Parliamentary questions

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Lowry

180. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 8 February 2024, if the additional information concerning an application for ECCE time extension exemption for a child (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10843/24]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Lowry

114. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the situation of residents who use a coin meter for electricity; given that these residents are not registered with an electricity supplier in Ireland, do not have a unique meter point registration number, and do not receive an electricity bill, this results in no energy credit being passed onto the residents; if he will clarify what provisions are in place to allow such residents to claim the energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10139/24]

Litter Pollution

Michael Lowry

117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 06 December 2023, if he will provide an update on when the LGMA Codes of Practice codes for CCTV will be approved, particularly in relation to their use by local authorities for assisting waste enforcement and anti-litter efforts, and including the monitoring of illegal dumping and dog fouling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10162/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Lowry

531. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can clarify the measures in place to ensure equal opportunity for all farmers in the ACRES programme (details supplied); the plans to approve all applications which were submitted in the ACRES program's second tranche; if the ACRES programme will be expanded to accommodate the high volume of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10820/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael Lowry

85. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when infrastructure to ensure access to high-speed fibre broadband will be installed in the case of a premises (details supplied); when high-speed fibre broadband will be available to this premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8917/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Lowry

267. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on previous representations made to his Department on behalf of a club (details supplied); if his Department has a valid application from the club for the proposed field trials; when a decision will be issued on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8750/24]

Departmental Consultations

Michael Lowry

330. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if officials in her Department will make contact with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) concerning confusion about the status of their IIP project; if officials can review correspondence; if every effort will be made to rectify any possible irregularities in order that this application can be processed and finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8692/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Lowry

183. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if a prepaid return envelope can be included when requests are issued from the child benefit section asking parents to confirm their children's details concerning continued entitlement to child benefit payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8418/24]

Commemorative Medals

Michael Lowry

95. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to correspondence sent to her office from a person (details supplied) concerning the prestigious Polar Medal which was awarded to an Irish born Antarctic explorer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8253/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Lowry

109. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection when the ruling concerning the free fuel allowance, which states that a household payment can only be paid when the residence is on an approved site (publicly or privately owned) with planning permission for the caravan or mobile home, was introduced and if this ruling will be reviewed in cases where someone lives in a residence without planning permission, such as when an additional mobile home or caravan is placed, as these ‘additional’ places of residence are not currently legally distinct households, impacting a person’s eligibility for fuel allowance in view of the current housing crisis and lack of availability of houses to rent, and many families find themselves with no option but to move a mobile home or caravan onto their parents’ site or land in an effort to avoid homelessness; if an exception can be made from this ruling to enable many struggling families to qualify for free fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8266/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Lowry

78. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the implementation of the new pay-related jobseeker's benefit system; how this reform is improving the social welfare system for persons with a strong work history so they can receive enhanced benefits if they lose their employment; what measures are being taken to ensure its successful implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7455/24]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Lowry

102. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the steps her Department is taking in addressing the 'cliff-edges' in welfare systems; as she is aware these 'cliff-edges' in the welfare systems are where benefit entitlements and other supports are withdrawn sharply; these 'cliff-edges' disincentivise individuals from increasing their work hours or accepting pay rises as they might end up financially worse off due to the sudden loss of benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7456/24]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Lowry

104. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the measures being taken to support low-income families, such as increases in weekly social welfare payments, an increase in the domiciliary care allowance, and increases in the income thresholds for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7457/24]

An Garda Síochána

Michael Lowry

235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made on the development of a new Garda station in Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary; if the development of Clonmel Garda station is considered a priority for Government, given that a new Garda station in Clonmel is urgently needed for the members of An Garda Síochána stationed in Clonmel and for the members of the public they serve; when it is envisaged that works on the construction of the new station will start; the proposed completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7681/24]

Irish Language

Michael Lowry

247. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education regarding the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community, specifically those pertaining to the exemption from Irish for dyslexic children and young people, if she is aware of the disappointment of The Dyslexia Association of Ireland that their points and views/recommendations which they presented to the Committee on 12 October 2022 have not been sufficiently taken into account in the Committee’s report or its recommendations; if she will confirm why the recommendations of The Dyslexia Association of Ireland were not adequately considered; if the views of The Dyslexia Association of Ireland will be fully taken into account before making any final decision regarding the new policy for the allocation of exemptions from Irish for dyslexic children and young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7416/24]

School Admissions

Michael Lowry

272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to address a matter regarding primary school admission policies (details supplied). [7568/24]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

313. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide information on any meetings that she or her Departmental officials have had with Bus Éireann concerning the ban on school bus drivers who are over 70 years of age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7990/24]

Medical Cards

Michael Lowry

529. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when the guideline and calculations used to assess the qualification for the under-70s medical card was last reviewed; how can it be justified and deemed equitable that the basic allowance for a couple to qualify for a full medical under-70s medical card still stands at €266.50 per week, when the rate of jobseeker’s allowance for a couple is €386.00 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7496/24]

Dental Services

Michael Lowry

606. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current status of the provision of primary school dental services by the Health Service Executive in CHO5 and 3; the waiting times for the initial assessment of an individual and the subsequent waiting times for orthodontic treatment for such individuals once they have been referred; his views on whether it is acceptable that a child residing in Tipperary will be subjected to a waiting period of 24 months or longer for an initial assessment (details supplied) upon completion of the assessment; the anticipated waiting period for this child to receive dental and orthodontic treatment; if a child’s case will be referred to the treatment purchase fund for immediate treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7974/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

66. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can review an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7088/24]