Parliamentary questions

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

134. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the N6 Galway City Ring Road; when he expects An Bord Pleanála to make a decision on whether or not the project can go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40467/23]

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

135. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the cost to date of the N6 Galway City Ring Road project, by category of expense, and the costs involved in the High Court challenges to the project; if he will provide an estimate of the likely ongoing monthly outlay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40474/23]

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

136. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport he expected cost now of completing the N6 Galway City Ring Road; and if the Government will commit to make funding available for such a project if it is given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40475/23]

School Funding

Noel Grealish

371. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she has plans to introduce grants for technology or ICT in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40544/23]

Sports Funding

Noel Grealish

397. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider amending the sports capital programme guidelines to enable golf clubs that are not owned by their members, to make applications for significant improvements to their facilities to the benefit of members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40545/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

1015. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will make the drug Vydura (rimegepant), available on the DPS scheme; if there is any other scheme available to help an individual with the cost of this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40546/23]

Prison Service

Noel Grealish

5. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Taoiseach the number of persons released from jail that went on to commit an offence again within three years of their release; the proportion of the number of released prisoners they represented, in each of the past five years, by category of offence, and by period within which the subsequent crime was committed, in tabular form; the way in which the rate of recidivism here compares with other EU countries. [34831/23]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

452. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a breakdown of the total annual non-wage related, that is, not including teachers or SNA salaries, grant funding provided direct to primary schools in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36238/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

876. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing free legal aid in criminal cases over each of the past five years, by county; the average cost per alleged offender; the total payment to legal practitioners; the average payment to legal practitioners, over the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36941/23]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

130. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will give Ministerial approval for the two-phase increase of 6% pensionable pay in addition to the agreed 2% due from 1 January 2023 due under the An Post superannuation scheme; when approval will be granted for these pension increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34828/23]

Land Issues

Noel Grealish

434. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if clarification will be provided regarding a statement by a person (details supplied) in Seanad Éireann on 15 December 2022; if he can confirm that in order for the local authority or State agency to avail of the exemption, the land must have been owned by the local authority or State agency at the proposed residential zoning of that land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34827/23]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

525. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who re-offended while released on bail for other alleged crimes in each of the past three years, by type of crime allegedly committed while on bail, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34829/23]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

526. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of crimes that were recorded in which the suspected offenders were on bail, in each of the past three years, by category of crime involved, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34830/23]

Crime Prevention

Noel Grealish

527. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if the Government will consider steps to further restrict the granting of bail to serial or repeat offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34832/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

528. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider steps to restrict the granting of free legal aid to serial or repeat offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34833/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

529. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been granted free legal aid, by category of offence; the number of times these persons have availed of free legal aid previously; the number of previous convictions; the cost of each in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34834/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

530. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been granted free legal-aid in County Galway, by category of offence; the number of times these persons have availed of free legal aid previously; the number of previous convictions; the cost of each in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34835/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

531. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing free legal aid over each of the past five years, by county; the average cost per alleged offender; the total payment to legal practitioners; the average payment to legal practitioners, over the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34836/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

53. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in 2008 when his officials were drafting the Western Fisheries Region Conservation of Trout Bye-Law No. 840, 2008, did the now defunct Western Regional Fisheries Board provide his Departmental officials with validated scientific data to show that rod and line angling was having a direct and measurable impact on brown trout stocks in Lough Corrib SAC; if his Departmental officials used any scientific data to ensure that the said bye-law was in compliance with the requirements of Regulation 31 of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 94 of 1997); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32860/23]

Angling Sector

Noel Grealish

106. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any provisions within the draft Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023, in addition to any technical amendments, to restrict or ban rod and line angling for brown trout and Atlantic salmon on Lough Corrib SAC, considering the large number of subsurface archaeological sites around the lake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32861/23]

Rental Sector

Noel Grealish

108. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to amend legislation, whereby people who rent properties in rent pressure zones and their existing tenants leave of their own accord, to allow the property owner then rent the property at market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32951/23]

Transport Policy

Noel Grealish

186. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on what measures he has undertaken to ensure that Ireland meets the mandatory quote of 5.5% renewable fuel of non-biological origin use in the transport sector by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32106/23]

Tax Reliefs

Noel Grealish

222. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the total sum of tax relief deducted from the purchase of diesel-fuelled buses through the VAT71 scheme in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32103/23]

Tax Reliefs

Noel Grealish

223. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has considered extending the eligibility of the VAT71 scheme to include electric and alternatively fuelled buses as a means of incentivising operators to purchase these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32104/23]

