Parliamentary questions

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

659. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the monetary value of crack cocaine seized by gardaí in the Roscommon-Longford and Westmeath Garda divisions in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [10068/22]

Healthcare Policy

Sorca Clarke

736. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the community healthcare networks supporting the expansion of services based on the need and size of local populations as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9341/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Sorca Clarke

881. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the public hospitals that have the facility to take DEXA scans; the number of these DEXA scanners in each of those hospitals in question in tabular form. [10064/22]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

882. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent respiratory physiotherapists working in the Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [10065/22]

Horse Racing Industry

Sorca Clarke

917. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has explored the potential development of the harness racing sector as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10061/22]

Departmental Staff

Sorca Clarke

918. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time forestry inspectors and full-time ecologists recruited by his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [10076/22]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

291. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8865/22]

Travel Documents

Sorca Clarke

557. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the current turnaround times for the renewal of travel documents issued under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention; the number of applications currently being processed; and the number due to be renewed in 2022. [7484/22]

Travel Documents

Sorca Clarke

558. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the facility that is in place in cases in which an applicant needs to travel aboard during the travel document renewal process for medical treatment given an application for the renewal of travel documents issued under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention requires the return of the current travel document. [7485/22]

Travel Documents

Sorca Clarke

559. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the time period before the expiration of travel documents issued under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention. [7487/22]

Common Agricultural Policy

Sorca Clarke

110. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals within the CAP strategic plan to support women in agriculture. [7002/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Sorca Clarke

159. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to support producers of hemp in the State. [7001/22]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sorca Clarke

35. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement he has had with small to medium enterprises to help them reduce their carbon emissions and prepare for a greener future. [7107/22]

Cybersecurity Policy

Sorca Clarke

47. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures taken to increase Ireland’s cyber-security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7108/22]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

84. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if his Department is undertaking a feasibility study on the future use of Cathal Brugha Barracks as correspondence confirms that the Land Development Agency is not; if his attention has been drawn to that the fact that it has been confirmed that the Land Development Agency has not had engaged with his Department or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6958/22]

Environmental Schemes

Sorca Clarke

207. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if successful applicants under the Just Transition Fund have been issued with funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6764/22]

Driver Test

Sorca Clarke

231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driving test in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6446/22]

Driver Test

Sorca Clarke

232. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driving test in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6447/22]

Bus Éireann

Sorca Clarke

233. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he has had any engagement with Transport for Ireland on the reintroduction of the 20/X20 Bus Éireann service between Galway and Dublin given the increased demand for public transport services along this route as the return to the workplace commences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6448/22]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

263. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of the work carried out at Athlone Garda station, County Westmeath; the length of time this work took to complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/22]

Official Engagements

Sorca Clarke

381. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with the Myanmar National Unity Government since the European Parliament recognised it as the legitimate government of Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6445/22]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

435. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made on establishing an education research and policy section within her Department tasked with ensuring that education policy development in Ireland is informed by a strong evidence base, is outcome focused and cognisant of best international practices as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6453/22]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

436. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if the new primary school healthy eating education programme as outlined in the Programme for Government has commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6454/22]

Third Level Staff

Sorca Clarke

516. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has implemented the senior academic leadership initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6455/22]

Departmental Reviews

Sorca Clarke

517. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the review and update of the International Education Strategy for Ireland as proposed in the Programme for Government has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6456/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sorca Clarke

806. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE staff redeployed to Covid-19 community assessment hubs for the first five months of the pandemic will be eligible for the €1,000 bonus proposed for frontline healthcare staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6761/22]

Healthcare Policy

Sorca Clarke

807. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has begun collating data on those suffering from long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6762/22]

Brexit Issues

Sorca Clarke

846. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his engagements with his counterpart in Northern Ireland since the order to stop checks on certain goods at ports in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6763/22]

