance grant by €1,000 to €2,415 for full-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. [24282/23]

Third Level Education

Gary Gannon

951. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of extending an adjacent maintenance grant by €1,000 to €2,415 to part-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. [24283/23]

Tourism Promotion

Gary Gannon

27. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the fruit and vegetable market in Dublin's north inner city (details supplied). [23664/23]

Broadcasting Sector

Gary Gannon

33. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she would support a review of the GAAGO subscription model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23666/23]

Sports Facilities

Gary Gannon

68. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to discuss the need for a state-of-the-art sports facility in Alfie Byrne Park (details supplied). [23663/23]

Housing Provision

Gary Gannon

179. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department's work regarding housing in the Gaeltacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23662/23]

School Staff

Gary Gannon

382. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education given the current issues relating to climate change wellbeing and teacher retention, would she accept that the provision of a working, nationwide redeployment system for post primary teachers could alleviate each of these problems to some extent; and given the benefits of such a system would, she now schedule talks with the stakeholders to specifically address this major issue. [23276/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Gary Gannon

472. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of international protection applicants not offered accommodation by IPAS who have been issued any payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exclusive of the daily expenses allowance or equivalent payment, to date in 2023, broken down by month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23285/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Gary Gannon

473. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of international protection applicants not offered accommodation by IPAS who have been granted the daily expenses allowance or equivalent payment, to date in 2023, broken down by month of application for the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23286/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

511. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average and mean processing times for applications under the accelerated procedure for "safe countries of origin" (the International Protection Act 2015 (Procedures and Periods for Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2022) under the International Protection Act 2015; a breakdown of the recognition rates for same by country of origin, since the commencement of that procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23277/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

512. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average and mean processing times for applications under the International Protection Act 2015, to date in 2023, which do not fall under the accelerated procedure for "safe countries of origin" (the International Protection Act 2015 (Procedures and Periods for Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2022) or prioritisation in accordance with section 73 of the International Protection Act 2015; a breakdown of the recognition rates for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23278/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

513. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average and mean processing times for prioritised applications under section 73 of the International Protection Act 2015, to date in 2023; a breakdown of the recognition rates for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23280/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

514. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average and mean processing times for positive decisions issued by the Family Reunification Unit, under the International Protection Act 2015, to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23281/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

515. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average and mean processing times for applications for labour market access permission and a breakdown of those decisions made in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23282/23]

International Protection

Gary Gannon

516. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of people who have been refused leave to land to date in 2023, broken down by nationality; the number of those who subsequently left the State or made an application for international protection, broken down by nationality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23283/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

161. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide a detailed process of how military housing is applied for. [21554/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

162. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of applications received for military housing between 2018 to 2023, broken down by year, in tabular form. [21555/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

163. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of successful applications received for military housing between 2018 to 2023, broken down by year, in tabular form. [21556/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

164. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the ranks held by successful applications for military housing from 2018 to 2023. [21557/23]

Defence Forces

Gary Gannon

165. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of married quarters and houses that remain within the possession of the Defence Forces or his Department; and the respective locations of each. [21558/23]