Parliamentary questions

Schools Building Projects

Patrick Costello

358. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for a timeline for the commencement and completion of works for a school (details supplied) which was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in April 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/24]

Education Policy

Patrick Costello

476. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when her Department will seek to establish a gaelcholáiste in Dublin 8, given the number of feeder primary schools which have no geographically near Irish medium secondary school to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12522/24]

State Bodies

Patrick Costello

635. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the LDA intends to use the Davitt Road site in Drimnagh for housing which was previously earmarked for a primary health care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12025/24]

Local Authorities

Patrick Costello

705. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update in relation to the negotiations between him and the Minister for Rural and Community Development about hiring more dog wardens; how many additional dog warden positions will be created; where these positions will be assigned; how much additional funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/24]

Residency Permits

Patrick Costello

803. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the total number of instances where a fee of €300 was paid for the issuing of an IRP (formerly GNIB) card (including both registration and renewal) in the whole of 2023 and the total income from this activity. [11636/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

939. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the cultural audit of the IPS 2023 scheduled for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12675/24]

Asylum Seekers

Patrick Costello

966. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice what bespoke scheme, if any, exists for Palestinians fleeing the conflict in Gaza to come to Ireland. [13128/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

997. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in what areas of the country is the greyhound racing industry one of the few meaningful sources of employment, as claimed in an industry-commissioned report published in 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12199/24]

Horticulture Sector

Patrick Costello

1038. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded/confirmed dates of fireblight erwinia amylovora infections detections by his Department to date, per county; the steps his Department is taking to contain the spread of any further infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12826/24]

Healthcare Policy

Patrick Costello

1236. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the position for an update in relation to the HSE-led implementation group considering the Joint Committee on Health report on the proposed legislative recommendations in the Marie O'Shea report; how many times have the group met since being established; who are the members of the group; to identify the ten work-streams identified by the group; when the draft implementation action plan is likely to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11643/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1237. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to provide a timeline as to when the remaining two maternity hospitals are due to be in a position to offer full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11644/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1238. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to provide an update in relation to the progression of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023; and can he confirm that this bill will be completed in the lifetime of this current Dáil term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11645/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1239. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to clarify if the mandatory three-day waiting period before being able to access abortion services will be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11647/24]

Abortion Services

Patrick Costello

1240. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to clarify whether there are any penalties or complaints procedures in place in relation to healthcare workers causing wilful delay or obstruction to women seeking to access abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11648/24]

Primary Care Centres

Patrick Costello

1325. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will announce a timeline for construction of the new primary health centre, including when a planning application will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12024/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1520. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses for the Dublin south central area; the number of vacancies; the population of children in the catchment area of each; the average wait time to get an appointment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13132/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1571. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog wardens employed in each local authority in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13138/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1572. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will increase funding available to the dog control units of local authorities to hire additional dog wardens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13139/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

1596. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update in relation to the negotiations between her and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about hiring more dog wardens; how many additional dog warden positions will be created; where these positions will be assigned; how much additional funding will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13151/24]

Energy Policy

Patrick Costello

148. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the eligibility rules will be published for the home energy upgrade loan scheme, and the expected timeline from submitting the application to drawing down the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

165. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the last five years who have purchased their way out of the Defence Forces, in tabular form; the cost of this by individual, presented in bands of €5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11202/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

166. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the past five years who have purchased their way out of the Defence Forces, by rank, in tabular form. [11205/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

167. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the past five years who began training with the Defences Forces but left prior to completing it, and the amount paid by them, in bands of €5,000. [11206/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

170. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the rationale, timeline of meetings and decisions in the lead up to and current withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

171. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the withdrawal plan for the Irish Defence Forces contingent of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force given the increasing tension and potential for conflict in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11336/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

172. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the Reserve Defence Force recruitment competition; the number of recruitment liaison officers currently working on the reserve recruitment competition; the Reserve Defence Force's role in the future plans for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11337/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

173. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to clarify whether personnel leaving the Permanent Defence Force are able to join the Reserve Defence Force while retaining the rank they previously held in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

174. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to comment on the medical resources currently assigned to the Reserve Defence Force and the issues highlighted in the past with a lack of resourcing resulting in slow progression of applications; what measure he will take to ensure efficient progression of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the work undertaken by the Office of Reserve Affairs to strengthen the Reserve Defence Force; the number of staff currently working in the Office of Reserve Affairs; the number of vacancies currently within the Office of Reserve Affairs; to clarify whether the Office of Reserve Affairs will only be staffed by current and former Defence Forces personnel or also civilian staff; the timeline on the delivery of the Office of Reserve Affairs regeneration plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11340/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

176. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider changing the application for former Defence Forces members to join First Line Reserve and extending the window of opportunity in which former members could apply rather than only being asked during their retirement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11341/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

177. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason he believes the number of former officers who were members of the Defence Forces First Line Reserve dropped sharply since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11342/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

178. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the plans to assign representatives of the Defence Forces to Irish embassies around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11343/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

179. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of personnel and their rank assigned to the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11344/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

180. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of vacancies and, at what rank, there were in the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11345/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

181. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of applications made to join either the general service or cadet ranks of the Army, Naval Service or Air Corps in 2023 and up to the present date in 2024; how many of these applicants were invited to take part in training; how many of these trainees completed their training; the rank at which they were commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11346/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

182. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of people currently employed within his Department highlighting their grade; how many vacancies there currently are within his Department, highlighting their grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

183. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the recent increase in the age limit entry requirement for An Garda Síochána, if he will consider increasing the age limit entry requirements to join the Defence Forces, for both general service and cadetships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11348/24]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Patrick Costello

184. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the responsibilities that Minister of State at the Department of Defence currently has within the Defence remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11349/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

378. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the families of those affected by the Cherry Orchard Hospital move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11327/24]

Hospital Services

Patrick Costello

379. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health his views on the scope and significance of the structural problems identified by HIQA within Cherry Orchard Hospital; and to outline timeline on when and how they will be addressed. [11328/24]

Assisted Decision-Making

Patrick Costello

380. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if residents were afforded the opportunity to avail of the Assisted Decision Making Act, which became law in April 2023; if not, the reason this did not happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11329/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

381. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health how many vacant units there are within the Cherry Orchard Hospital facility; how many of these could have been used to house residents whilst works were ongoing; what is the current state of repair of any vacant units onsite; how long have these units been vacant; how much would it cost to bring these units back into use and whether this is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11330/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

382. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to outline the other plans considered by the HSE to address the works required which would have allowed residents to remain on-site during completion of works in the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital; why these plans were deemed to be unworkable; when these decisions were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11331/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

383. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to outline what will happen to the staff members assigned to the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital for the duration of the move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11332/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

384. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Covid outbreak in Cherry Orchard Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11333/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

385. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health how many of the residents from the Sycamore and Willow Units Cherry Orchard Hospital have passed away since residents were given notice of the move in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11334/24]

Control of Dogs

Patrick Costello

439. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report 2023 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11225/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

124. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of dedicated funding that will be provided to each local authority to monitor and enforce the smoky coal ban and any future solid fuel regulations as part of the clean air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10503/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

125. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the forthcoming Clean Air Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

126. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the maximum fine administered for breaches under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10505/24]