Parliamentary questions

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]

Local Elections

Brendan Griffin

282. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of persons prohibited from running for local authority elections; if employees of a public body are barred from running in local elections (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8998/24]

Local Elections

Brendan Griffin

283. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if employment contracts made between contractors and a public body (details supplied) prohibit those contractors from running in local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8999/24]

Social Welfare Code

Brendan Griffin

304. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the period a person can receive carer's benefit will be increased from 104 to 156 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8686/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

321. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance award in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who was waiting for a HSE assessment will be backdated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9281/24]

Gambling Sector

Brendan Griffin

347. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice her views on the alignment between the objective of the Gambling Regulation Bill to protect vulnerable persons and the exclusion of the National Lottery from the purview of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, particularly in light of recent findings from the Economic and Social Research Institute study on problem gambling, which identified lotteries and scratch cards as the most prevalent forms of gambling and thus, addiction; how this exemption aligns with the broader objectives of the Bill aimed at promoting responsible practices within the gambling industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9031/24]

Gambling Sector

Brendan Griffin

348. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the reason the National Lottery is being excluded from being regulated by the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, particularly when local lotteries run by local charities and local voluntary groups will be subject to such regulation; the reason the National Lottery will not be included in the watershed ban on advertising of gambling products proposed in the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, when all other forms of gambling will be, including advertising charity lotteries and bingo games; how such a stance is in keeping with the Bill's objective of a balanced regulatory approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9032/24]

Domestic Violence

Brendan Griffin

349. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if additional funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) in Kerry in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9035/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

390. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 eco balancing payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8981/24]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Griffin

555. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when an ex gratia payment will issue to a former employee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8996/24]

Hospital Facilities

Brendan Griffin

560. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the impediments that exist to the opening of more beds at West Kerry Community Hospital; if the recruitment of additional healthcare assistants is a feasible option in the event of additional nursing staff being unavailable for recruitment; if this option has been explored previously; if so, the outcome of any such exploration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9040/24]

Sport and Recreational Development

Brendan Griffin

665. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider a funding stream for community organisations to purchase land and/or buildings for development for sporting and community use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9041/24]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Griffin

20. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position on the most recent Garda recruitment drive; the age and gender demographic breakdown of new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8311/24]

State Pardons

Brendan Griffin

27. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position regarding the possible posthumous pardoning in the historic cases of Poff and Barrett in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8310/24]

Agriculture Industry

Brendan Griffin

49. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made on sourcing new markets and uses for wool; if he will provide an update on the work of the wool committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8349/24]

Farm Safety

Brendan Griffin

60. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what new initiatives he plans on the farm safety front; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8350/24]

Waste Management

Brendan Griffin

106. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had engagements with disposable nappy manufacturers to explore whether a more sustainable approach to disposing of used disposable nappies could be established (details supplied); the estimated percentage of nappies used for children deemed to be disposable versus reusable; if local communities can be empowered to help address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8550/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

156. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, what discussions her Department had with RTÉ and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in summer 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8494/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in the summer of 2023, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, the reason she informed the committee on 28 November 2023 that the matter had not been discussed with her Department; if she will request that the records of the committee be changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8495/24]