Parliamentary questions

School Admissions

Sorca Clarke

504. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of a child (details supplied) who is living in the village of Dunmore who did not get a school place for next year in a school; if she will provide a solution to this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12773/24]

School Admissions

Sorca Clarke

505. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will increase funding and resources for a school (details supplied) to ensure that no child is left without an appropriate school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12774/24]

Planning Issues

Sorca Clarke

630. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide an update on an application (details supplied) in relation to an extension for a house under disability grounds. [11918/24]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

686. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of single rural houses provided, by each local authority in the past ten years, in tabular form. [12924/24]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

757. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are in place for small schools that are unable to source a supplier for the hot school meals programme due to suppliers deeming it as an uneconomical move for their business; her plans to ensure that each school approved for the hot school meals programme receives these meals in due course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12554/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

935. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 462 on 13 February 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [12600/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

936. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of new vehicles added to the Garda roads policing unit fleet in 2023 and to-date in 2024; the number of vehicles withdrawn from the Garda roads policing unit fleet during the same period, in tabular form. [12601/24]

Departmental Funding

Sorca Clarke

1142. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount allocated for service provisions in St. Christopher’s, Longford, per heading for 2021, 2022, and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12245/24]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

1143. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current vacancies per role for St. Christopher’s in Longford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12246/24]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

1187. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any site or property in Coole is being considered for an IPAS accommodation centre; if information will be provided on any new potential arrivals arriving to Coole in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12925/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

1431. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE lactation consultants based in CHO8 in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [12603/24]

Healthcare Policy

Sorca Clarke

1432. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to develop a model of care for people with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder; and if there is a clinical lead within the HSE. [12604/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

1433. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE general practitioners based in the accident and emergency department in Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the hours and days of the week where the GP is on site within the accident and emergency department, in tabular form. [12605/24]

Legislative Measures

Sorca Clarke

1434. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current status of the health (amendment) (licensing of home support providers) Bill. [12606/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

1435. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacancies by job title at St. Joseph's Campus, Longford; and the estimated timeframe for which these vacancies are expected to be filled, in tabular form. [12607/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

1436. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE cleft nurse specialists at CHI Temple Street in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased in 2024. [12608/24]

Mental Health Services

Sorca Clarke

1457. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to explain in detail the decision to withdraw funding for the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme for 2024; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12755/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

229. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that there are no further delays to the tender process at Harold's Cross Educate Together school; and if she can give a precise date on when we can expect the construction to commence. [11458/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

230. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the progress on the school building of a permanent school building at Harold's Cross Educate Together; the status of the tendering process; and the timeframe for the completion of the build. [11459/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

84. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education how much money was allocated per county and the amount of funding that was allocated to primary schools under PE grants for 2023, 2022 and 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10881/24]

Fire Service

Sorca Clarke

110. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the pay negotiations of the retained fire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10886/24]

Local Authorities

Sorca Clarke

111. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in tabular form, per local authority, the value of the contracts for street light maintenance for 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10887/24]

Local Authorities

Sorca Clarke

112. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what additional financial support will be provided to Westmeath County Council in response to the unauthorised financial transactions by a third party, amounting to in excess of €500,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10888/24]

Road Traffic Offences

Sorca Clarke

133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of static roadside speed cameras that detected excessive speeding in County Longford for 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10884/24]

Road Traffic Offences

Sorca Clarke

134. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of static roadside speed cameras that detected excessive speeding in County Westmeath for 2023, 2022 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10885/24]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

182. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff vacancies per department in the Phoenix Centre in Longford town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10882/24]

Public Parks

Sorca Clarke

236. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development in tabular form per county, the number and value of playground grants provided for 2023, 2022 and 2021. [10883/24]

Bullying in Educational Institutions

Sorca Clarke

326. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the national action plan on bullying. [10679/24]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

597. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many international protection applicants are currently being accommodated in County Longford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10701/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

189. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will pause the new planned changes to the special education teacher allocation until such time as comprehensive engagement has been had with parents of autistic children and parents of children with complex needs. [9827/24]

Housing Schemes

Sorca Clarke

220. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legislation under which an EU/EEA national, habitually resident in Ireland for five years, is required to provide documentary evidence of having worked for 52 weeks in the State and have a minimum of 52 weeks PRSI contributions and/or show evidence of current employment where they pay PRSI contributions to be eligible to apply for social housing support. [9826/24]

