Parliamentary questions

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Neasa Hourigan

752. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current typical time for An Bord Pleanála to complete a Compulsory Purchase Order required by a local authority for an active travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56716/23]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Neasa Hourigan

794. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of land purchased by the National Park and Wildlife Service for conservation purposes since 2020 to date. [1052/24]

Invasive Species Policy

Neasa Hourigan

795. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to put a timeline on the phasing out of, and eventual ban of, the sale of invasive species, such as cherry laurel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1053/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1274. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the greyhound track attendance figures for each of the Shelbourne Park, Enniscorthy and Limerick tracks, on 2, 9 and 16 November 2023, respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into paid and complimentary entry, and entry by adults, children, greyhound owners, trainers and bookmakers etc, in tabular form. [1713/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1275. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the greyhound track attendance figures for each of the Curraheen, Kilkenny, Newbridge and Galway tracks on 3, 10 and 17 November 2023, respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into paid and complimentary entry, and entry by adults, children, greyhound owners, trainers and bookmakers, etc. in tabular form. [1714/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1276. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the greyhound track attendance figures for each of the Mullingar, Dundalk, Tralee and Waterford tracks, on 4, 11 and 18 November 2023, respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures into paid and complimentary entry, and entry by adults, children, greyhound owners, trainers and bookmakers, etc. in tabular form. [1715/24]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

1277. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the number of registered non-coursing greyhound owners for each of the years 2013 to 2023 inclusive, broken down by number of dogs registered to each owner for each year specified, in tabular form. [1716/24]

Departmental Policies

Neasa Hourigan

1302. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures, outside of constitutional amendments, his Government is taking to implement the Report of the Citizen’s Assembly on Gender Equality and the recommendations and action plan produced by the Joint Committee on Gender Equality. [55935/23]

Misuse of Drugs

Neasa Hourigan

1499. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is aware of the presence of the semi-synthetic cannabinoid, HHC or hexahydrocannabinol, in Ireland; if so, when the HSE was first made aware of its presence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56526/23]

Third Level Fees

Neasa Hourigan

1860. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures undertaken by his Department to assist students accessing graduate-entry medicine courses with the costs of fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1484/24]

Housing Policy

Neasa Hourigan

341. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the Fresh Start principle to include divorced applicants seeking to remortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56144/23]

Departmental Reports

Neasa Hourigan

176. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice when she expects to publish the final evaluation report on the Local Community Safety Partnership Pilots; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55741/23]

Parental Leave

Neasa Hourigan

206. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to extend leave entitlement for parents who have a child through surrogacy, to align with maternity or adoptive leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55495/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Neasa Hourigan

212. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many assessment of need reports as set out in the Disability Act 2005 were completed in 2021, 2022 and 2023 (year to date); and for those same years how many were completed by companies or sole traders employed by the HSE. [55658/23]

Energy Conservation

Neasa Hourigan

131. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme; when the scheme will be open for applications; the details of the eligibility rules and other operational aspects of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54925/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Neasa Hourigan

201. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if she will outline her Department's policy on extending the powers of local authority traffic wardens to include enforcement of other traffic offences in urban areas, such as driving in bus lanes and the failure to obey traffic lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54496/23]

An Garda Síochána

Neasa Hourigan

519. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline her Department's policy on automatic number plate recognition technology; if she intends to legislate if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54495/23]

Local Drugs Task Forces

Neasa Hourigan

779. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the appointment of a new co-ordinator for the Finglas-Cabra local drug and alcohol task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54651/23]

National Treasury Management Agency

Neasa Hourigan

61. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has issued any guidelines to the National Treasury Management Agency with regard to ethical investment, particularly the need to not invest in the arms industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53947/23]

United Nations

Neasa Hourigan

132. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Ireland’s position at the United Nations and other relevant international forums regarding lethal autonomous weapon systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53571/23]

Official Engagements

Neasa Hourigan

157. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 29 November 2023, if he can confirm whether he or his Department has had any engagement with representative governments or civil society organisations from the global south in consideration or development of proposals regarding the triple lock. [53897/23]