Tax Reliefs

Noel Grealish

224. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the categories of vehicles currently eligible for taxation relief under the VAT71 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32105/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

233. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance what resources, such as x-ray scanners and detector dog units, are currently available to the Revenue Commissioners to combat smuggling at the nation’s ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32499/23]

School Facilities

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education given that there are approximately 2,500 children enrolled in three schools in Oranmore, County Galway, if there is any scheme within her Department to provide playing and recreational facilities; if she will advise whether there is a point of contact within her Department who is available to meet and discuss this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32112/23]

Schools Administration

Noel Grealish

292. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education what the current Department of Education policy is regarding the care of old school roll books; if there are plans to digitise old school roll books and make them available to the public online; if her Department is satisfied with the current storage of the books in each individual school; whether there are any plans to transfer custody of the books to the county libraries or national archives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30540/23]

Pharmacy Services

Noel Grealish

638. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding fees and pay restoration for pharmacists prior to the 30 June 2023 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30628/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

664. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will address the unfairness in the treatment of diabetes patients in Ireland where Free Style Libre is decided on age criteria rather than clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30812/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

665. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health what plans he has in place to ensure diabetes patients have access to a glucose monitoring technology (details supplied), which has become a standard of diabetes care across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30813/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

666. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he recognises that remote monitoring of diabetes patients’ conditions will free up much-needed doctor and hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30814/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

667. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the current process whereby access to a diabetes glucose monitoring technology discriminates against patients in terms of age (details supplied) and is tantamount to deprivation of access to people with a disability and needs to be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30815/23]

Vacant Properties

Noel Grealish

256. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how a vacant property is defined under the vacant property refurbishment scheme; if a stand-alone chalet at the rear of another dwelling house qualifies under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30321/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason no Angling Consultative Council of Ireland meetings were held under the auspices of the Inland Fisheries division from 26 July 2022 until 23 March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29620/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

168. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, when he signed the Western Fisheries Region Conservation of Trout Bye-Law No. 840, 2008 into law on 28 July 2008, it was his and his Department's intention for this legislation to regulate the number of mounted fishing rods that may be used by an individual or the number of mounted fishing rods in the possession of an individual when trolling for Atlantic salmon on Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29621/23]

Commonage Land Use

Noel Grealish

937. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if ten farmers are owners in a commonage and one farmer cuts turf against the rules in that commonage, if all farmers will be penalised; if he will consider changing the law in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27125/23]

Home Help Service

Noel Grealish

1109. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when the report on the home support pilot study undertaken in four CHO areas will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27090/23]

General Practitioner Services

Noel Grealish

1295. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current status of free GP care for children aged six and seven years, as announced in Budget 2023; if any automatic GP cards for children aged six and seven years have been issued; if not, when applications will open; when the first cards will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28402/23]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

1350. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation (TUT) Fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT Fund in August 2023; the level funding that will be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs who merged earlier; if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this important juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

151. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive coarse fish and invasive pike at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26138/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

152. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department will support Inland Fisheries Ireland by all means in improving the ecological status of a lake (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26139/23]

School Accommodation

Noel Grealish

328. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the timeframe for the appointment of the design team for the additional classrooms for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24971/23]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

421. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Government schemes and grants that are available to support companies that wish to refurbish multiple derelict or vacant properties within towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24484/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Noel Grealish

423. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funds or grants available to housing estates that wish to upgrade their sewerage treatment plant or percolation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24489/23]

State Pensions

Noel Grealish

460. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection with regard to a person who has modified PRSI contributions before paying A class contributions, if the effective date of entry into insurance for the calculation of State pension contributory can be the date that the full-rate reckonable contributions started being paid, given that the modified PRSI contributions were paid from 1981 and full-rate reckonable PRSI contributions commenced in 1988; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24250/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

746. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people on waiting lists for home support carers and funding in each month of 2022 and to date in 2023 for each LHO and CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24216/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

747. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people on waiting lists for home support carers, by length of time waiting, by LHO and CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24217/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

748. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people on waiting lists for home support funding, by length of time waiting, by LHO and CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24218/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

749. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of allocated home support hours that cannot be filled, by LHO and CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24219/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

750. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people who are currently experiencing a delay in discharge from hospital due to lack of, or delay in providing, home care or nursing home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24220/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

751. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the cost and hours of home support delivered by non-Health Service Executive (HSE) providers paid by the HSE for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24221/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

752. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the cost and hours of home support provided directly by the HSE for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24222/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

753. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of home support hours delivered nationally in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of these delivered to new home support clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24223/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

754. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people to whom home support was delivered nationally in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of these who were new home support clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24224/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

755. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the tender for home support services; if a decision has been made on the tender content; if so, if he will provide details; if he anticipates a further extension of the current contract arrangements with home care providers; when he expects the new contract arrangements to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24225/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

756. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE health care support assistants nationally, by LHO and CHO; the number of such vacant posts, by LHO and CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24226/23]

Home Care Packages

Noel Grealish

757. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to address employment issues in the home care/help sector to address home support shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24227/23]

Work Permits

Noel Grealish

758. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of non-EU carers who have taken up work permits to work in the care industry in Ireland; the total number of permits available; the reasons for the poor uptake; the steps he intends to take to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24228/23]

Health Service Executive

Noel Grealish

240. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he intends to instruct the HSE national estates to appoint one design team to deliver the model 4 hospital to UHG, to include the ED department, maternity unit, paediatric unit, cancer care centre and bedroom block; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23466/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

260. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned by the results of a recent Revenue survey which found that 30% of cigarettes smoked in Ireland are either illegal cigarettes or are being sourced by smokers from other countries; if he will take action to prevent access to and or the sale of such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22840/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

267. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the new or improved enforcement actions he proposes to take in light of a recent Revenue survey which found that 30% of cigarettes consumed in Ireland are either non-Irish-duty paid or illegal cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22841/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

268. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of a recent survey by Revenue which found that one-third of smokers purchased their cigarettes on the black market or overseas in 2022; if he will initiate a public campaign to deter the high numbers of smokers who are purchasing illegal cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22842/23]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

338. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of an approved building project for a school (details supplied) which includes five new classrooms as part of a two-storey extension; when this project will proceed to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22843/23]

International Agreements

Noel Grealish

549. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update regarding plans for a sanitary agreement to be established between Ireland and Algeria for dairy and infant formula; the engagements he or his officials have had on the matter since 2 February 2023; if he is working with the competent Algerian authority to agree timelines for the implementation of the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23127/23]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

724. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm when the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will be read at first stage in the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23132/23]

Health Services

Noel Grealish

204. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if a new primary care centre has been approved for Oranmore, County Galway; if so, when work will commence on this new primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22046/23]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

216. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision on the community recognition fund for 2023 will be announced; if the date of 6 October for the first drawdown of funds will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22048/23]

Fisheries Protection

Noel Grealish

54. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive perch in Derryclare Lough under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006, to the detriment of the marginalised native Arctic char population and other native salmonids, particularly Atlantic salmon and brown trout (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/23]

Fisheries Protection

Noel Grealish

55. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive perch in Lough Shindilla under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006, to the detriment of the marginalised native Arctic char population and native brown trout population (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20606/23]

Proposed Legislation

Noel Grealish

289. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider interim changes to the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, whereby it will allow psychotherapists to provide reports if that psychotherapist is already working with the courts under section 32(1)a, and if they are designated professionals who have practised or provided a service specifically for children or adolescents for a period of not less than five years with the ten years immediately preceding their appointment, and provided they meet all other criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20449/23]

Proposed Legislation

Noel Grealish

296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice given that the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, section 32(1)(a), allows psychotherapists to provide reports on the welfare aspect, but not section 32(1)(b) voice of the child reports, and given that it may take years for CORU to establish a register of psychotherapists, if he will consider interim changes to the Act to allow psychotherapists to provide reports if that psychotherapist is already working with the courts under section 32(1)(a), if they are designated professionals who have practised or provided a service specifically for children or adolescents for a period of not less than five years with the ten years immediately preceding their appointment, and provided they meet all other criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20604/23]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

66. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason the National Transport Authority-tender documents include provisions for hydrogen vehicles in the absence of a national strategy for hydrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19874/23]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

211. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if the 0% VAT rate for solar panels applies to water heating solar panels and electricity generating solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18973/23]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Noel Grealish

656. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how many applications for charitable status are currently pending decision, where there are no outstanding queries to be submitted by the applicant; the timeframe for a decision on applications for charitable status with no outstanding queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19026/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

206. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications given that, on 31 March 2023 Galway City Council issued an alert regarding the potential spread of the invasive quagga mussel to the Corrib system, what management plans, public notifications and risk mitigations Inland Fisheries Ireland which operates under his aegis, has put in place to prevent the spread of quagga mussel to Lough Corrib SAC and the potential ecological impact on native salmonid fish species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17534/23]

