Parliamentary questions

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

316. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice how many gardaí in County Longford have successfully completed the CBD2 competency-based driving training 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4681/24]

Departmental Meetings

Sorca Clarke

59. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of requests for a meeting made to her Department by an organisation (details supplied), by year, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and how many meetings have taken place, in tabular form, per year, for the same period. [4584/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

60. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what representative groups were engaged with in the production of the new guidelines on restraint and seclusion. [4585/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

259. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of phasing out public subsidies to private schools. [3738/24]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Sorca Clarke

260. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing class sizes in primary schools that will bring Ireland into line with our EU counterparts. [3739/24]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

274. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress made in relation to guidance counsellors for post primary schools in the context of the public consultation on the national policy group on lifelong guidance. [3933/24]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

458. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many speech and language therapists are currently working in each health district in Ireland and how many positions are currently vacant; and how current numbers compare with each of the past five years. [3716/24]

Teacher Training

Sorca Clarke

242. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to extend teacher training in the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. [3553/24]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

276. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals and couples in Westmeath and Longford who are in State-supported homeless accommodation via their local authority but also on reduced rate of jobseeker's. [3457/24]

Teacher Training

Sorca Clarke

309. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to extend teacher training in the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. [2991/24]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

514. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans for the relocation of people seeking international protection to a building (details supplied) on the Main Street in Edgeworthstown, County Longford. [2584/24]

Student Accommodation

Sorca Clarke

101. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has undergone any research that explores the impact of accommodation (lack of) on student retention rate. [1923/24]

Education and Training Provision

Sorca Clarke

130. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what the increase is in PLC places for 2024 across Longford-Westmeath ETB; and what new areas in PLCs will be available for 2024. [1921/24]

Further and Higher Education

Sorca Clarke

346. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans he has in place to ensure that one-third of higher education teaching staff do not leave Ireland (details supplied). [1922/24]

Technological Universities

Sorca Clarke

358. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to extend teacher training in the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. [2685/24]

Legislative Measures

Sorca Clarke

36. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will enact the Occupied Territories Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1000/24]

Middle East

Sorca Clarke

37. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will invoke the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to the activities of Israel in Palestine since October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1002/24]

Legislative Measures

Sorca Clarke

339. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance if he will enact the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1001/24]

Legislative Measures

Sorca Clarke

441. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 in relation to fertility treatment and miscarriage leave. [1462/24]

Departmental Meetings

Sorca Clarke

513. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of times an organisation (details supplied) has requested a meeting with her; and the number of meetings that have actually taken place. [56831/23]

School Textbooks

Sorca Clarke

576. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of introducing free school books to fifth and sixth year students, in tabular form. [57350/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

577. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of where the funding allocated for SEN in Budget 2024 is being spent, in tabular form. [57352/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

578. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she plans to ensure that data will be collected on the educational outcomes for people of the deaf and of the hearing communities. [57354/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

579. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider publishing centralised data every year on the number of children with SEN without an appropriate school place. [57356/23]

National Educational Psychological Service

Sorca Clarke

580. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of increasing the number of educational psychologists by 40%. [57357/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

581. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of employing a full-time guidance counsellor in every secondary school and an additional position for schools over 500 pupils. [57359/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

597. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to explain in detail how the allocation of STEM funding for schools was conducted and decided; and if a school's application (details supplied) was considered. [1148/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

598. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the ICT grant will be paid to primary schools for 2023/2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1149/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

599. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the reason funding for the ICT grant was not paid to schools for the school year 2022/2023 despite it being listed as a grant that was due to schools. [1150/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

610. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she has plans to read and accept further applications for STEM funding in 2024; and if an application by a school (details supplied) was considered. [1305/24]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

611. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she plans to introduce the Brain Calm Programme to the curriculum in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1319/24]

School Facilities

Sorca Clarke

619. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider developing new school playground guidelines and undertake an analysis of spaces and funds for schools to create different outdoor areas to address the different needs of children, based on the playground initiative introduced by a school (details supplied). [1332/24]

School Facilities

Sorca Clarke

620. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider funding playground initiatives similar to the one introduced by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1333/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

638. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects the refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works. [1464/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

639. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces by ASD units in primary schools in Sligo, by school, in tabular form. [1465/24]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

640. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers on the substitute supply panel in Cavan at present; and the number in 2020, in tabular form. [1466/24]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

641. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of ICT grants awarded to post primary schools in County Kerry. [1467/24]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

642. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed. [1468/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

646. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what supports have been put in place for students who require the support of an SNA during oral examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1480/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

647. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that students with special educational needs (SEN) receive the necessary accommodations for the oral examinations due to take place this Easter; her plans to ensure that students with SEN have equity of access to and participation in assessment and examination activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1481/24]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

655. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 614 of 21 March 2023, the status of the work referred to relating to school caretakers; and when this work will be progressed and completed. [1568/24]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

656. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what plans are in place to ensure school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar deal as school secretaries. [1569/24]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

657. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on any recent engagements her Department has had with a union (details supplied) with regard to school caretakers. [1570/24]

Residential Institutions

Sorca Clarke

660. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when a survivor (details supplied) will receive housing supports and the owed services as promised; if she can provide an update on this particular case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1590/24]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

932. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing school meals to every primary school where there is established deprivation but no DEIS classification, by county, in tabular form. [57349/23]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

933. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of the total number of children who have received the back-to-school payment to date; the number of children who are expected to receive the payment in the coming weeks; and the total amount spent on this allowance to date, in tabular form. [57351/23]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

934. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a permanent ISL voucher scheme. [57353/23]

Prison Service

Sorca Clarke

1102. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 21 November 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [1469/24]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

1391. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of resourcing supports for students with SEN, including proper access to therapeutic supports in mainstream schools and reducing waiting times for assessments, in tabular form. [57355/23]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

1392. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of establishing an initial panel of 200 speech and language therapists for schools as a shared resource. [57358/23]

Departmental Staff

Sorca Clarke

1707. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses working in the accident and emergency department of Mullingar Regional Hospital as of 5 January 2024; and if he will provide same figures as of 5 January 2021, in tabular form. [1470/24]

Departmental Schemes

Sorca Clarke

1735. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will extend eligibility for the long-term illness scheme for reimbursement of blood glucose test strips (insulin and metformin) to all women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy; if he agrees with the decision to remove them from the scheme; if he will reverse that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1619/24]

Departmental Records

Sorca Clarke

1736. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy in each of the years 2018 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1620/24]

Departmental Schemes

Sorca Clarke

1874. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a fund is available to assist in the procurement of C02 alarms for vulnerable people and people in isolated areas. [1672/24]

Departmental Properties

Sorca Clarke

185. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his current plan to maintain the historical jail and church in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [54650/23]

Bus Services

Sorca Clarke

203. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport what plans she has in place to ensure that the profound impact the changing of bus routes 17 and 18 is having on the students from a school (details supplied) is dealt with accordingly. [54596/23]

Ukraine War

Sorca Clarke

668. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many people are currently residing in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [54646/23]

Ukraine War

Sorca Clarke

669. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports, facilities and access to State agencies or NGOs are available for people residing in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [54647/23]

Ukraine War

Sorca Clarke

670. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure that the residents of Columb Barracks are provided with safe and habitable living conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54648/23]

Ukraine War

Sorca Clarke

671. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans he has in place to encourage integration between the residents in Columb Barracks and the wider community of Mullingar. [54649/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Sorca Clarke

63. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the number of appeals for the primary medical certificate there are currently in counties Longford and Westmeath, in tabular form; and how long these people have been waiting for an appeal in term of months. [54092/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sorca Clarke

71. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools, in tabular form per school planning area, that have been notified that unspent Covid-related additional funding must be returned; the relevant deadline date for same; and the total monies to be returned per funding head. [53941/23]

Public Transport

Sorca Clarke

172. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number and location of public transport stations across rail, Luas and bus network that provide lockers for short-term storage of personal belongings, and the equivalent cost per hour of same, in tabular form. [53500/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

230. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when a new secondary school in Rush will be given the go ahead to start building works. [53256/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

237. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education in light of significant increases in energy, insurance, cleaning and waste-disposal costs, as well as in the cost of teaching materials and buses, if she will consider allowing a DEIS band 1 school (details supplied) to keep the remains of their Covid grant to go towards the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the school. [53350/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

238. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what plans she has to make sure schools are adequately funded, given the capitation and cleaning grants along with others do not cover the basic expenses of schools. [53351/23]

