Parliamentary questions

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

606. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if a medical card holder, who cannot secure an appointment with a dentist providing medical card services in their area, can avail of any other scheme to help with the cost of emergency dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42315/23]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

607. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there is a list of dentists providing treatment until the medical card scheme; if so, if such a list can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42316/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

140. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department are aware that invasive carp have been found in Lough Corrib SAC, considering that on 26 July 2023, Inland Fisheries Ireland acknowledged through its social media platforms that a carp (Cyprinus carpio) was found in the lake (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42026/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

141. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department will provide additional financial support to Inland Fisheries Ireland in its stock management efforts to deal with a potential population explosion of recently introduced highly fecund carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42027/23]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

198. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the year-long guarantee to landlords of the State element of HAP payments when the tenant has defaulted on their contribution, can be backdated to cover the period when the eviction moratorium due to Covid-19 was in place, as landlords were faced with no income and were precluded from issuing a Notice to Quit during that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42029/23]

Childcare Services

Noel Grealish

249. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding is available through his Department for refurbishment and upgrades in naíonra childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42028/23]

Health Service Executive

Noel Grealish

286. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current progress regarding the HSE recognising the NASRA as a union with collective bargaining rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42030/23]

Defence Forces

Noel Grealish

66. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current strength of Defence Forces personnel attached to Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, Galway; the numbers in each of the preceding five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40543/23]

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

134. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the N6 Galway City Ring Road; when he expects An Bord Pleanála to make a decision on whether or not the project can go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40467/23]

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

135. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the cost to date of the N6 Galway City Ring Road project, by category of expense, and the costs involved in the High Court challenges to the project; if he will provide an estimate of the likely ongoing monthly outlay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40474/23]

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

136. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport he expected cost now of completing the N6 Galway City Ring Road; and if the Government will commit to make funding available for such a project if it is given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40475/23]

School Funding

Noel Grealish

371. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she has plans to introduce grants for technology or ICT in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40544/23]

Sports Funding

Noel Grealish

397. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider amending the sports capital programme guidelines to enable golf clubs that are not owned by their members, to make applications for significant improvements to their facilities to the benefit of members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40545/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

1015. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will make the drug Vydura (rimegepant), available on the DPS scheme; if there is any other scheme available to help an individual with the cost of this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40546/23]

Prison Service

Noel Grealish

5. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Taoiseach the number of persons released from jail that went on to commit an offence again within three years of their release; the proportion of the number of released prisoners they represented, in each of the past five years, by category of offence, and by period within which the subsequent crime was committed, in tabular form; the way in which the rate of recidivism here compares with other EU countries. [34831/23]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

452. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a breakdown of the total annual non-wage related, that is, not including teachers or SNA salaries, grant funding provided direct to primary schools in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36238/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

876. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing free legal aid in criminal cases over each of the past five years, by county; the average cost per alleged offender; the total payment to legal practitioners; the average payment to legal practitioners, over the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36941/23]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

130. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will give Ministerial approval for the two-phase increase of 6% pensionable pay in addition to the agreed 2% due from 1 January 2023 due under the An Post superannuation scheme; when approval will be granted for these pension increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34828/23]

Land Issues

Noel Grealish

434. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if clarification will be provided regarding a statement by a person (details supplied) in Seanad Éireann on 15 December 2022; if he can confirm that in order for the local authority or State agency to avail of the exemption, the land must have been owned by the local authority or State agency at the proposed residential zoning of that land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34827/23]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

525. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who re-offended while released on bail for other alleged crimes in each of the past three years, by type of crime allegedly committed while on bail, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34829/23]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

526. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of crimes that were recorded in which the suspected offenders were on bail, in each of the past three years, by category of crime involved, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34830/23]

Crime Prevention

Noel Grealish

527. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if the Government will consider steps to further restrict the granting of bail to serial or repeat offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34832/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

528. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider steps to restrict the granting of free legal aid to serial or repeat offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34833/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

529. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been granted free legal aid, by category of offence; the number of times these persons have availed of free legal aid previously; the number of previous convictions; the cost of each in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34834/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

530. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been granted free legal-aid in County Galway, by category of offence; the number of times these persons have availed of free legal aid previously; the number of previous convictions; the cost of each in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34835/23]

Legal Aid

Noel Grealish

531. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the cost of providing free legal aid over each of the past five years, by county; the average cost per alleged offender; the total payment to legal practitioners; the average payment to legal practitioners, over the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34836/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

53. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in 2008 when his officials were drafting the Western Fisheries Region Conservation of Trout Bye-Law No. 840, 2008, did the now defunct Western Regional Fisheries Board provide his Departmental officials with validated scientific data to show that rod and line angling was having a direct and measurable impact on brown trout stocks in Lough Corrib SAC; if his Departmental officials used any scientific data to ensure that the said bye-law was in compliance with the requirements of Regulation 31 of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 94 of 1997); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32860/23]

Angling Sector

Noel Grealish

106. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any provisions within the draft Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023, in addition to any technical amendments, to restrict or ban rod and line angling for brown trout and Atlantic salmon on Lough Corrib SAC, considering the large number of subsurface archaeological sites around the lake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32861/23]

Rental Sector

Noel Grealish

108. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to amend legislation, whereby people who rent properties in rent pressure zones and their existing tenants leave of their own accord, to allow the property owner then rent the property at market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32951/23]

Transport Policy

Noel Grealish

186. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on what measures he has undertaken to ensure that Ireland meets the mandatory quote of 5.5% renewable fuel of non-biological origin use in the transport sector by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32106/23]

Tax Reliefs

Noel Grealish

222. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the total sum of tax relief deducted from the purchase of diesel-fuelled buses through the VAT71 scheme in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32103/23]

Tax Reliefs

Noel Grealish

223. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has considered extending the eligibility of the VAT71 scheme to include electric and alternatively fuelled buses as a means of incentivising operators to purchase these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32104/23]

Tax Reliefs

Noel Grealish

224. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the categories of vehicles currently eligible for taxation relief under the VAT71 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32105/23]

Illicit Trade

Noel Grealish

233. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance what resources, such as x-ray scanners and detector dog units, are currently available to the Revenue Commissioners to combat smuggling at the nation’s ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32499/23]

School Facilities

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education given that there are approximately 2,500 children enrolled in three schools in Oranmore, County Galway, if there is any scheme within her Department to provide playing and recreational facilities; if she will advise whether there is a point of contact within her Department who is available to meet and discuss this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32112/23]

Schools Administration

Noel Grealish

292. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education what the current Department of Education policy is regarding the care of old school roll books; if there are plans to digitise old school roll books and make them available to the public online; if her Department is satisfied with the current storage of the books in each individual school; whether there are any plans to transfer custody of the books to the county libraries or national archives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30540/23]

Pharmacy Services

Noel Grealish

638. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding fees and pay restoration for pharmacists prior to the 30 June 2023 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30628/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

664. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will address the unfairness in the treatment of diabetes patients in Ireland where Free Style Libre is decided on age criteria rather than clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30812/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

665. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health what plans he has in place to ensure diabetes patients have access to a glucose monitoring technology (details supplied), which has become a standard of diabetes care across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30813/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

666. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he recognises that remote monitoring of diabetes patients’ conditions will free up much-needed doctor and hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30814/23]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

667. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the current process whereby access to a diabetes glucose monitoring technology discriminates against patients in terms of age (details supplied) and is tantamount to deprivation of access to people with a disability and needs to be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30815/23]

Vacant Properties

Noel Grealish

256. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how a vacant property is defined under the vacant property refurbishment scheme; if a stand-alone chalet at the rear of another dwelling house qualifies under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30321/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason no Angling Consultative Council of Ireland meetings were held under the auspices of the Inland Fisheries division from 26 July 2022 until 23 March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29620/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

168. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, when he signed the Western Fisheries Region Conservation of Trout Bye-Law No. 840, 2008 into law on 28 July 2008, it was his and his Department's intention for this legislation to regulate the number of mounted fishing rods that may be used by an individual or the number of mounted fishing rods in the possession of an individual when trolling for Atlantic salmon on Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29621/23]

Commonage Land Use

Noel Grealish

937. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if ten farmers are owners in a commonage and one farmer cuts turf against the rules in that commonage, if all farmers will be penalised; if he will consider changing the law in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27125/23]

Home Help Service

Noel Grealish

1109. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when the report on the home support pilot study undertaken in four CHO areas will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27090/23]

General Practitioner Services

Noel Grealish

1295. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current status of free GP care for children aged six and seven years, as announced in Budget 2023; if any automatic GP cards for children aged six and seven years have been issued; if not, when applications will open; when the first cards will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28402/23]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

1350. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation (TUT) Fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT Fund in August 2023; the level funding that will be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs who merged earlier; if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this important juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

151. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive coarse fish and invasive pike at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26138/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

152. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department will support Inland Fisheries Ireland by all means in improving the ecological status of a lake (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26139/23]