Parliamentary questions

Departmental Inquiries

Claire Kerrane

473. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will act immediately when the scoping inquiry into abuse in schools run by religious orders is provided to her in June 2024, given this timeline is already delayed and given survivors involved in the process need to see immediate action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12482/24]

Departmental Inquiries

Claire Kerrane

474. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that survivors who were involved in the scoping inquiry into abuse in schools run by religious orders will receive a copy of the report in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12483/24]

Septic Tanks

Claire Kerrane

589. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of additional households that became eligible for septic tank grants since his announcement in November 2023 of changes to the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11658/24]

Septic Tanks

Claire Kerrane

590. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who can apply for the septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11659/24]

Septic Tanks

Claire Kerrane

591. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in the State that are in the eligible areas for septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11660/24]

Septic Tanks

Claire Kerrane

592. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in County Roscommon and County Galway that are in the eligible areas for septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/24]

Septic Tanks

Claire Kerrane

593. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to advise if he will review the eligible areas for the septic tank grant given the majority of areas cannot access it as they are outside the eligible area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11662/24]

Housing Provision

Claire Kerrane

680. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the temporary waiver scheme in respect of development contributions beyond April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12764/24]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

722. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will roll out WALK employment across the State to ensure that young people with intellectual disabilities finishing post-primary school have opportunities for training and employment after school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11726/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

771. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the income thresholds for the fuel allowance in the case of under 70s in light of recent increases for those aged over 70 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12957/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

772. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider those aged under 70 years with modest occupational pensions which they worked for, who are unable to access the fuel allowance; if she will examine this cohort in the context of the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12958/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Claire Kerrane

773. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to continue increasing the weekly income threshold for the over 70s when accessing the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12959/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

981. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 28 February 2024, if there has been direct engagement with any farmers whose scores are affected as a result of the proposed buffer zone; if he is aware that turbary zones on commonage are often shared and accessed across communities, and that farmers taking part in ACRES cannot police commonage areas; if consideration has been given to not proceeding with a buffer zone in turbary areas on commonage, given that farmers were unaware of such a rule, and the negative impact it could have on scoring for ACRES payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12036/24]

Horticulture Sector

Claire Kerrane

982. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on concerns raised in relation to imports of hawthorn and the risk of fireblight; what measures will be introduced to mitigate this risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12037/24]

Tax Exemptions

Claire Kerrane

1017. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on the residential zoned land tax on behalf of farmers to ensure that farmers whose land is being actively farmed is excluded from this tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12486/24]

Tax Exemptions

Claire Kerrane

1018. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether farmers whose land is being actively farmed should be excluded from the residential zoned land tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12487/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

1039. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to extending the closing date for the spreading of lime under the liming scheme, given challenging weather and ground conditions in many places and concerns raised by farmers regarding their ability to spread lime by the current deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12828/24]

Fodder Crisis

Claire Kerrane

1069. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of concerns about farmers facing a shortage of fodder over the coming weeks; if he is considering supports for farmers with addressing this gap or with high costs of buying silage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13258/24]

Education and Training Provision

Claire Kerrane

1098. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the further education, training and employment opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities finishing post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11725/24]

Healthcare Policy

Claire Kerrane

1365. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he plans to open new rounds of funding under a walking tracks initiative (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12297/24]

Departmental Policies

Claire Kerrane

1583. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will include an organisation (details supplied) in the newly established Stakeholder Group on Dog Control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12053/24]

Departmental Inquiries

Claire Kerrane

1586. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of a library (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12209/24]

Departmental Funding

Claire Kerrane

1587. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding under town renewal scheme or any such funding was approved by her Department for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12210/24]

Public Transport

Claire Kerrane

119. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review eligibility for the free travel scheme for people who have a severe illness but who are not in receipt of the relevant qualifying payment; if consideration has been given to allowing discretion in certain cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10905/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

149. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on any delays to payments under the organic farming scheme; if delays to other farm payments such as ACRES have caused delays to payments for organics; if this is the case what measures are his Department taking to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11002/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

150. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 28 February 2024, if he will engage with any farmers whose ACRES payments may be affected by the introduction of this rule and consider them on an individual basis given it has been raised that farmers were unaware of this rule and he confirmed that the implementation of the rule was under review; if a timeline can be provided for when farmers whose ACRES scoring is affected as a result of the rule will be notified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11003/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Claire Kerrane

207. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise why there is no pathway available to access diagnostic assessments for autism via primary care services in County Roscommon; if he will outline what plans are being put in place to provide same going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10970/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Claire Kerrane

208. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise the reason there is no service available to access diagnostic assessments for ADHD (adult) in County Roscommon; if he will outline what plans are being put in place to provide this service going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10971/24]

Defence Forces

Claire Kerrane

146. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason a person (details supplied) received no feedback on an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10172/24]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

353. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is any funding available to support community centres purchasing sports equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10474/24]

Housing Provision

Claire Kerrane

386. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to provide funding in 2024 to support local authorities with taking in charge applications in respect of unfinished housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10007/24]

Water Services

Claire Kerrane

387. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to seek a new round of bids under the Multi-Annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme. [10008/24]

Water Services

Claire Kerrane

388. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason two housing estates in County Roscommon (details supplied) were not recommended for funding under the Multi-Annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021 [10009/24]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

409. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to reopen the Protected Structures Conservation Advice Grant Scheme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10312/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

513. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason only two afforestation licences were issued, amounting to just 13 ha, in week 3 of February 2024; to state the actual number of licences his Department would need to issue each week to meet the Government target of 8,000 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10058/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

530. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline changes made by an organisation (details supplied) to support breeders outside of the changes made to assist SCEP participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10663/24]

Mental Health Services

Claire Kerrane

741. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a proposal (details supplied), if he will consider funding this and rolling it out State wide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10568/24]

Community Development Projects

Claire Kerrane

820. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is any funding available to support community centres purchasing sports equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10475/24]

Ambulance Service

Claire Kerrane

21. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the advanced paramedic roster put in place in County Roscommon after the closure of the accident and emergency unit is restored in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9148/24]

Ambulance Service

Claire Kerrane

30. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service is no longer training advanced paramedics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9147/24]

Local Authorities

Claire Kerrane

155. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if funding can be provided to a local authority (details supplied) in order to upgrade litter bins and provide additional litter bins in an area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9835/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

235. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that some payment sections are still including child maintenance as means in assessments; if she will issue direction on this to all sections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9829/24]

Medical Cards

Claire Kerrane

314. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason a service (details supplied) is unavailable under the medical card scheme at a local hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9830/24]

Environmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

12. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 13 February 2024, if a ‘run out’ period will apply from 3 July 2024, to allow existing stocks of tethered caps to be used up before transitioning to new caps to avoid wastage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/24]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Claire Kerrane

49. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her plans to further reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9567/24]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when applications will open for the sports capital grant funding in 2024. [9615/24]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

64. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when applications will open for the new round of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund in 2024. [9616/24]

Sports Funding

Claire Kerrane

65. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to open new rounds of funding under the healthy Ireland GAA walking tracks initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9617/24]

Fire Service

Claire Kerrane

76. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to advise when the increased retainer for retained firefighters will be agreed and paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9646/24]

Turf Cutting

Claire Kerrane

95. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on his review of a proposed 'buffer zone' around turbary areas, given it was understood that areas in which turf is cut would be scored separately to areas overall, and in consideration of concerns about the impact the introduction of such a rule would have on ACRES payments for farmers in those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9555/24]