Teacher Training

Sorca Clarke

66. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the total number of teacher training places available for the year 2023-24; and how many are provided by public colleges and how many by the private sector. [52533/23]

School Facilities

Sorca Clarke

70. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education in relation to school funding, when the minor works scheme payment will be made to schools for the current school year. [52534/23]

Teacher Training

Sorca Clarke

90. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if her Department is currently reviewing the content, cost and duration of the Professional Master of Education. [52535/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

121. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the proposed new buildings for a school (details supplied). [52536/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

353. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider raising the compulsory retirement age of Bus Éireann school transport drivers, who are currently required to retire at 70 years of age, given the current shortage of school bus drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53031/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

354. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to explain the reasoning behind the differing retirement ages between school bus drivers at Bus Éireann and drivers working for private operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53032/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Sorca Clarke

455. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the appeals board for the primary medical certificate will commence reviewing current backlog of appeals. [52935/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Sorca Clarke

456. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on reviewing the primary medical certificate criteria. [52936/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Sorca Clarke

457. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals for the primary medical certificate that are currently in counties Longford and Westmeath, in tabular form; and how long these people have been waiting for an appeal in term of months. [52937/23]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

320. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many people are waiting to be housed under the social housing scheme in County Longford in total; and if he will provide the details, in tabular form (men, women and children, etc). [52102/23]

Business Supports

Sorca Clarke

7. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide information on how the increased cost of business scheme announced in Budget 2024 will operate. [51134/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Sorca Clarke

61. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the publication of remote working code of practice. [51133/23]

Bus Services

Sorca Clarke

140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons that have used each Local-Link bus route within County Westmeath in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [50549/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

222. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects that a project for a school (details supplied) will move to a detailed design stage of works. [50542/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

223. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects that a project for a school (details supplied) will move to tender stage of works. [50543/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

224. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when her Department expects a refurbishment project for a school (details supplied) will move to tender stage of works. [50544/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

225. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works to a school (details supplied) will be completed. [50545/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

259. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 474 of 7 November 2023, if she will provide details of the workings of the existing voluntary redeployment pilot scheme mentioned in the response; if there have been positive results from this scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51024/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

260. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education her Department's position with regard to the proposal by an organisation (details supplied) regarding teacher redeployment; and when a formal response will issue. [51025/23]

Prison Service

Sorca Clarke

357. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently in prison for the offence of robbery and due to be released from prison in 2026, 2027 or 2028, in tabular form. [50546/23]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

358. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice if funding has been provided in 2024 to purchase additional horses for the Garda mounted unit. [50547/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Sorca Clarke

390. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next open call for funding for the European Innovation Partnership will be announced. [50548/23]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

418. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding that was provided in 2022 and to-date in 2023 for day services for disabled people; and the additional places created for day services for disabled people. [50550/23]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

419. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE administrative staff based in Longford children's disability network team in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [50551/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

455. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a lower limb prosthesis in the public health service. [50539/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

456. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric endocrinologists at CHI Crumlin in 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if this number will be further increased during 2024. [50540/23]

Vaccination Programme

Sorca Clarke

457. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated for the provision of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme in each of the years 2021 to 2023, in tabular form. [50541/23]

Community Welfare Services

Sorca Clarke

130. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what organisations submitted applications for community services funding, including both strand A and strand B, for the past three rounds of funding. [50119/23]

Middle East

Sorca Clarke

59. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his reason for not recognising the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49696/23]

Middle East

Sorca Clarke

60. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any communication with the Irish citizens seeking to get out of Gaza; to provide an update on their current situation; and what plans he has in place to make sure they can safely return to Ireland. [49697/23]

Middle East

Sorca Clarke

61. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether, as per his Department's website, he can state in detail what Ireland is doing to support and strengthen the quality of the education system in Palestine, while ensuring more Palestinian children are accessing education. [49699/23]

Middle East

Sorca Clarke

62. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a list of all projects, and their organisations, promoting gender equality in Palestine that Ireland contributes to. [49700/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Sorca Clarke

63. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the costings of Ireland's aid programmes in Sub Saharan Africa for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [49701/23]

Middle East

Sorca Clarke

64. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on any recent meetings or communications he has had with the relevant EU bodies with regards to the situation in Israel-Palestine; and if there has been any meaningful outcome to these engagements. [49702/23]