Parliamentary questions

Air Services

Michael McNamara

235. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the number of air passengers at Shannon, Cork and Dublin Airports in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and during the first six months of 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37189/23]

Driver Test

Michael McNamara

258. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if NDLS forms will be made available in Irish as well as English at all NDLS centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37519/23]

Driver Test

Michael McNamara

401. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38919/23]

Teacher Training

Michael McNamara

596. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if, given the particular emphasis on continuing professional development (CCPD) and equality, consideration would be given to the entitlement of an allowance to teachers with additional qualifications (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37312/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Michael McNamara

597. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if a teacher (details supplied) in County Clare who is on loan from one school to another will receive their Gaelscolaíochta allowance while on loan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37313/23]

Natural Heritage Areas

Michael McNamara

823. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to repeal or amend S.I. No. 435/2005 or otherwise amend a designation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37333/23]

Citizenship Applications

Michael McNamara

1187. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice if she will waive the citizenship application fee in respect of a person (details supplied). [38492/23]

Beef Sector

Michael McNamara

1249. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if force majeure (details supplied) is taken into consideration in determining whether an applicant for the suckler carbon efficiency programme is determined to be a new entrant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37340/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

1275. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a landowner intends to plant an area greater than 0.10 ha and less than 1.00 ha without relying on any form of State aid, the specific circumstances in which an appropriate assessment or environmental study is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37833/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Michael McNamara

1851. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38903/23]

Taxi Licences

Michael McNamara

206. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if a hackney licence application for a person (details supplied) can be expedited, given the very urgent need for hackney services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35929/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

302. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance how many prize bonds were won in each of the past 20 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36126/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

303. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance how many requests for the receipt of prize bonds winnings were made in each of the past 20 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36127/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

304. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance how many requests for the receipt of prize bonds winnings returned no prize bonds winnings in each of the past 20 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36128/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

305. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance how many requests for the receipt of prize bonds winnings had proof of prize bonds purchases furnished to support a claim in each of the past 20 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36129/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

306. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance how many representations by solicitors for a client were made in relation to prize bonds in each of the past 20 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36130/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

307. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance the mechanism the NTMA uses to ensure that prize bonds winnings are available during the disposal of a deceased person's estate by the estate's executor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36131/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

308. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance if the NTMA attempts to contact the owners of prize bond accounts whom the NTMA may have reason to believe are deceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36132/23]

Prize Bonds

Michael McNamara

309. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance if there is a cut-off point past which prize bond winnings cannot be claimed; if so, if he will provide the occurrences of such in each of the past 20 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36133/23]

Planning Issues

Michael McNamara

586. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the guidelines will issue to local authorities regarding the waiving of contribution fees for new build houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36083/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael McNamara

688. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35932/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

899. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the circumstances in which an appropriate assessment or other environmental study is required, and any other legal requirements to be complied with, for the planting of native woodland in areas of not greater than one hectare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35589/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

905. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a commencement date for the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and to outline the reason(s) for the delay in the Programme's commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35756/23]

Primary Care Centres

Michael McNamara

1198. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the current status on the progression of the proposed primary care centre in Kilrush, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36020/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

1263. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment for a consultation for an oral medicine assessment at the Dublin Dental University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36380/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

1340. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment at UHL or Croom Orthopaedic Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36640/23]

Television Licence Fee

Michael McNamara

54. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the current legal requirement to have a television licence, the revenue from which goes to RTÉ to carry out public service broadcasting commitments, will be reviewed; if the consideration of providing revenue to local radio stations in respect of news and current affairs output will form part of any review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35131/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael McNamara

166. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a reply will issue to a person (details supplied) regarding a care support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34728/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Michael McNamara

269. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an ultrasound appointment at UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34625/23]

State Bodies

Michael McNamara

337. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline what progress has been made in relation to the proposed replacement of board members of An Bord Pleanála; to provide an update on the recruitment of additional overall staff resources at An Bord Pleanála given the huge delays in determining cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33456/23]

Housing Policy

Michael McNamara

383. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department will provide grants of €50,000 to first-time buyers who build their own houses for permanent occupancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33815/23]

Nursing Homes

Michael McNamara

750. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department will address serious concerns with the ongoing crisis in the funding of nursing homes under the fair deal scheme, given that a number of nursing homes (details supplied) in County Clare have been dealing with severe sustained financial pressures in the provision of care for residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33808/23]

Public Transport

Michael McNamara

179. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when he will meet with the Shannon Airport Authority to discuss plans to improve public transport access to Shannon Airport, Ireland’s greenest airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33285/23]

School Staff

Michael McNamara

217. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education to outline if a review of the existing panel system for teaching positions has been or will be carried out by her Department; if consideration will be given to the reintroduction of the open application system for relocations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33180/23]

