Parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

70. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the latest level of take-up of the core funding model for childcare for childcare providers; if any need to adapt the existing suite of supports has been identified for providers that have sought additional transitional support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6098/23]

Housing Provision

Ruairí Ó Murchú

78. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline any proposals that his Department has in relation to dealing with accommodating international and temporary protection applicants in the coming quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6166/23]

International Protection

Violet-Anne Wynne

102. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will proceed with plans to convert a vacant unit (details supplied) into emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5664/23]

Gender Equality

Bríd Smith

1. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the gender pay gap report from his Department. [4421/23]

Gender Equality

Mary Lou McDonald

2. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the gender pay gap report from his Department. [5645/23]

Gender Equality

Mick Barry

3. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the gender pay gap report from his Department. [5795/23]

Gender Equality

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach to report on the gender pay gap report from his Department. [5889/23]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government [3405/23]

Programme for Government

Paul Murphy

6. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [3410/23]

Programme for Government

Bríd Smith

7. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [3412/23]

Programme for Government

Cian O'Callaghan

8. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4445/23]

Programme for Government

Mary Lou McDonald

9. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4089/23]

Programme for Government

Ivana Bacik

10. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4377/23]

Programme for Government

Peadar Tóibín

11. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4788/23]

Programme for Government

Jim O'Callaghan

12. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4696/23]

Programme for Government

Mick Barry

13. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [5796/23]

Programme for Government

Peadar Tóibín

14. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [5798/23]

Programme for Government

Cormac Devlin

15. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [5853/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [3406/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Cian O'Callaghan

17. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [4446/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Ivana Bacik

18. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council [4378/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Paul Murphy

19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [4428/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Mary Lou McDonald

20. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [5644/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Peadar Tóibín

21. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [5797/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Brendan Smith

22. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [5799/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Cathal Crowe

23. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [5873/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

1. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress that has been made towards implementing the working time directive for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5155/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to address recent reports that two further ships are to be taken out of service due to the lack of sailors to man the vessels; the progress made to date on measures to retain members in the Permanent Defence Force; the overall strength of the PDF in each of the past six months; when he expects the authorised strength level to be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5149/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

3. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress that has been made in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Commission on the Defence Forces report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5156/23]

Military Neutrality

Gary Gannon

4. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views and those of the Government on, “the triple lock”; and if he has any intention to change the current regime to a situation where the Government would have more flexibility to act militarily abroad. [5162/23]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

5. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update regarding the independent review group into the allegations made by a group (details supplied). [4773/23]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

8. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of new recruits to the Defence Forces; and the number of discharges in each of the years 2018 to 2022, inclusive. [4694/23]

Defence Forces

Denis Naughten

9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the future plans for Custume Barracks, Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2033/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

10. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department’s response to the change in practice where the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will no longer allow his Department to retain budget savings arising from the shortfall in the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5160/23]

EU Meetings

Gino Kenny

11. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has had engagement with his counterparts in the European Union; if he will report on those engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/23]

Defence Forces

Paul Kehoe

13. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the strength of the Naval Service, Army and Air Corps in each of the years from 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5021/23]

Defence Forces

Aindrias Moynihan

14. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the priorities for 2023 with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5045/23]

Air Corps

Cathal Crowe

15. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans that are in place regarding the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4738/23]

Defence Forces

Cathal Crowe

22. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the initiatives he will be taking in relation to recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4739/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

27. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the review by his Department and the Defence Forces of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5145/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

59. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position on the appointment of an independent chair for the oversight committee for the implementation of the Report of the Commission on Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5151/23]

Defence Forces

Bernard Durkan

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent of progress in recent months in implementing the reforms in the Defence Forces identified in a recent report with particular reference to all of the major recommendations, including on recruitment, pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5171/23]

School Accommodation

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

77. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she and her Department and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, have identified the number of places in special schools and special classes that will be required next September; if so, the number; and the number of places above and beyond what is currently available that will be required; and if all named parties are now beginning to analyse where it may be necessary to make use of legislation to compel schools rather than waiting until late spring. [5252/23]

School Transport

Seán Canney

78. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the review of school transport will be completed; the plans that she has in place for the delivery of school transport in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2873/23]

School Textbooks

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

79. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if free schoolbooks will be available to primary schools in September; if so, when the payment schedule will issue to schools; and if she will outline the discussions she has had with booksellers and publishers. [5253/23]

Schools Building Projects

Carol Nolan

80. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a timeline for the completion of works on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5402/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Joan Collins

81. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if her Department has completed its review from the 63 schools that piloted filling out the education component of the assessment of need; if it is the intention of her Department to roll out this process beyond the pilot scheme; if so, when; and if a school (details supplied) was included in the pilot scheme. [5479/23]