Official Engagements

Neasa Hourigan

24. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the engagements he or his Department have had with representative governments or civil society organisations from the global south, particularly those heavily impacted by war and conflict, in consideration or development of proposals regarding the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52586/23]

Middle East

Neasa Hourigan

93. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the current guidance provided by his Department to Gaza residents who hold a valid Irish visa, if the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv fails to not put their names on the departure list to leave Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52089/23]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

114. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline a timeline for the construction of floating storage and regasification units by the State; the estimated budget allocation for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52085/23]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

115. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the provision managing fracked gas supplies within the proposal by the Government for floating storage and regasification units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52086/23]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

116. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the engagement of private entities such as a company (details supplied) in the provision of floating storage and regasification units by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52087/23]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

117. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide further details on the proposed locations for floating storage and regasification units currently under review by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52088/23]

Rail Network

Neasa Hourigan

167. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure the provision of real time passenger information signage at Broombridge railway station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52216/23]

Office of Public Works

Neasa Hourigan

212. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 29 March 2022, if he will provide an update on the Office of Public Works plans to refurbish the vacant public toilets on Infirmary Road, Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51871/23]

Special Educational Needs

Neasa Hourigan

260. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the cost of translation services provided to schools for the deaf in each of the years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form; the manner in which funding is allocated for translation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52047/23]

Schools Building Projects

Neasa Hourigan

261. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the redevelopment of a building for a school (details supplied); the timetable for the design and design development stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52048/23]

Housing Policy

Neasa Hourigan

325. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that amendments to the Housing Act 1988 will not narrow the definition of homelessness or restrict access to emergency homeless accommodation and other supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52129/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

367. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to create a single scheme that combines the current reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme into one scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52146/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

368. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to review the application processes for reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme with a view to making it less complex, user-friendly and to ensure that it is aligned with a needs-based approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52147/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

369. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to provide approval in principle for employers and jobseekers applying for reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme to assist their planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52148/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

370. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to extend the supports provided by reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme to other employers in the community and voluntary sector and commercial State-sponsored sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52149/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

371. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to extend the employee retention grant so that it also available to new recruits and employees with pre-existing disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52150/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

372. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to enhance the disability awareness support scheme to offer wider training that also includes employers who currently do not have a disabled employee on staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52151/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

373. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to increase the number of support hours (interpreter, in-work support, and so on) eligible for funding under reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52152/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

374. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to ensure there are changes to reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme to allow for equipment, software, and assistive technologies to be made available where the need arises, including blended working arrangements and full-time working from home arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52153/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

375. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date to develop a communication plan to ensure targeted and accessible promotion of any reforms to reasonable accommodation fund grants and the disability awareness support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52154/23]

Departmental Funding

Neasa Hourigan

505. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 843 of 20 September 2023, if he will provide an update on the engagements he has had with a charity (details supplied) in relation to its funding situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52206/23]

Medicinal Products

Neasa Hourigan

563. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when the harm/benefit analysis of proposed animal experimentation projects are conducted, whether his Department considers the utility of the product to be tested on animals, or the utility of the product a component substance of which is to be tested on animals, as a factor in that harm/benefit analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51870/23]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Neasa Hourigan

621. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 791 of 1 February 2022, if he will provide an update on his plans to promote and advertise the use of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive scheme to help alleviate waiting lists for medical procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52240/23]

Cancer Services

Neasa Hourigan

454. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reassess the age range eligibility of the BreastCheck screening programme, in particular concerning women over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50523/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

558. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on total projected costs for the renovation/extension of Carraig Mór intensive care psychiatric facility in Shanakiel, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50998/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

559. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on total projected costs for the acquisition/renovation of a community mental health residence in Lauriston, Midleton, and any other associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50999/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

560. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the current number of residents residing in Garnish House; the projected closure time of that mental health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51000/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

561. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the projected opening date of Glenwood House in Carrigaline as a community mental health residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51001/23]

School Facilities

Neasa Hourigan

190. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure all schools in the State have access to drinking water for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49389/23]