Electricity Generation

Michael McNamara

148. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of people connected to the microgen pilot scheme from 2009 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32117/23]

Electricity Generation

Michael McNamara

149. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the initial 907 pilot scheme generators will receive their payments under the Government-backed microgeneration scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32118/23]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Michael McNamara

192. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport how much glyphosate was used by TII and its servants or agents in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32210/23]

National Car Test

Michael McNamara

197. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the provision of a second NCT centre in County Clare; where the centre will be located; when it will be operational; to outline the reason for the delay in delivering the second centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32318/23]

National Car Test

Michael McNamara

198. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to the provision of an NCT centre in west Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32319/23]

National Car Test

Michael McNamara

210. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the waiting time for tests in each NCT test centre nationwide; to outline the measures he has put in place to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32697/23]

Rail Network

Michael McNamara

211. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the details of the investment that is planned by Iarnród Éireann for its network in County Clare during 2023 and 2024; if consideration is being given to the opening of a rail stop at Crusheen, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32698/23]

Driver Test

Michael McNamara

212. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driving test and a theory test in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32699/23]

Industrial Development

Michael McNamara

273. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown of the number of site visits hosted by the IDA in counties Galway, Clare and Limerick during the first six months of 2023, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32700/23]

Departmental Data

Michael McNamara

524. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children awaiting appointments and assessments with early intervention services in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary; the average waiting time for persons on the list in each county on 1 June 2022 and 1 June 2023, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32687/23]

Departmental Data

Michael McNamara

525. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what additional staffing resources have been provided to the Clare children’s disability network team for the purpose of reducing waiting lists in County Clare since 2021; to confirm what measures will be taken to further improve service delivery in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32689/23]

Health Services

Michael McNamara

679. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health to outline the status of podiatry services provided by the HSE in County Clare; the status of the service going forward; the number of persons on the waiting list for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32688/23]

Hospital Services

Michael McNamara

680. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the rate of theatre utilisation in UHL Dooradoyle for 2022; if he will provide the rate of theatre utilisation in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals, respectively, for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32690/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Michael McNamara

681. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on hip and or knee surgery and cataract surgery in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32691/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

720. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an urgent appointment for surgery at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32828/23]

Schools Administration

Michael McNamara

297. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education what steps will be taken to allay parent concerns regarding a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30749/23]

Vacant Properties

Michael McNamara

390. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the six vacant houses (details supplied) in County Clare will be retained by Clare County Council; if the said properties will be refurbished for habitation by persons on the housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31104/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael McNamara

451. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if plans are in place to reform the carer’s allowance criteria for persons who were self-employed for some time prior to taking time out to care full-time for family members (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31341/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Michael McNamara

84. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance when the medical criteria to obtain a primary medical certificate in order to benefit from the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme are expected to be updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30017/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

301. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30284/23]

Coast Guard Service

Michael McNamara

61. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if his Department or the Irish Coast Guard has or had in its possessions drone footage and audio and visual recordings footage from an Irish Coast Rescue helicopter of the rescue attempt of a person (details supplied) on the day of their death. [29971/23]

Coast Guard Service

Michael McNamara

62. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if his Department or the Irish Coast Guard has or had in its possessions the safety helmet and clothing of the late person (details supplied) from the day of their death. [29972/23]

Pharmacy Services

Michael McNamara

202. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with community pharmacists and their representatives in advance of the statutory deadline of 30 June contained in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. [30045/23]

Public Sector Pay

Michael McNamara

203. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health to outline his meetings and those of his Department, respectively, with community pharmacists and their representatives to date in 2023. [30046/23]

Departmental Data

Michael McNamara

204. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if HSE statistics for 2022 on the volume of medical items dispensed under State schemes are, or will be, available to him before the said statutory deadline of 30 June 2023. [30047/23]

School Accommodation

Michael McNamara

314. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding an additional school accommodation application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29421/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

614. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29166/23]

Tourism Industry

Michael McNamara

190. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the visitor numbers to each visitor attraction operated by the Office of Public Works for each month in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29000/23]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

255. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expedite a residential service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29006/23]

National Broadband Plan

Michael McNamara

217. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if fibre broadband service will be provided to an area (details supplied) as part of the current roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28015/23]

School Curriculum

Michael McNamara

533. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if and when she will meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss its concerns about reforms to the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), with Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curricula; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27598/23]

School Curriculum

Michael McNamara

534. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will outline any plans to meet faith groups to discuss concerns about reforms to the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), with Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curricula; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27599/23]

School Curriculum

Michael McNamara

535. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the steps that will be taken to accommodate parents with concerns about recent proposed reforms to the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), with Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curricula in order to comply with Article 42.4 of the Constitution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27600/23]

