Parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the flat rate paid to all sessional early years services; the number of services in receipt; and the total cost for 2021,2022 and 2023. [54456/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

644. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the minimum rate paid to all small, part-time and SAC early years services; the number services in receipt; and the total cost for 2021, 2022 and 2023. [54457/23]

Child Care Law Reporting Project

Kathleen Funchion

675. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full year, first year and total funding budget of the Child Law Project. [54701/23]

Departmental Bodies

Kathleen Funchion

678. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to establish a steering group to consult on a children-in-care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54721/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to increase the Building Blocks Improvement Grant allocation by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%. [54880/23]

Special Educational Needs

Kathleen Funchion

704. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a student (details supplied) will be given the opportunity to continue their studies in a school until December 2025. [55157/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

708. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown including ECCE pay, AIM pay of the €308.2 million provided for in line B.3 of the revised estimates for 2023. [55244/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

709. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the estimates given in Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 6 December 2023 includes ECCE and AIM staff. [55245/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

713. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual costs to reduce childcare fees by 20% in year one, 40% in year two, 60% in year three, 80% in year four and 100% in year five. [55306/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

715. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, first year and full year cost to increase the aftercare payment for all young people up to the age of 23 years irrespective whether they are in full-time education; and the annual costs over a five-year period. [55335/23]

Departmental Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

40. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the smaller petrol stations and shops will be given a bigger grant for the deposit return scheme, as in the case of a person (details supplied). [54006/23]

Visa Applications

Kathleen Funchion

129. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if she can provide an update on a visa application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54083/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

143. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual first and full-year cost total of expanding ECCE/AIM wages over five years from three hours to eight hours, including PRSI and USC at current ERO levels. [53962/23]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

144. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to give a breakdown of the type of new ELC and SAC registrations. [53963/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

145. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual first and full-year cost total to pay the wages of all childcare staff over five years, in tabular form, including PRSI and USC at current ERO levels. [53964/23]

Departmental Budgets

Kathleen Funchion

467. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase core funding by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from January 2024. [53422/23]

Departmental Budgets

Kathleen Funchion

468. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase core funding by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from September 2024. [53423/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

469. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase the universal national childcare subsidy by 25% effective from January 2024. [53424/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

470. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase the universal national childcare subsidy by 25% effective from September 2024. [53425/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

471. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from September 2024. [53426/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

472. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from January 2024. [53427/23]

Departmental Reviews

Kathleen Funchion

477. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed, in tabular form. [53446/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

488. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first, full year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for early years educators, by 85 cent, €1.00, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2.00; and the first, full year and annual cost estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order. [53690/23]

Hospital Facilities

Kathleen Funchion

509. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny has stopped the roll-out of insulin pumps and sensors to monitor the blood sugars in the paediatric diabetes department within the hospital; if he is further aware that the chronic lack of staff has resulted in this centre of excellence for paediatric diabetes being unable to staff itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53248/23]

Further and Higher Education

Kathleen Funchion

620. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the third level fees rebate will be made available for Irish students studying in Belfast; what supports are available to Irish students studying in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53257/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

211. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the current sick payment entitlement for a person (details supplied) who is currently out on long-term sick leave from their teaching post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51638/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

273. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years and school-age care providers that have withdrawn from Core funding for each month to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51666/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

274. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of "baby room" closures that have been reported for each month to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51667/23]

Childcare Qualifications

Kathleen Funchion

275. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the actions in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028 regarding English language proficiency for non-native speakers working in ELC and SAC services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51668/23]

Hospital Staff

Kathleen Funchion

157. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for St. Luke’s Hospital, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51256/23]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

158. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for CHO5, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51257/23]

Hospital Staff

Kathleen Funchion

159. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for St. Luke’s Hospital, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; and the WTE to which these relate. [51258/23]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

160. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of memorandums (details supplied) by grade, for CHO 5, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; and the WTE to which these relate. [51259/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

420. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department developed the national childcare scheme hourly rate rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50552/23]

Rail Network

Kathleen Funchion

48. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport the reason there is not a commuter train service from Kilkenny to Waterford to get people to Waterford city for 9am; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50194/23]

Pension Provisions

Kathleen Funchion

283. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on auto-enrolment for retirement savings system for employees; when she expects it to be operational; if she will confirm if there will be a central processing authority to manage and administer the AE system on behalf of the participants; when she expects the legislation to underpin this to be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49317/23]

Ambulance Service

Kathleen Funchion

486. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will launch an investigation into the unacceptable delay on 4 November of over six hours for an ambulance to attend a gravely ill person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49319/23]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Kathleen Funchion

102. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when the proposed surrogacy legislation will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48844/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

32. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the extra €7 million allocated in budget 2024 to the access and inclusion model, AIM, programme will be delivered; to provide further clarity on the number of extra hours eligible children will receive; what ages the scheme is being extended to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48401/23]

Industrial Disputes

Kathleen Funchion

58. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the ongoing dispute around the reopening of a job evaluation scheme between Tusla and the Fórsa trade union; to confirm if either he or his officials have met with representatives of Fórsa trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48403/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

78. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; when applications are due to open; when he expects after this date that payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48402/23]

Postal Services

Kathleen Funchion

136. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an incorrect Eircode for a dwelling (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47250/23]

Departmental Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

137. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what options are available to customers of pre-pay energy companies to recoup the Government energy credits if they did not receive any of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47265/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Kathleen Funchion

694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the guardians payment for 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; the cost to increase the payment to €400; to outline any outreach being done to alert families who are caring for children and young people and are not in receipt of any payment;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47202/23]

Residency Permits

Kathleen Funchion

853. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) to facilitate residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48456/23]

Child Poverty

Kathleen Funchion

1066. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48405/23]

Equality Issues

Kathleen Funchion

1067. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the proposed Equal Participation Model; how he envisages it will support children who may be vulnerable or are experiencing disadvantage; what changes are being made to the sponsorship process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48406/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1072. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given the 25% fee reduction in Budget 2024, he will outline if he has any plans to go further than freezing fees and begin the process of reducing fees charged by services; to qualify how families who use a childminder will be able to access NCS subsidies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48404/23]

Mental Health Policy

Kathleen Funchion

1166. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the practice of night-time confinement in all units (except high-secure) at the National Central Mental Hospital, Portrane, continues to be operational, despite the ceasing of this activity being a condition of its registration, as set out by the Mental Health Commission and HSE, dated 12 May 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47689/23]

Community Care

Kathleen Funchion

1335. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Caredoc phone services for St. Dymphna's Hospital, Carlow is run out of Dublin, and not locally in Carlow, and as a consequence, the phones are not being answered all the time, nor are calls being returned in an efficient manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48600/23]

Third Level Education

Kathleen Funchion

1375. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost to increase the number of places on social workers’ graduate programmes by 25%; how many additional places this equates to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47263/23]

Technological Universities

Kathleen Funchion

1376. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will support SETU’s bid for a new veterinary medicine school at its campus, given that there is only one veterinary school in the country presently, and given the proven track record SETU has in delivering land sciences education and related research in conjunction with regional stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47264/23]

Meteorological Services

Kathleen Funchion

196. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the flood forecasters at Met Éireann meet daily, including weekends; if there are minutes or notes available from these meetings; if there was a meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, 17 and 18 October 2023; if information from those meetings on those dates can be shared with the public; if there is a plan to share this type of information going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47074/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Kathleen Funchion

204. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in considering the Kilkenny wind energy strategy proposed by Kilkenny County Council; if he will outline the process involved in considering the matter and confirm a timeframe for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47183/23]

International Protection

Kathleen Funchion

262. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene in the case of a Ukrainian family who are living at a location (details supplied). [47136/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

349. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual, total first and full-year cost to increase equally the guardian payment by 100% over three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46063/23]

Children in Care

Kathleen Funchion

448. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first and full-year cost to increase the number of State residential care units for children in care by 10%, 25% and 50%, in tabular form; what this equates to in bed numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46061/23]

Children in Care

Kathleen Funchion

449. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first and full-year funding allocated to private, for-profit foster care organisations for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [46062/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

450. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full-year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 50% from September 2024. [46064/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

264. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first, full year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for an early years educators, by 0.85cent, €1.00, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2.00; and the first, full year and annual estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order. [46033/23]

Budget 2024

Kathleen Funchion

116. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if Budget 2024 reduced the VAT rate for print maps or eMaps to 0% given that the VAT rate on eBooks and audio books was reduced to 0%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45750/23]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

261. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what actions he has taken to shorten and streamline the vetting process for fully qualified medical doctors from the UK post-Brexit with the IMC; given that many doctors are waiting in excess of two months for their affiliation to be able to work with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45492/23]

Grant Payments

Kathleen Funchion

297. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a third level student who is completely estranged from their parents, but has not reached the age of 23 years, can apply for support through a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45726/23]

Passport Services

Kathleen Funchion

88. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to explain the rationale in section 14 of a child passport renewal stating that a guardians/parents signature is not required when the child is married; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44681/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

350. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of childcare career events held by the European Employment Services (ERS Ireland) in the Department of Social Protection held outside Ireland in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively; and the cost of each event and the outcome. [44712/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Kathleen Funchion

367. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale that disallows those who qualified for State pension through the invalidity pension, to be entitled to a bonus for people on the invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45110/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

442. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of CAMHS intellectual disability teams based in CHO9. [44688/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

443. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE vacancies by job title at CDNT based in Clondalkin and Palmerstown; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [44689/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

444. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on waiting lists for therapeutic care in each CDNTs based in CHO2 according to each speciality; and the average waiting times for an appointment. [44690/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

445. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE child and adolescent psychiatrists and clinical psychologist working in CAMHS, mental health intellectual disability teams in CHO1 in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [44692/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

446. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE behaviour therapists working in CDNT based in Galway in the years 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [44693/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

447. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE medical social workers in the west Kerry CDNT team in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [44694/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

448. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of HSE funded therapists who have been allocated to special schools in County Cavan, in tabular form. [44696/23]

Mental Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

498. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapist posts in the CAMHS teams in County Wicklow that are currently unfilled; and when will these vacancies be filled, in tabular form. [44687/23]

Mental Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

499. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of children in CHO4 waiting lists for counselling and psychotherapy on initial assessment, initial therapy intervention and further therapy intervention lists, in tabular form. [44691/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

500. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the locations within CHO6 where primary care autism assessment teams are located in tabular form. [44695/23]

Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

594. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to meeting with a group that wish to discuss current and increasing regulation on tanning bed usage; if he will consider a central database or register to regulate customer usage; if he will consider mandating the requirement of a medical clearance certificate and six monthly update or renewal of cert; including stricter ID policy to ensure no person under 18 years of age is using tanning beds; if he will carry out an education and awareness campaign in transition year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45185/23]

Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

595. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will comment on the RTÉ report (details supplied) of August 2023 which showed there were almost 107,000 adverse incidents reported within the health service and that the number of incidents that have risen over the past five years; what steps or measures he has taken in view of these incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45186/23]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

169. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education if she will source drivers for an organisation (details supplied) for children going to school in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny. [43406/23]

Registration of Births

Kathleen Funchion

328. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene to allow a person (details supplied) to register the birth of their baby born in July 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43780/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

407. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider converting St. Patricks, Loughboy, Kilkenny for respite and other badly needed services for people with disabilities in Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44119/23]

Nursing Education

Kathleen Funchion

581. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will grant NMBI nursing registration after the successful completion of adaptation training or RCSI aptitude test, to those health care assistants with a nursing degree diploma from their home country and have been working in Ireland for at least two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44095/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

586. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure CIT nurses in Care Doc, Carlow, receive the pandemic bonus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44175/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

184. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in receipt of AIMS support in early years settings for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [42939/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

185. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current full and first year costs associated with the AIM programme; the cost per child; the total cost per hour to deliver the programme; the cost to extend the programme to five hours per day, per child, in total; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42940/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

385. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the assistance available to a person who qualified for a mobility grant; where there is a shortfall; if community welfare assists with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42104/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Kathleen Funchion

386. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow the re-examination of an invalidity pension application for a person (details supplied); if this appeal can be allowed, despite it being out of date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42106/23]

Visa Applications

Kathleen Funchion

430. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the recent changes to visa applications for Bolivian nationals; if there are plans to review this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42117/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

561. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the mother and baby institutions payment scheme to open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42754/23]

Dental Services

Kathleen Funchion

662. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the reason that most dentists in Kilkenny will not take medical cards for dentures (details supplied). [42656/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

698. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will include employees of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service for the pandemic payment for health care workers, given that they worked throughout the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42753/23]

Bus Services

Kathleen Funchion

129. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport the reason that people are being turned away on bus services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41032/23]

Bus Services

Kathleen Funchion

137. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport the first- and total-year cost to extend the TFI Carlow Bus CW2 route to the Circle K services at Rathcrougue, County Carlow. [40894/23]

Bus Services

Kathleen Funchion

138. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to extend the TFI Carlow Bus CW2 route to Circle K, Rathcrougue, County Carlow, to allow bus drivers to use services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40895/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Kathleen Funchion

208. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied). [40887/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Kathleen Funchion

221. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice when she expects to publish the recommendations of the Carlow Refuge Development Advisory Group submitted to Tulsa in June; to provide an update and published timeline in regard to progress on the Carlow women's refuge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40893/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

248. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding has been prioritised to finalise and introduce a comprehensive disability transport support scheme for disability services and service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40892/23]

Road Network

Kathleen Funchion

128. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if there will be a new motorway going ahead on the N25 beside an address (details supplied). [40304/23]

Tax Code

Kathleen Funchion

149. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reducing the VAT rate for cartographers and map publishers to 0%, in line with newspapers, given the small number of cartographers and map publishers in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39548/23]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Kathleen Funchion

179. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to waving VRT liability for adult disability services that specially adapt vehicles (not wheelchair adaption) for users with mobility issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40638/23]