Social Welfare Schemes

Sorca Clarke

99. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) while born abroad and is now an Irish citizen with a full employment record, was asked to provide documentation submitted to the Garda National Immigration Bureau while applying for paternity benefit given that their contribution record would be on file with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59978/21]

Social Welfare Schemes

Sorca Clarke

102. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of paternity benefit applications received since introduction; the number approved; and the number rejected by county in tabular form. [59977/21]

Land Issues

Sorca Clarke

247. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason notice has been given that there will be restricted access to Columb Barracks, Mullingar; and the reason this was not communicated in a manner that ensured each of the community groups that operated from the barracks had the information prior to it being released to the public given the situation that has transpired has created uncertainty, a lack of trust and a perceived breach of agreement between the groups and Departments. [5568/22]

Land Issues

Sorca Clarke

248. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the restricted hours regarding access to Columb Barracks are being currently negotiated; the person or body with whom they are being negotiated; when they were negotiated; the criteria that are being used; and the way the valued and valuable community groups who work with and provide services to persons in need across the town and district can actively participate and feed into a final decision. [5570/22]

Local Authorities

Sorca Clarke

256. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are mandated to conduct surveys on wildlife, flora and fauna. [5735/22]

Wildlife Protection

Sorca Clarke

257. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of wildlife surveys conducted in counties Longford and Westmeath in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and the basis of these surveys. [5736/22]

Departmental Properties

Sorca Clarke

271. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the reason notice has been given that there will be restricted access to Columb Barracks, Mullingar; and the reason this was not communicated in a manner that ensured each of the community groups that operated from the barracks had the information prior to it being released to the public given the situation that has transpired has created uncertainty, a lack of trust and a perceived breach of agreement between the groups and Departments. [5567/22]

Departmental Properties

Sorca Clarke

272. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if the restricted hours regarding access to Columb Barracks are being currently negotiated; the person or body with whom they are being negotiated; when they were negotiated; the criteria that is being used; and the way the valued and valuable community groups who work with and provide services to persons in need across the town and district can actively participate and feed into a final decision at the earliest opportunity. [5569/22]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

297. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools in County Westmeath with an ASD unit; if a list of the schools will be provided; the number of children on a waiting list for those schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5733/22]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

298. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools in County Longford with an ASD unit; if a list of the schools will be provided; the number of children on a waiting list for those schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5734/22]

Programme for Government

Sorca Clarke

187. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the well-being indicators referred to in the Programme for Government to point out inequalities and help ensure that policies are driven by a desire to do better by persons. [5148/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Sorca Clarke

206. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had to date with the SME growth task force proposed in the programme for government. [5151/22]

Transport Policy

Sorca Clarke

247. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the pilot scheme proposed in the programme for Government to examine the potential for ride sharing apps to improve rural connectivity. [5149/22]

Insurance Industry

Sorca Clarke

282. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance if an office has been established within Government tasked with encouraging greater competition in the Irish insurance market as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5152/22]

Tourism Industry

Sorca Clarke

318. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress to date with the proposed Irish Sea way along the east and south-east coast to boost tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5153/22]

Third Level Education

Sorca Clarke

590. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement he has had to date with further and higher education institutions to put in place a strategy to develop new fast-track, mid-career educational models that can meet the rapidly evolving needs of the new economy as per the programme for Government. [5150/22]

Hospital Services

Sorca Clarke

658. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in the north east, that is, Drogheda and Cavan and Tullamore, County Offaly that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4379/22]

Hospital Charges

Sorca Clarke

815. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the in-hospital charges for children will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5154/22]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

94. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the engagements and progress made in relation to the Women of Honour. [3831/22]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

125. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to immediately increase the allocated associated budget given the recent commentary regarding the Defence Forces rations and the increasing cost of food. [3833/22]

International Agreements

Sorca Clarke

145. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the role the Naval Service will have in the recently announced Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin Marine Protected Area and the North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy to 2030. [3832/22]

Media Pluralism

Sorca Clarke

63. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the response by her Department on the challenges facing local media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3784/22]