Health Services Staff

Michael McNamara

1120. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in issuing non-payment-of-pay increases to retired HSE staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27200/23]

Third Level Education

Michael McNamara

1364. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that Atlantic Technological University (ATU) has been offered technological university-transformation funding for only one year from August 2023, in contrast to the four years' funding provided to Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin); if his Department will work with the HEA to ensure the proposed one-year post-merger funding for ATU will be increased to four-year post-merger funding, in line with TU Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27785/23]

Driver Licences

Michael McNamara

181. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their driver's licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25618/23]

Medical Cards

Michael McNamara

643. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health following the announced Investment of over €23 billion in budget 2023 in Ireland's health and social care services, when the proposed increase for eligibility of people for general practice access cards will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25555/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Michael McNamara

780. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1910 of 19 January 2022, the current number of applicants waiting for a primary medical certificate in County Clare; the current application processing time for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26297/23]

Agriculture Industry

Michael McNamara

83. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline any changes in regulations or requirements with regard to the stacking of silage bales, in particular, with regard to how many rows high they are permitted to be stacked; the penalties that apply in respect of a failure to adhere with same; what leeway will be provided to farmers who have to stack bales three-rows high due to space constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25218/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

96. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he proposes to treat farmers who did not make an application for the ACRES scheme by the November 2022 deadline as they had been informed by Teagasc, a State agency under his Department, that there was insufficient capacity to deal with the number of applications and only because of the said lack of capacity of Teagasc; if farmers who make an application by August 2023 will be treated as though they had made the application in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24769/23]

State Pensions

Michael McNamara

139. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline her plans to bring the State pension (contributory) up to 34% of the average industrial wage index linked, as promised in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25030/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

189. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a property (details supplied) in County Clare is being acquired by the International Protection Accommodation Service to accommodate refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25238/23]

State Examinations

Michael McNamara

278. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education to outline in tabular form the number of students who have received braille exam papers for both the junior and leaving certificate examinations for each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24234/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael McNamara

396. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if properties, the upper floors of which are vacant but the ground floor is and has been in use, are eligible to apply for the croí cónaithe (towns) fund scheme in respect of the upper floors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24145/23]

Vacant Sites

Michael McNamara

415. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sites placed on the vacant sites register of each local authority during 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24379/23]

Housing Policy

Michael McNamara

416. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict sites acquired by each local authority under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, the Derelict Sites Act 1961, or the Acquisition of Derelict Sites Act 1940, used for the purpose of housing in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24380/23]

Vacant Sites

Michael McNamara

417. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount levied by each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a levy under section 15 of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, known as a vacant site levy, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24381/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

665. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which agency or body approved the use of Magowna House to accommodate applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24304/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

666. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Clare County Council was informed of the proposed change of use of Magowna House to accommodate applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/23]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

667. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Magowna House had been deemed unsuitable for recipients of temporary protection in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24306/23]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Michael McNamara

700. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a property (details supplied) in County Clare is being acquired by the International Protection Accommodation Service to accommodate refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24746/23]

Primary Care Centres

Michael McNamara

744. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the proposed delivery of a primary healthcare centre in Sixmilebridge, County Clare; the services that will be delivered at the facility; the staffing resources that will be dedicated to the operation of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24208/23]

Work Permits

Michael McNamara

59. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23358/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Michael McNamara

117. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update regarding two applications submitted by Clare County Council to his Department for wastewater treatment facilities in Cooraclare and Broadford, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23303/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Michael McNamara

160. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department is providing assistance in repatriating an Irish resident (details supplied) stuck in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23173/23]

Driver Test

Michael McNamara

231. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22641/23]

Employment Rights

Michael McNamara

301. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline any plans to change the minimum wage for persons under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22576/23]

School Transport

Michael McNamara

381. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 231 of 8 February 2023, if her Department will consider advising Bus Éireann’s school transport section to move a student collection point (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23255/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael McNamara

564. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he would consider more flexibility with the ECCE hours to accommodate parents on shift work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22592/23]

Healthcare Policy

Michael McNamara

614. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if mask-wearing in health facilities such as hospitals reduces transmission of Covid-19 and/or RSV; if he will outline any evidential basis for same; and if he will outline the rationale for the recent decision to no longer require the wearing of facemasks in such settings. [22523/23]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

131. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21980/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael McNamara

132. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21990/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael McNamara

136. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22051/23]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

178. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent by Transport Infrastructure Ireland cutting trees beside national roads and motorway networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21221/23]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

179. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the number of permits obtained for the cutting of trees beside the motorway and national roads network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21222/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

476. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for legislative change in light of recent tree felling at Ryevale House and the destruction of trees in hedgerows in Clare, in particular by, and the behest of, Clare County Council, since the commencement of the Forestry Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21175/23]