Road Projects

Sorca Clarke

132. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding that has been allocated to County Offaly on an annual basis from central government to Offaly County Council from January 2020 to date for the repair, upgrade and maintenance of roads in the county; the amount spent by Offaly County Council annually during this same period on the county's roads in the local electoral areas of Edenderry, Tullamore and Birr; and what amount, if any, has been returned unspent or used for other infrastructural projects by the council since 2020, in tabular form. [9373/24]

Road Projects

Sorca Clarke

133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding his Department intends to allocate in 2024 to maintain, repair and upgrade roads in County Offaly in each of the three local electoral areas of Edenderry, Tullamore and Birr; and what plans his Department has to address to the appalling state of the roads throughout the county, particularly in north Offaly, which are among the worst in the State, in tabular form. [9374/24]

Medical Cards

Sorca Clarke

486. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the medical cards of persons (details supplied) are due to expire. [8673/24]

Energy Conservation

Sorca Clarke

145. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households, per county, who are currently approved for works under the warmer homes scheme for which the works have yet to commence. [8107/24]

Energy Conservation

Sorca Clarke

146. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households approved for works under the warmer homes scheme, in tabular form per county for the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024. [8108/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

319. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of new schools building projects, in tabular form per county, that are currently awaiting Departmental approval to include the envisaged capacity of each. [8095/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

320. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if the co-ordinator for the summer programme will continue for the programme this coming summer; and if they are available to support both Special Schools and mainstream schools to provide a school-based programme. [8096/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

321. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education given the new special education teacher allocation model which now excludes complex needs, if children with complex needs will remain eligible for the summer programme. [8097/24]

School Enrolments

Sorca Clarke

322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what arrangements are being made to ensure that the parents of children with autism in the Taghmon area of Westmeath will have an appropriate school place for September in light of the second autism class for a school (details supplied) not proceeding. [8098/24]

School Enrolments

Sorca Clarke

323. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she is considering actioning a section 67 of the Education Act 2018, to designate a school place to the children with autism who will not have a place in a school (details supplied) this September due to a proposed second autism class not proceeding. [8099/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

324. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the SNA allocations for the school year 2024/2025. [8109/24]

Local Authorities

Sorca Clarke

359. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant posts in local authorities, in tabular form per department. [8105/24]

Homeless Persons Supports

Sorca Clarke

360. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current members of the midlands regional homeless forum. [8106/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

636. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list, per area of need, for the Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [8100/24]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

637. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current level of vacancies per department in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [8101/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

638. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list per hospital in tabular form, for gynaecology for both inpatient and outpatient appointments. [8102/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

639. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 16 who are currently waiting on dental surgery per hospital, in tabular form. [8103/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

640. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists in tabular form per county for dental treatment. [8104/24]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when she intends to bring the school transport review to Cabinet. [6708/24]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

65. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will carry out a full and comprehensive review of the pay and working conditions of school bus escorts. [6201/24]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

67. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what engagements she has had with the State Examinations Commission with regard to the oral examinations due to take place over the Easter break. [6202/24]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

79. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the school transport review. [6205/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

89. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of requests to the financial support services unit by primary schools in 2023 for additional funding; and the value of the funding. provided. [6206/24]

Official Engagements

Sorca Clarke

140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to invite his Swedish counterpart to Dublin in 2024. [6225/24]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

182. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of qualified avionics technicians and cadet pilots in training currently within the Air Corps. [6213/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

279. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of autism and special education class spaces currently in Kilkenny; and the number of spaces expected to be in place in Kilkenny in August 2024. [6216/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

280. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the school building programme in County Roscommon. [6217/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

281. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of special educational needs organisers currently in place in Kerry. [6218/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

282. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to construction commencing on site. [6219/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

283. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of WTE educational psychologists attached to north-west/north midlands region in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [6220/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

284. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to construction commencing on site. [6221/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

285. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to tender stage of works. [6222/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

303. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of the new and revised subjects with regard to the senior cycle redevelopment (details supplied) that are intended to be rolled out in 2025. [6444/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

304. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will explain in detail how the introduction and revision of nine subjects is intended to alleviate pressure for students sitting the Leaving Certificate. [6445/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

305. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to explain in detail what the externally assessed components that are not a traditional written examination to be incorporated in the senior cycle will look like in practice; and when they are planned to take place, if not in June. [6446/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

306. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when in 2026 the second tranche of revised subjects will be introduced, and what these subjects are expected to be. [6447/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

307. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she can provide an update on the research that is being conducted by the SEC on the potential role and impact of generative artificial intelligence in teacher-based assessment; when she expects this research to be completed and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6448/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

308. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she can present a schedule of the phases or tranches over which all senior cycle subjects will be revised. [6449/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

355. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the reason for reducing the criteria for the allocation of SET hours to schools from five to three for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6654/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

356. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to explain in detail the decision to remove gender and complex needs as a category when calculating the allocation for each school; what benefits she expects to see from this change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6655/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

357. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she can outline any problems that may arise as a result of not taking the complex needs of students into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6656/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

358. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if the additional supports that may be required by children experiencing homelessness, children living in areas with high levels of crime, children in care or residential settings, new entrant pupils and other pupils who do not speak English as a first language were taken into consideration when revising this model. [6657/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

359. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the basis for the removal of the CDNTS’s recommendations. [6658/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

360. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the criteria for prioritising literacy and numeracy profiles of schools estimated from the results of standardised testing. [6659/24]

Culture Policy

Sorca Clarke

367. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she last met the CEO of the National Concert Hall; and when she is next scheduled to meet the CEO. [6227/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Sorca Clarke

393. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE conservation rangers attached to the National Parks and Wildlife Service as of 6 February 2024; and if he will provide the same figures as of 1 February 2021, in tabular form. [6226/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Sorca Clarke

437. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost if the fuel allowance was increased by a further two weeks. [6214/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Sorca Clarke

438. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the maximum rate of disability allowance and State pension contribution by €14 per week from 1 September 2024. [6215/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

462. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank attached to the Garda water unit as of 2 February 2024; and if she will provide same figures as of 1 March 2021, in tabular form. [6223/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Sorca Clarke

540. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider deferring the forthcoming referenda on family and care to permit further and better debate and discussion on the subject matter in view of the very short timeframe allowed for debate. [6468/24]

Period Poverty

Sorca Clarke

128. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on any recent engagements with the inter-Departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group; and the details of any progress that has been made to implement the recommendations of the discussion paper. [5463/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

167. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education as per the Cycle Against Suicide campaign, if she will consider reviewing schools’ wellbeing curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4981/24]

Sports Organisations

Sorca Clarke

230. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans she has to reduce the inequalities that exist between male and female players in an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5415/24]

Sports Organisations

Sorca Clarke

231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress that has been made to balance the total number of male and female athletes participating in gaelic games, balanced media coverage, the attendance levels at matches and equal representation across county boards; the amount of funding that has gone towards this in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5416/24]

Olympic Games

Sorca Clarke

232. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of women and men accredited to the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games in key network operation centre leadership roles (details supplied) in 2016, and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5417/24]

Prison Service

Sorca Clarke

361. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the ratio of psychologists to prisoners, per prison at the end of 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5419/24]

Prison Service

Sorca Clarke

362. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners on waiting lists to access prison psychology services and addiction services in 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5420/24]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Sorca Clarke

363. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the total number of women’s refuges across the island of Ireland, per county; the names of the services; the amount of funding that has been made available to these services in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5433/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

364. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the total number of emergency phone calls received by An Garda Síochána relating to domestic violence in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5435/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

520. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health how many speech and language therapists are currently working in each health district; how many positions are currently vacant; and how current number compare to each of the past five years. [5221/24]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

545. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the supports that are available to people who are dealing with sudden and traumatic deaths of a friend or family member. [5436/24]

Period Poverty

Sorca Clarke

547. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the HSE period poverty scheme. [5462/24]

Period Poverty

Sorca Clarke

548. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the supports and funding available to those who are experiencing period poverty, particularly those who are homeless, those living with addiction, minorities including Travellers, Roma and refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5464/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

316. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice how many gardaí in County Longford have successfully completed the CBD2 competency-based driving training 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4681/24]

Departmental Meetings

Sorca Clarke

59. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of requests for a meeting made to her Department by an organisation (details supplied), by year, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and how many meetings have taken place, in tabular form, per year, for the same period. [4584/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

60. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what representative groups were engaged with in the production of the new guidelines on restraint and seclusion. [4585/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

259. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of phasing out public subsidies to private schools. [3738/24]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Sorca Clarke

260. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing class sizes in primary schools that will bring Ireland into line with our EU counterparts. [3739/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

274. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress made in relation to guidance counsellors for post primary schools in the context of the public consultation on the national policy group on lifelong guidance. [3933/24]