Parliamentary questions

Legislative Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

319. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will consider the amendments made to the Wildlife Amendment Bill 2016 in Seanad Éireann; when he will complete his consideration of the Bill; when he will propose to Government that permission be sought to have this Bill restored to the order paper for Dáil Éireann’s final consideration; the reason for the four year delay in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62330/22]

School Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

353. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided to an eligible student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61799/22]

Dental Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

535. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of dentistry practices in Galway that provide dental services to medical card holders under the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61667/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

51. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends taking to ensure a more speedy delivery of the major projects outlined for Galway University Hospital in view of the critical deficiencies of the buildings there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60526/22]

Community Care

Éamon Ó Cuív

53. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends taking to ensure the HSE can deliver more rapidly on building projects, such as health centres, nursing homes and ambulance bases, for community care services under the various CHOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60527/22]

Common Fisheries Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

138. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to date regarding the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; if the reform will address the historic unequitable quota allocation to Ireland, given the percentage sea area of the EU that is in Ireland's territorial waters and the very small quota allocated to Ireland proportionally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60545/22]

Harbours and Piers

Éamon Ó Cuív

152. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to date with the dredging at Ros an Mhíl fishery harbour and the development of a deep-water pier there; when it is hoped to have a contractor on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60544/22]

Rail Network

Éamon Ó Cuív

209. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is intended to proceed with the recommendations in the strategic rail review that relates to the State once the report is completed, in view of the fact that there is no functioning Executive in Northern Ireland and the fact that other rails developments have been given the go-ahead in Ireland recently, without the rail review being completed, such as the welcome progress on the Limerick to Foynes line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61528/22]

Taxi Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

210. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the number of local area hackney licences issued and operational at this time; if it is intended to increase the area of operation from a radius of 5 km to 20 km of the operator’s home and to extend the grant eligibility to all licensees rather than a few areas, in view of the low take-up of this licence and the scattered nature of many rural areas, as was promised by a previous Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61537/22]

Artists' Remuneration

Éamon Ó Cuív

226. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that a person (details supplied) who applied for the basic income under the arts pilot scheme earlier this year was not included in the scheme; if it is intended to extend the scheme to further qualified applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61525/22]

Artists' Remuneration

Éamon Ó Cuív

227. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if all of the approved applicants for the basic income scheme under the arts pilot scheme have taken up the offer of a basic income; the number who applied and the number who were approved; if it is intended to extend the scheme to further applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61526/22]

Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal

Éamon Ó Cuív

251. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard iad na riachtanais iontrála Ghaeilge nach mór do mhac léinn a chomhlíonah chun áit a fháil ar chúrsa múinteoireachta bunscoile sna coláistí tríú leibhéal atá maoinithe ag an Stát. [61529/22]

Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal

Éamon Ó Cuív

252. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard iad na riachtanais iontrála Ghaeilge nach mór do mhac léinn a chomhlíonadh chun áit a fháil ar chúrsa múinteoireachta bunscoile sna coláistí tríú leibhéal príobháideacha ag leibhéal fo-chéimithe agus iar-chéimithe araon. [61530/22]

Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal

Éamon Ó Cuív

253. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard é an caighdeán Gaeilge nach mór a bheith ag iar-mhac léinn de na coláistí tríú leibhéal Stáit le bheith cáilithe chun feidhmiú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile i scoileanna ina múintear trí Bhéarla agus i scoileanna ina múintear trí mheán na Gaeilge. [61531/22]

Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal

Éamon Ó Cuív

254. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard é an caighdeán Gaeilge nach mór a bheith ag iar-mhac léinn de na coláistí oiliúna múinteoirí príobháideacha le bheith cáilithe chun feidhmiú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile i scoileanna ina múintear trí Bhéarla agus i scoileanna ina múintear trí mheán na Gaeilge. [61532/22]

School Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

255. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the progress made to date in providing alternative upgraded accommodation to a special school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61536/22]

An Garda Síochána

Éamon Ó Cuív

28. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if any consideration or discussion has taken place with her or with her Department in relation to arming uniformed members of an Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60518/22]

Prison Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

33. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the steps she intends taking to tackle overcrowding in our female prisons in Dublin and Limerick; if it is intended to provide an open centre with addiction support services for those for whom such a centre would be more appropriate than a conventional prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60517/22]

Departmental Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

208. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she intends providing Exchequer or licence funding to commercial radio stations that provide a designated amount of national and local news, current affairs coverage and live sport to help them fulfil their vital public service broadcasting role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60954/22]

Registration of Births

Éamon Ó Cuív

256. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when an application for a foreign birth registration will be processed (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60217/22]

Hospital Admissions

Éamon Ó Cuív

545. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently in prison, who have been referred for treatment to the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane; the longest length of time that a person has been on the list waiting for a transfer; the reason for the delay in these transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60302/22]

Hospital Admissions

Éamon Ó Cuív

546. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60303/22]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

726. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is intended to reintroduce a 16-mile exclusion zone for larger boats around the coast, particularly in view of the damage sprat fishing by larger boats is causing in Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60952/22]

