Parliamentary questions

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

425. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 23 January 2024, to list in tabular form the 103 new post-primary schools and 90 newly-established multi-denominational schools referenced, providing school roll numbers for all schools identified. [13983/24]

Mayoral Election

Patrick Costello

653. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a referendum on a directly elected mayor for Dublin will take place on the same day as the 2024 local elections. [14575/24]

Wildlife Regulations

Patrick Costello

666. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many bird of prey licences were issued for taking birds from the wild from 2014 to date; and the breakdown of taking birds from the wild licences for each of those years, by species, gender and by location, in tabular form. [14717/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

893. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the work of the Prison Overcrowding Response Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14628/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

894. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice her views on the increasing number of prisoners on remand in prisons here; the steps she is taking to tackle this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14629/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

919. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the actions being taken by her Department to alleviate overcrowding in the prison system; and the estimated timeline for returning the population to uniform single capacity cells and the use of community based sentencing to address this problem. [15030/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

1232. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if the National Gender Service believes that trans people need to be in their mid- to late twenties before they are mature enough to decide to pursue medical transition, as per a recent radio interview (details supplied). [13698/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

1233. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the reason that in a recent radio interview (details supplied), National Gender Service staff considered the process to access hormones via Tavistock to be too easy. [13699/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

1234. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if, following a recent radio interview (details supplied), the National Gender Service staff believe asexuals are entitled to the same medical care and at the same age as all other sexualities. [13700/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

1235. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if, when writing the Chief Clinical Officer's business case "Model of Care and Implementation Plan for Transgender care", it was intended that service users could be excluded from the Advisory Group due to their interest in their own healthcare being considered purely ideological. [13701/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

1236. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health what consultation was done with the trans community before abandoning the Programme for Government's commitment to WPATH as per a recent article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13702/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

53. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Ireland plans to recommit personnel to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mission. [13141/24]

Traffic Management

Patrick Costello

85. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the level of engagement that the Department have had with local authorities regarding new rules which provide for zebra crossings without Belisha beacons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13171/24]

Bus Services

Patrick Costello

121. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the implementation of the BusConnects project. [13140/24]

Northern Ireland

Patrick Costello

64. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if in line with the recent report of Operation Kenova in Northern Ireland, he will advocate for a national day of commemoration on 21 June, for all of those who lost their lives during the Troubles on the islands of Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12458/24]

Middle East

Patrick Costello

80. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's position on the Egyptian authorities charging Gazans thousands of dollars to gain entry to their state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/24]

Litter Pollution

Patrick Costello

125. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for a breakdown of the amount of funding drawn down by each local authority from the anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness grant scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13133/24]

Public Transport

Patrick Costello

173. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the plans to deal with the provision of increased public transport in Dublin 8, particularly around Kilmainham-Inchicore which suffers from severe traffic congestion and proposed large housing developments which will bring additional demand to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12464/24]

Aviation Industry

Patrick Costello

215. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline any approaches or negotiations engaged in by Ireland with other EU Member States to waive the exemption on aviation fuel tax for intra-community flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11532/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patrick Costello

358. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for a timeline for the commencement and completion of works for a school (details supplied) which was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in April 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/24]

Education Policy

Patrick Costello

476. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when her Department will seek to establish a gaelcholáiste in Dublin 8, given the number of feeder primary schools which have no geographically near Irish medium secondary school to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12522/24]

State Bodies

Patrick Costello

635. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the LDA intends to use the Davitt Road site in Drimnagh for housing which was previously earmarked for a primary health care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12025/24]

Local Authorities

Patrick Costello

705. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update in relation to the negotiations between him and the Minister for Rural and Community Development about hiring more dog wardens; how many additional dog warden positions will be created; where these positions will be assigned; how much additional funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/24]

Residency Permits

Patrick Costello

803. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the total number of instances where a fee of €300 was paid for the issuing of an IRP (formerly GNIB) card (including both registration and renewal) in the whole of 2023 and the total income from this activity. [11636/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

939. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the cultural audit of the IPS 2023 scheduled for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12675/24]

Asylum Seekers

Patrick Costello

966. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice what bespoke scheme, if any, exists for Palestinians fleeing the conflict in Gaza to come to Ireland. [13128/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

997. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in what areas of the country is the greyhound racing industry one of the few meaningful sources of employment, as claimed in an industry-commissioned report published in 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12199/24]

Horticulture Sector

Patrick Costello

1038. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded/confirmed dates of fireblight erwinia amylovora infections detections by his Department to date, per county; the steps his Department is taking to contain the spread of any further infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12826/24]

Healthcare Policy

Patrick Costello

1236. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the position for an update in relation to the HSE-led implementation group considering the Joint Committee on Health report on the proposed legislative recommendations in the Marie O'Shea report; how many times have the group met since being established; who are the members of the group; to identify the ten work-streams identified by the group; when the draft implementation action plan is likely to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11643/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1237. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to provide a timeline as to when the remaining two maternity hospitals are due to be in a position to offer full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1238. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to provide an update in relation to the progression of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023; and can he confirm that this bill will be completed in the lifetime of this current Dáil term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1239. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to clarify if the mandatory three-day waiting period before being able to access abortion services will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11647/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1240. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to clarify whether there are any penalties or complaints procedures in place in relation to healthcare workers causing wilful delay or obstruction to women seeking to access abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11648/24]

Primary Care Centres

Patrick Costello

1325. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will announce a timeline for construction of the new primary health centre, including when a planning application will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12024/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1520. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses for the Dublin south central area; the number of vacancies; the population of children in the catchment area of each; the average wait time to get an appointment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13132/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1571. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog wardens employed in each local authority in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13138/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1572. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will increase funding available to the dog control units of local authorities to hire additional dog wardens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13139/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1596. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update in relation to the negotiations between her and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about hiring more dog wardens; how many additional dog warden positions will be created; where these positions will be assigned; how much additional funding will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13151/24]

Energy Policy

Patrick Costello

148. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the eligibility rules will be published for the home energy upgrade loan scheme, and the expected timeline from submitting the application to drawing down the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

165. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the last five years who have purchased their way out of the Defence Forces, in tabular form; the cost of this by individual, presented in bands of €5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11202/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

166. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the past five years who have purchased their way out of the Defence Forces, by rank, in tabular form. [11205/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

167. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the past five years who began training with the Defences Forces but left prior to completing it, and the amount paid by them, in bands of €5,000. [11206/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

170. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the rationale, timeline of meetings and decisions in the lead up to and current withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

171. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force given the increasing tension and potential for conflict in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11336/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

172. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the Reserve Defence Force recruitment competition; the number of recruitment liaison officers currently working on the reserve recruitment competition; the Reserve Defence Force's role in the future plans for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11337/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

173. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to clarify whether personnel leaving the Permanent Defence Force are able to join the Reserve Defence Force while retaining the rank they previously held in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

174. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to comment on the medical resources currently assigned to the Reserve Defence Force and the issues highlighted in the past with a lack of resourcing resulting in slow progression of applications; what measure he will take to ensure efficient progression of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the work undertaken by the Office of Reserve Affairs to strengthen the Reserve Defence Force; the number of staff currently working in the Office of Reserve Affairs; the number of vacancies currently within the Office of Reserve Affairs; to clarify whether the Office of Reserve Affairs will only be staffed by current and former Defence Forces personnel or also civilian staff; the timeline on the delivery of the Office of Reserve Affairs regeneration plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11340/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

176. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider changing the application for former Defence Forces members to join First Line Reserve and extending the window of opportunity in which former members could apply rather than only being asked during their retirement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11341/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

177. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason he believes the number of former officers who were members of the Defence Forces First Line Reserve dropped sharply since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11342/24]