Parliamentary questions

Grant Payments

Brendan Howlin

1423. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine an application for a SUSI grant in respect of a person (details supplied), whose parents are long time separated without a legal separation, who reside separately but whose documentation has not been accepted by SUSI as proving this; if he will accept the documentation provided as sufficient proof of separate living; if he will ensure that this application is processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35632/23]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Howlin

42. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will set out the number of officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to his Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and any changes in the number notified in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34626/23]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Howlin

43. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish diplomatic and support staff assigned to the Irish Embassy in Moscow; if there have been any changes in this number in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34628/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Brendan Howlin

44. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the budget for overseas development assistance in 2022, and the expected amount in 2023; the proportion of GNI that has been committed; if he will provide a breakdown of the various programmes under which ODA is spent; the amount assigned to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34642/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

59. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current annual training capacity for the Defence Forces; how many new entrants were trained in each year since 2016, broken down by service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34635/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

60. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current establishment strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

61. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many personnel left the Defence Forces in each year since 2016, in tabular form, broken down by officers and other ranks; how many have left in 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34637/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

62. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of housing units available within the Defence Forces; the capacity of the existing housing quarters; how many are unoccupied; how many are deemed unsuitable; how many will be renovated in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

63. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current allowances for security and other defence duties; the value of each; when those were last increased; the value of the increase; the number of recipients of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34639/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

64. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what plans for procurement of new equipment and capabilities are in place for 2023; if he will outline the plan for the purchase of new ships over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34640/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

65. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if work has commenced on the procurement of primary and coastal radar; if he will outline his plans for same; the projected budget for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34641/23]

EU Regulations

Brendan Howlin

105. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date in respect of the expansion of the Covid-19 temporary framework with regard to state aid rules; the current view of the European Commission on state aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34629/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

164. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 13 December 2022, concerning payment of carer's allowance to a person (details supplied); if she will explain why this person has not been in receipt of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34721/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

122. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34335/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

142. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32659/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

152. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31720/23]

Medicinal Products

Brendan Howlin

405. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will personally intervene to ensure that a person (details supplied) continues to receive a vital medicine to deal with a condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31700/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brendan Howlin

26. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will set out the grants and other assistance available to owners of new houses who wish to make their homes more energy efficient by installing solar panels; if new homeowners are entitled to grant assistance to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31526/23]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

117. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the difficulties being experienced by non-EEA health care assistants in acquiring permission from her Department for family reunification for spouses and children (details supplied); her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31517/23]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

161. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by non-EEA health care assistants in getting permission to have close family members join them in Ireland, and the impact this is having on the recruitment and retention of health care assistants; if he has raised this matter with Government colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31514/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

67. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has finalised the terms of reference for the statutory inquiry into abuse in the Defence Forces; if he has accepted the views put forward by the Women of Honour group; when he expects to present his proposals to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29729/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

128. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29204/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

137. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29267/23]

Commemorative Medals

Brendan Howlin

179. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider the awarding of a commemorative medal to Defence Forces personnel involved in the Decade of Centenaries commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29773/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if we will outline the actions taken to date to procure a primary radar capability for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29774/23]

Cybersecurity Policy

Brendan Howlin

181. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out the progress made to date in establishing a Joint Cyber Defence Command; the number of additional cyber specialists recruited to date to manage cyber defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29775/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

182. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the progress made since the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces on the development of anti-drone or counter UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29776/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

164. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28209/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

165. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application for a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28211/23]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Howlin

475. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if her Department has considered the urgent need to secure additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) who have been informed that they must use their school library and GP hall to accommodate classes for the next academic year; if she is aware that this school will have 12 children in their ASD classes from September who need a space to interact; if she will ensure that the additional accommodation is provided immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27066/23]

School Funding

Brendan Howlin

591. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a clear calendar of timelines in relation to the provision of ICT grants to national schools, that set out in advance the dates in which payments will issue to schools to cover the cost of ICT equipment purchased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28162/23]

Housing Schemes

Brendan Howlin

648. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will re-examine the rates of HAP payment in the light of the experience of a person (details supplied) who is struggling to pay rent of €1,150 per month and has been offered a HAP payment of €13.76 a month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27074/23]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

927. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1064 of 18 April 2023, if he will ensure that an original passport is returned to a person (details supplied) who submitted it as part of a visa application in respect of their father and which they now require urgently in order to travel for medical treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28302/23]

Home Care Packages

Brendan Howlin

1155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the refusal of a home care package for a person (details supplied) who has a variety of obvious and serious needs but is under the age of 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27472/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Howlin

1371. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the SUSI grant application case of a person (details supplied) on the basis of fairness and justice where the special rate maintenance grant payable heretofore to family members whose father was in receipt of the working family payment and who last year, through illness, was out of work and in receipt of illness benefit, which is not characterised as a long-term social welfare payment and therefore does not qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant; if he accepts that this is totally unjust; if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27933/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Brendan Howlin

134. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that a child (details supplied) will be given an assessment appointment at an early date, following commitments made in Dáil Éireann in relation to the provision of publicly funded autism assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26478/23]

Social Welfare Offices

Brendan Howlin

480. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the operation of her Department's central call centre when clients are seeking to make contact with individual social welfare offices; if she has reviewed the operation of this centre to ensure that all clients are speedily responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26366/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

383. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the two local authority housing units approved for construction at a location (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24051/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

384. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local authority housing unit approved for construction at a location (details supplied) has finished construction; if so, its completion date; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24052/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

385. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 26 local authority housing units approved for construction at a location (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24053/23]

State Bodies

Brendan Howlin

320. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing complement for the Marine Area Regulatory Authority, including the grade level of staff currently assigned there, the optimum number of staff expected to be recruited to the authority, and the timeline of reaching its optimum employment level; when the authority will be fully functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23721/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Howlin

438. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure an early appointment with the outpatient ENT Clinic in Waterford University Hospital for a child (details supplied) who has been told that the waiting time for an appointment is up to four years, and whose hearing is significantly disimproving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23700/23]

Care Services

Brendan Howlin

442. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the current situation concerning the new home care tender process; if he and Minister Butler have met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to address this issue; the matters that remain to be resolved in finalising the tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23737/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

444. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic payment will be paid to clerical staff who worked in the Enniscorthy vaccination centre during the pandemic who met with thousands of members of the general public as they received their vaccinations, and who were contracted by a private contractor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23740/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

424. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the nine local authority housing units approved for construction in Baile Eoghain, Gorey, County Wexford, in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22955/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

425. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ten local authority housing units approved for construction in Killeens, County Wexford, in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22956/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

426. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the eight local authority housing units approved for construction in Cherry Orchard, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22957/23]

International Protection

Brendan Howlin

483. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal on an application from a person (details supplied) who arrived in Ireland in July 2021, who is a Somali national and who has endured great hardship in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22400/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

114. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the targets set out in Appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Wexford County Council; if he will confirm whether the proposed 677 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, the number that were delivered; the final spend on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22071/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

115. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 14 AHB housing units under an association (details supplied) in July 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22072/23]