Housing Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

32. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that are being proposed to the income limits for eligibility for approval on local authority housing lists; the dates when these income limits were last set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59622/22]

Local Authorities

Éamon Ó Cuív

73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made to date in reforming the method of providing Exchequer funding from his Department of local authorities for the years from 2024, taking into account the abolishment of the equalisation fund and revaluation under the local property tax; the criteria that will be used to determine the allocation to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59620/22]

Further and Higher Education

Éamon Ó Cuív

128. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it is his intention to seek a specific budget line in next year's estimates process for third level and further education through the medium of Irish in view of the legal obligations on the State arising from the enactment of the Official Languages (Amendment Act) 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59618/22]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

134. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta cad iad na céimeanna atá sé chun glacadh lena chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar dóthanach de chúrsaí rite trí mheán na Gaeilge i ngach cuid den chóras ardoideachais agus breisoideachais; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [59619/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the caravan loan scheme for Traveller families was extended nationwide; if this is based on the objective need to provide replacement caravans and new caravans for Travellers who either live in mobile homes or caravans already or due to family formation need a caravan loan now; if not, if there was a cap put on the number of caravan loan applications that could be approved by each local authority despite the fact that assessments have identified a much greater need than this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60031/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases raised by the Ombudsman with his Department in relation to Travellers living in very poor mobile homes or caravans in the past five years; the response by his Department to these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60032/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

214. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Galway City Council was instructed by his Department that it could only grant three caravan loans in 2022 despite a long-standing objective assessment that there is an immediate need for more than 20 such loans; if he intends rescinding this restriction to meet all proven demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60033/22]

School Meals Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

273. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the total underspend or overspend against the estimate provided for school meals in 2021 and to date in 2022; the reason for the variation in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60034/22]

Social Welfare Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

98. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends reforming incrementally the means testing that applies to many social welfare schemes to make it more equitable and to provide a greater incentive to save and work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59131/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

110. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the difference between the health qualifications to qualify for the invalidity pension and the disability allowance both which provide assistance to persons who can no longer work due to disability or illness; if she intends to align these to make them the same in this respect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59132/22]

Social Welfare Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

436. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) that was lodged in respect of a domiciliary care allowance will be accepted given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59324/22]

National Children's Hospital

Éamon Ó Cuív

733. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the arrangements that will be in place, if any, to offer significantly reduced or free car parking in the National Children's Hospital for families bringing children to hospital for frequent or prolonged stays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59512/22]

Tobacco Control Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

734. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if a ban on flavours, other than tobacco, will be included in the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59513/22]

Health Strategies

Éamon Ó Cuív

735. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan for 2023 onwards will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59514/22]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Éamon Ó Cuív

736. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place for persons who are living with and beyond cancer, whose fertility has been impacted by their treatment, to ensure that they will have access to publicly funded fertility treatments, such as IVF, as announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59515/22]

Departmental Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

737. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of annual inpatient cases that attended the Mater Hospital for cancer services in the years 2019 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59516/22]

Departmental Data

Éamon Ó Cuív

738. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of annual inpatient cases that attended Beaumont Hospital for cancer services in the years 2019 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59517/22]

Nursing Homes

Éamon Ó Cuív

739. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing funding for nursing home support scheme applications following the award of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59521/22]

Ukraine War

Éamon Ó Cuív

13. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops that are to be deployed as part of the Ukraine training detachment from the EU; the arrangements for their safety and security during this work; the command structure under which they will operate and if they will be operating as part of a cohesive larger EU military training mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57853/22]

Defence Forces

Éamon Ó Cuív

40. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the increase in wages that has been put in place for non-commissioned Defence Force Members since June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57854/22]

School Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

62. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of students who applied for school bus tickets for the 2022-23 academic year who have not yet received a school bus ticket; the number of these who were what is termed late eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57855/22]

School Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made to date in reforming the school bus service; the estimated cost of this service in 2022 and the provision for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57856/22]

Burial Grounds

Éamon Ó Cuív

175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of correspondence and discussions that her Department and the authorities of Dublin University Trinity College have had on the skulls illegally removed from Inishbofin, County Galway in the 19th century and that are now in Trinity College; if she has advised that these human remains should be returned to the island for reburial in the place they were taken from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58576/22]

Education Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

217. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the entitlement that students in primary school have in cases in which there is suspected dyslexia, to a professional assessment through the primary school system to ascertain if the students is dyslexic or not; the waiting times for such assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58562/22]

Education Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if there is a limit to the number of pupils that can be referred by each primary school each year for a professional assessment and diagnosis for dyslexia; if so, the reason for same in view of the long-term implications for the students involved if they do not get an early diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58579/22]

Visa Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

292. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the reason that stamp 0 visas are not issued for three to five years as was the case previously in cases in which the circumstances justify same which would reduce the number of renewal applications in the system and lead to a more streamlined service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58577/22]

Medical Cards

Éamon Ó Cuív

312. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will consider granting a medical card to all children for whom the domiciliary care allowance is payable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58578/22]