Parliamentary questions

Health Service Executive

Brendan Griffin

232. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) was in receipt of a large settlement package from the HSE; if a breakdown will be provided in relation to the payment; if he believes the figure is unacceptably high; if he is satisfied all correct procedures were followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11183/24]

Regional Development

Brendan Griffin

241. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she can provide any assistance to villages in Ireland looking to establish twinning arrangements with foreign locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11195/24]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

61. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to announce LIS funding for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10355/24]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Griffin

70. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to announce successful ORIS applications; if her attention has been drawn to the strand 3 application from Kerry County Council in respect of Kilderry looped amenity walk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10354/24]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

169. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport when safety improvement works will commence at a dangerous junction in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10309/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

360. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she stands over her comments at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media on 28 November 2023 that the suspension of TV licence advertising was not discussed with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10717/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

361. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will clarify whether the suspension of TV licence advertising was discussed with her Department's officials at operational forum meetings involving her Department's officials, RTÉ and An Post on 12 July, 16 August, 6 September, 11 October and 8 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10718/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

362. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if notes, minutes or any other form of record were kept in respect of operational forum meetings involving her Department's officials, RTÉ and An Post on 12 July, 16 August, 6 September, 11 October and 8 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10719/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

363. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will furnish this Deputy with notes, minutes or any other form of records that were kept in respect of operational forum meetings involving her Department's officials, RTÉ and An Post on 12 July, 16 August, 6 September, 11 October and 8 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10720/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

364. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will furnish this Deputy with details of which officials from her Department attended operational forum meetings with RTÉ and An Post on 12 July, 16 August, 6 September, 11 October and 8 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10721/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

365. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has been in receipt of oral or written briefings, reports, summaries, notes, minutes or any form of records in respect of operational forum meetings involving her Department's officials, RTÉ and An Post on 12 July, 16 August, 6 September, 11 October and 8 November 2023 when these were received by the Minister; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10722/24]

Departmental Meetings

Brendan Griffin

366. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is concerned with the lack of accounting and auditing expertise on the RTÉ Board; if she will list the current board members with accounting and auditing expertise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10723/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

367. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how long the operational forum meetings involving her Department's officials, RTÉ and An Post have been taking place; if she will provide details of dates of each of these meetings for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10724/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

368. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will furnish this Deputy with dated copies of briefings to her by her officials in respect of operational forum meetings involving her Department's officials, RTÉ and An Post on 12 July, 16 August, 6 September, 11 October and 8 November 2023; if she received and read these briefings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10725/24]

Departmental Meetings

Brendan Griffin

369. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Chairman of RTÉ briefed her on the appointment of the new company secretary; if so, when the briefing took place; if she scrutinised the appointment process; if copies of correspondence in this regard will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10726/24]

Departmental Meetings

Brendan Griffin

370. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date position regarding the appointment of a new Chair for RTÉ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10727/24]

Departmental Meetings

Brendan Griffin

371. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she or any official in her Department or member of her staff was in receipt of, by any means written, electronic or otherwise, confirmation of RTÉ Remuneration Committee approval of any exit package in respect of any RTÉ employee after 26 September 2023 and before 14 February 2024; if so, if she will provide the details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10728/24]

Departmental Meetings

Brendan Griffin

372. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the HR and culture report she commissioned into RTÉ will involve interaction with staff outside of the HR Department; if she is aware that one anonymised survey appears to be the only such engagement to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10729/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

373. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of live television and radio interviews she has given since 17 July 2023 where the primary purpose of the interview was to appeal for compliance with licence requirement and stopping the decline in TV licence revenues; if she will identify each interview; the amount of revenue lost to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10737/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

452. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection why a payment has been reduced for a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10517/24]

Cost of Living Issues

Brendan Griffin

460. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a cost of living payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10796/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

509. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the eligible commonage area on the 2024 BISS online application system for a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied) will be reviewed and increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10029/24]

Gorse Burning

Brendan Griffin

528. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a burnt land appeal in respect of a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10567/24]

Hospital Staff

Brendan Griffin

28. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the current breakdown of all staffing types at West Kerry Community Hospital; what net recruitment progress has been made in each category each year since 2019; the current bed compliment; the breakdown of bed types; how many people are currently waiting for a bed in the hospital; what recruitment efforts are being made for each category of staff, including healthcare assistants and nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9581/24]