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the Claregalway Inner Relief Road; if funding will be provided from his Department for a new Claregalway Inner Relief Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17239/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

818. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that, on 31 March 2023 Galway City Council issued an alert regarding the potential spread of the invasive quagga mussel to the Corrib system, what management plans, public notifications and risk mitigations the National Parks and Wildlife Service has put in place to prevent the spread of quagga mussel to Lough Corrib SAC and the potential ecological impact on native species/habitats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17533/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Noel Grealish

1066. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if a British passport holder, who is applying for naturalisation on the basis of marriage to an Irish national must supply their original passport when making the application for naturalisation or if certified copies of the original will suffice if the passport must be provided; if there is an approximate timeframe for when the passport will be returned to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16379/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

179. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his officials in the Inland Fisheries division have immediate plans to reconstitute the Western Regional Fisheries Board to enable more effective local management of Ireland’s world famous salmonid fisheries in County Galway, in line with Ireland’s legal obligations under the EU Habitats and Water Framework Directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15061/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

180. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive perch in Lough Inagh under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006, to the detriment of the marginalised native Arctic char population and other native salmonids (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15063/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

181. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive pike in Connemara SACs under the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law No. 809 of 2006, to the detriment of native salmonids, particularly Atlantic salmon and brown trout (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15064/23]

Energy Policy

Noel Grealish

186. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of a national biomethane strategy; the expected timeline for statutory consultation and publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/23]

Energy Policy

Noel Grealish

187. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Task Force, under which auspices a biomethane working group will be tasked with developing Ireland’s national biomethane strategy, has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15319/23]

Energy Policy

Noel Grealish

188. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date regarding the establishment of a biomethane working group, which was as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15320/23]

Special Areas of Conservation

Noel Grealish

291. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his officials have future plans to delist Lough Corrib in County Galway as a special area of conservation and Natura 2000 site considering that the SAC holds a significant stock of vulnerable Atlantic salmon, EU Habitats Directive Annex II, and a unique genetic strain of brown trout, salmo ferox; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15062/23]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will sign off on the 3% pay increase for Eircom pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12681/23]

Energy Policy

Noel Grealish

261. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeline for the publication of legislation enabling additional renewable transport fuel obligation certificates to be awarded in respect of renewable transport fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12888/23]

Energy Policy

Noel Grealish

262. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will carry out a consultation process with interested parties to inform the development of regulations in relation to additional renewable transport fuel obligation certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12889/23]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 199 of 28 February, the reason a substantial part of the greater Knocknacarra area, which is serviced by a company (details supplied) is not covered by a CSO, which means that residents cannot avail of reduced fares associated with PSO services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13270/23]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

280. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport which routes on the upper Ballymoneen Road area of Galway city are operated under licence from the National Transport Authority, by Bus Éireann and a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13271/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

339. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners, in its actions to combat the illicit trade of tobacco products has conducted searches of online websites; if so, how many seizures have been made due to illegal products being sold online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13625/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

340. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have discussed partnership measures with internet companies, particularly social media platform providers, to disrupt the sale of illicit tobacco products on their platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13626/23]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

358. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he will sign off on the 3% pay increase for Eircom pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12682/23]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

690. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she will list the 58 school building projects which have been halted by her Department [13081/23]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

830. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if a self-employed person who pays S contributions and was in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment during 2020 and 2021 will have a S contribution recognised on their record for those years, retaining their full entitlement to apply for invalidity pension; the steps that self-employed persons need to undertake to retain their social welfare entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13269/23]

Courts Service

Noel Grealish

1078. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if he will review the status of experts under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, (Child's Views Expert) Regulations 2018, with a view to correcting the anomaly (details supplied) to include current practitioners, that is, psychotherapists, already working within the court services, to be included on the list of child's views experts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13251/23]

Health Services Staff

Noel Grealish

1371. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 1 March, the reason Irish citizens who accepted a place in an Irish medical school directly from the medical school rather than through a CAO offer are discriminated against when internship posts are offered, given that the work permit requirement does not apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13163/23]

Rural Schemes

Noel Grealish

1622. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grants are available to communities to refurbish parish halls; if the halls in question are owned by the parish or dioceses and not on a long-term lease to the community; the steps, if any need to be taken to ensure that communities can apply for grants in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13661/23]

School Funding

Noel Grealish

134. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm that schools will receive the minor works grant immediately to allow Boards of Management to carry out essential maintenance and minor works during summer 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11765/23]