Parliamentary questions

Banking Sector

Willie O'Dea

111. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the action he proposes to take to ensure there is a safety net for consumers in the event of electronic banking or the payments infrastructure being impacted by outages or cyberattacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4254/24]

Tax Credits

Willie O'Dea

155. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the number of eligible claims currently being made for the rent tax credit made in counties Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, Cork and Kerry, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4253/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

301. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the carer's allowance was payable to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4682/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Willie O'Dea

215. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance when the income tax office in Limerick city will be open to the public again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3816/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Willie O'Dea

550. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health why frontline workers, who were employed as drivers and receptionists with the midwest region's out of hours GP service Shannon Doc at the height of the pandemic, are not eligible for the pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4123/24]

Addiction Treatment Services

Willie O'Dea

572. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a community (details supplied) which provides residential addiction service to vulnerable women and children in collaboration with HSE Mid-West at Westbourne House, Limerick city, requires an alternative property; what efforts have been made to identify and provide a suitable residential premises to ensure that the service continues uninterrupted after December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4286/24]

Ukraine War

Willie O'Dea

35. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to Russia's intensification of its war against Ukraine over the new year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3006/24]

EU Enlargement

Willie O'Dea

74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on the discussion of the opening of EU accession talks at the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3005/24]

Public Sector Pay

Willie O'Dea

240. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will consider reintroducing the allowance for teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools, particularly in light of the significant difficulties faced in filling vacant positions in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3484/24]

Medical Inquiries

Willie O'Dea

354. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a Chair will be appointed to the promised inquiry into sodium valproate in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3512/24]

Driver Test

Willie O'Dea

194. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport the reason the RSA stated that an individual (details supplied) had not completed stage 1 CPC theory test, which they had actually passed for C vehicles in 2009 and D vehicles in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3060/24]

School Funding

Willie O'Dea

308. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if there any plans to provide similar funding to all schools who applied to develop projects to engage pupils in science, technology, engineering and maths in preparation for the changes to the curriculum in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2984/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

391. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2586/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

223. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2147/24]

Pension Provisions

Willie O'Dea

225. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2170/24]

Ambulance Service

Willie O'Dea

306. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who is a quadriplegic living at home and needs to attend hospital regularly via ambulance, cannot source an ambulance, and as a result they have already missed crucial medical appointments because they cannot get the necessary ambulance transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2146/24]

School Funding

Willie O'Dea

589. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if there will be a further round of funding allocations for the unsuccessful STEM learning grant applicants, particularly for DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1025/24]

School Staff

Willie O'Dea

625. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 10 October 2023, if she will respond to the issues raised as regards an improved pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1377/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

853. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a claim was cancelled after ten years, when the child (details supplied) in question still has the same diagnoses as they did ten years ago; if she will reinstate this claim immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56284/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

956. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is only receiving €188 per week when they have three children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1376/24]

Ambulance Service

Willie O'Dea

1557. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) who is a quadriplegic, living at home and needs to attend hospital regularly via ambulance, cannot source an ambulance. [56837/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Willie O'Dea

1682. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason frontline employees of an organisation (details supplied) who were drivers and regularly collected essential care workers and service users from their homes at the height of the pandemic are not eligible for the pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1348/24]

Disability Services

Willie O'Dea

74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the six new assessment hubs to streamline the assessment of needs process will be established to relieve pressure on service delivery, as set out in the Roadmap to improve Children’s Disability Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55522/23]

Disability Services

Willie O'Dea

98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline in detail the significant staff development, retention and recruitment actions that his Department will take to improve children’s disability services, as set out in the recent Roadmap to improve Children’s Disability Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55523/23]

Consular Services

Willie O'Dea

144. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the circumstances in correspondence (details supplied), anything can be done to assist a person to be relocated to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55921/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Willie O'Dea

157. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity appeal (details supplied) by a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55823/23]

Driver Test

Willie O'Dea

200. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) who applied for a CPC was informed by the RSA that they had not completed the stage 1 CPC theory test which they passed for C vehicles in 2009 and D vehicles in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54487/23]

Visa Applications

Willie O'Dea

529. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on a visa application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54691/23]

Visa Applications

Willie O'Dea

530. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an appeal in relation to a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54693/23]

Housing Schemes

Willie O'Dea

42. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his target for assistance to restore properties through the vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53879/23]

Housing Schemes

Willie O'Dea

62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to extend access to local authority home loans to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/23]

Departmental Schemes

Willie O'Dea

123. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection about the free travel scheme and the introduction of booking fees of between €2-€10 by private transport companies for some passengers who avail of the scheme; if she plans to tackle this to ensure that public transport remains free for those who are eligible for the free travel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53906/23]

Bereavement Leave

Willie O'Dea

151. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has looked into providing a statutory bereavement leave and the costs associated with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53905/23]

Health Strategies

Willie O'Dea

333. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the Government intends to become a signatory to the WHO Pandemic Treaty (details supplied); if he will commit to putting this matter to the people in a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54385/23]

Prison Visiting Committees

Willie O'Dea

120. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice when members of prison visiting committees will receive their travel expenses after each prison visit; the reason for the delay in making the payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53951/23]

School Staff

Willie O'Dea

234. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the payments for teachers and SNAs who provided the July Provision Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53334/23]

School Curriculum

Willie O'Dea

82. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education for an update on the additional allocation for curricular reforms, including funding for the accelerated roll out of the senior cycle redevelopment programme and the delivery of additional physical activity initiatives in schools that she announced as part of budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52747/23]

Education Welfare Service

Willie O'Dea

124. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education for an update on the additional allocation for social inclusion measures, including enhancing the capacity of the Tusla education support services and additional educational welfare officer posts that she announced as part of Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52748/23]

Ukraine War

Willie O'Dea

161. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is confident that the European Union's support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49943/23]

Ukraine War

Willie O'Dea

182. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a report on his recent discussions with the Chinese foreign minister in relation to Russia’s war on Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49944/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

349. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the application on a funeral grant for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51869/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

351. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on the application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51885/23]

Childcare Services

Willie O'Dea

502. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider removing the requirement for crèche operators to have professionally produced accounts; if he will consider increasing funding to the sector, particularly to small independent operators, in order to keep pace with the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52144/23]

Disability Services

Willie O'Dea

635. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will consider increasing accessibility to adult ADHD support services by allowing for a more inclusive diagnostic process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52398/23]

Universal Social Charge

Willie O'Dea

96. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the number of earners in counties Limerick, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/23]

Tax Data

Willie O'Dea

137. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers in counties Limerick, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford claiming the rent tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51217/23]

Departmental Policies

Willie O'Dea

164. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to ban sulky races, particularly in light of the recent sulky races which took place on a public road in Limerick, which caused significant danger to other road users and resulted in cruelty to the horses involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51658/23]

Health Services Staff

Willie O'Dea

322. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will consider lifting the recently announced HSE recruitment freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51659/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Willie O'Dea

323. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the proposal to develop a 'surgical hub' in Limerick; the location of the preferred site; when he expects it to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51660/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

102. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a working family payment application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51228/23]