Hospital Procedures

Brendan Griffin

53. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the current position in relation to non-elective surgeries in University Hospital Kerry; when such surgeries ceased; when they will re-commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9580/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what discussions he has had with the Department of Finance regarding how changes to taxation could reduce the cost of childcare for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9729/24]

Childcare Services

Brendan Griffin

133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on what further assistance the State can give to families towards the cost of childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9728/24]

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Griffin

172. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the remaining works on an embankment in County Kerry (details supplied) will be completed, to prevent flooding of homes and in advance of scheduled road repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9849/24]

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Griffin

173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on a river flooding risk (details supplied); what solutions the local authority has proposed; if his Department will provide funding for the solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9852/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

212. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she or her Department was first informed by the Chair of the RTÉ Board (details supplied), or any other person, of concerns regarding the performance of the former Director General of RTÉ; the nature and content of the communications; the action she took in response to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9866/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she or her Department was first informed by the Chair of the RTÉ Board, or any other person, of concerns regarding the operation of barter accounts at RTÉ; the nature and content of the communications; the action she took in response to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9867/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she or her Department has been informed by the Chair of the RTÉ Board, or any other person, of concerns regarding financial, commercial, employment or behavioural irregularities at RTÉ, outside of what has already transpired publicly; the nature and content of the communications; the action she took in response to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9868/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

216. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the precise remit given to the Government HR/Governance report into RTÉ; what exactly they are asked to investigate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9933/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ACRES payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9744/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Brendan Griffin

32. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he believes the Revenue Commissioners should accept some liability for the litany of bogus self-employment cases at RTÉ, given the knowledge of the prolonged practice by the Revenue Commissioners; if the Revenue Commissioners' role in handling the issue of bogus self-employment will be independently investigated, given the apparent scale and complexity of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9671/24]

State Examinations

Brendan Griffin

59. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if an adult is permitted to resist a Junior Certificate mathematics exam; if there are supports available to a person to assist with the exam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9676/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

66. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the two Government commissioned reports into RTÉ will be published; the reason the reports have been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9653/24]

Social Welfare Code

Brendan Griffin

84. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department should accept some liability for the litany of bogus self-employment cases at RTÉ, given the knowledge of the prolonged practice by her Department; if her Department's role in handling the issue of bogus self-employment will be independently investigated, given the apparent scale and complexity of the matter, including a specific focus on the process and rationale surrounding the decision to reclassify test cases as sample cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9672/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

97. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a statement will be provided of the 2023 BISS, CRISS, ANC and Eco payments to a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; if an explanation will be provided on the reduction in direct payments in comparison to 2022 to the farmer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9674/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Griffin

7. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the up-to-date position regarding the development of a facility in Killarney (details supplied) as a new training centre of excellence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9011/24]

Departmental Priorities

Brendan Griffin

36. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his priorities for Kerry in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9012/24]

Inland Fisheries

Brendan Griffin

88. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied). [9036/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Griffin

96. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the general policy of his Department if unused Army land or property is sought for school building, car parking or playground purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9054/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

97. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will engage with Defence Forces personnel who have been excluded from the pandemic recognition payment despite having worked front-line in Covid testing centres; if he believes it is unfair that these people were not nominated by the Defence Forces for receipt of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9055/24]

Active Travel

Brendan Griffin

101. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding for a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8758/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Griffin

172. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce a financial support package for small businesses and rural pubs to offset the recent increase in the minimum wage, VAT and energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8734/24]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Griffin

230. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a school in County Kerry (details supplied) will be considered for DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9206/24]

Sports Funding

Brendan Griffin

245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total value of SCEP applications in the current round under the equipment only category; the number of such applications per county; when he expects allocations to be made for equipment only applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9038/24]

Sports Funding

Brendan Griffin

246. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an application (details supplied) in County Kerry for the SCEP will be categorised as equipment only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9039/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Griffin

259. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated annual investment of private funding in biodiversity projects; if a breakdown can be provided regarding the categories of projects involved; how the impact is measured; how the State is supporting such initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9037/24]