School Enrolments

Brian Leddin

82. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education if she will outline plans for new primary and secondary school developments in Limerick city in order to support the steep population growth targeted for the city under the national planning framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5225/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if there are proposals to extend the current Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4950/23]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig O'Sullivan

84. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that there are sufficient special school places in Cork city and county for the September 2023 intake; the engagement she has had with the National Council for Special Education in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4808/23]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

85. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to increase the number of places in secondary schools for young people with autism in County Cork. [4782/23]

Disability Services

Ruairí Ó Murchú

86. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to the use of the rapid prompting method to assist learning for children with autism who are non-verbal in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4387/23]

School Transport

Pauline Tully

87. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the timeframe for the completion of the full review of the school transport scheme; the timeframe for the publication of the review and its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4556/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Northern Ireland for discussions with the political parties there. [4220/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

2. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. [4221/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

3. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone conversation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. [4223/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Bríd Smith

4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his most recent engagement with political representatives and groups from Northern Ireland since he returned to Oifig an Taoisigh. [4423/23]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he is intending to establish new Cabinet subcommittees. [3075/23]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

6. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he is intending to establish new Cabinet subcommittees. [3078/23]

Cabinet Committees

Cian O'Callaghan

7. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he is intending to establish new Cabinet subcommittees. [4447/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

8. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination will next meet. [4087/23]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

9. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination will next meet. [4379/23]

Ukraine War

Seán Haughey

10. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone conversation with the Ukrainian President. [4222/23]

Ukraine War

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone call with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [4424/23]

Ukraine War

Paul Murphy

12. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone call with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [4427/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [3073/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [3076/23]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

35. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he is intending to establish new Cabinet subcommittees. [4380/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Violet-Anne Wynne

1. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Taoiseach when it is expected that the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs will take place. [3275/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Gino Kenny

2. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach the proposed running order of the citizens' assemblies. [3413/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul McAuliffe

3. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs will take place. [4161/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Aindrias Moynihan

4. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs will take place. [4234/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Ivana Bacik

5. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs will take place. [4369/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the proposed running order of citizens’ assemblies. [4415/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul Murphy

7. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the proposed running order of citizens’ assemblies. [4418/23]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

8. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality will next meet. [61817/22]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with social protection will next meet. [3074/23]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with social protection will next meet. [3077/23]

Cabinet Committees

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

11. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality will next meet. [4217/23]

Cabinet Committees

Niamh Smyth

12. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality will next meet. [4219/23]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

13. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality will next meet. [4370/23]

Cabinet Committees

Ruairí Ó Murchú

14. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with social protection will next meet. [4413/23]

Cabinet Committees

Bríd Smith

15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with immigration and integration will next meet. [4422/23]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with immigration and integration will next meet. [4426/23]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with immigration and integration will next meet. [4429/23]

Child Poverty

Alan Farrell

18. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach his views on the creation of a new division within his Department focusing on child poverty. [1634/23]

Child Poverty

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

19. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the proposed child poverty unit in his Department. [4218/23]

Child Poverty

Ivana Bacik

20. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the new division in his Department to address child poverty. [4371/23]

Child Poverty

Ruairí Ó Murchú

21. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he is considering the establishment of a new division in his Department to tackle child poverty. [4414/23]

Child Poverty

Richard Boyd Barrett

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach his views on the creation of a new division within his Department, focusing on child poverty. [4416/23]

Child Poverty

Paul Murphy

23. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach his views on the creation of a new division within his Department, focusing on child poverty. [4419/23]

Middle East

John Brady

63. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether efforts to further the search for peace in Palestine have been further hampered as a consequence of the inflammatory rhetoric and actions emanating from the newly elected Government in Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4613/23]

Ukraine War

Gino Kenny

64. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he intends to make to try to prevent further escalation of the war in Ukraine in his new role as Minister for Foreign Affairs of a neutral country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4515/23]

Passport Services

John Brady

65. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures being put in place to ensure that there will be no unnecessary backlog in the issuing of passports in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4614/23]

Brexit Issues

Matt Shanahan

66. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the ongoing discussions regarding possible changes to the Brexit protocol that can assist the movement of goods between the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. [4793/23]

Passport Services

Richard O'Donoghue

67. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the Passport Office is prepared for the influx of passport applications for this spring and summer (details supplied). [4615/23]

Middle East

Chris Andrews

68. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the new Israeli Government’s policy of expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, using the means of ethnic cleansing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2133/23]

Northern Ireland

Fergus O'Dowd

69. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the latest information regarding the Northern Ireland protocol and related negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/23]

Ukraine War

Cathal Crowe

71. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he believes the Russian Federation should be designated as a terrorist state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4332/23]

International Relations

Barry Cowen

72. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a report on his recent call with the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4367/23]