Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

121. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the policy document and the specific sections that detail his Department's position that agroforestry is not an acceptable forest type option for forest owners who have clear felled conifer plantations and wish to replant with agroforestry; to clarify why his Department do not accept agroforestry in such circumstances; to further specify when the policy was enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52767/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

122. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why agroforestry is an acceptable forest type option for replanting ash dieback infected sites but is not an acceptable forest type option for forest owners with conifer plantations who wish to replant with agroforestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52768/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

123. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 21 November 2023, the specific section of the policy or scheme document that details his Department's position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52769/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

253. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she can review an application for school transport for Ukrainian students to attend a school (details supplied); when a decision will be issued on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51878/23]

State Bodies

Michael Lowry

434. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Food and the Marine to list the companies and State agencies that have engaged in the Woodland Environmental Fund since its formation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51910/23]

Energy Conservation

Michael Lowry

159. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to review and address correspondence (details supplied) concerning operational inefficiencies in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's management of the support scheme for renewable heat, particularly the substantial delays in budget deployment and payment cycles for clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51637/23]

State Bodies

Michael Lowry

255. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review and address correspondence (details supplied) concerning operational inefficiencies in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; to provide an update on the postponed issuance of letters of offer for the TAMS 3 solar PV grant as this delay is greatly impacting businesses and farmers, as these concerns are causing significant financial strain and affecting the efficacy of these key environmental schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51637/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

130. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include an advisory circular with all Ash dieback reconstitution scheme approvals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51286/23]

Visa Applications

Michael Lowry

384. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 26 October 2023, if he will provide clarity on the misinformation provided to the applicant and their spouse, specifically regarding the reason they were told to have flights booked; if he has reviewed the documents which have outlined all the applicant and their spouse's concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50992/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

407. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plots and plantations (details supplied) are eligible for the ash dieback grant aid scheme; if the owner needs to secure a felling licence for the non-ash broadleaf species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51006/23]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Michael Lowry

427. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding and financial assistance that can be made available to an organisation (details supplied); if he and his Department will open dialogue with the organisation immediately concerning the funding crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50684/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Lowry

542. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a health care worker (details supplied) has not received their pandemic special recognition payment; if he will take into account that they worked from September 2019 to July 2020 in various health care settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50887/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Lowry

545. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a health care worker (details supplied) has not received their pandemic special recognition payment; if he will take into account that this person worked from February 2020 to July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50923/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

145. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review an application for school transport for a student (details supplied); when a decision will be issued on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50379/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

247. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when the HSE and his Department will fulfil their commitment to facilitating homebirth services in north Tipperary and CHO3; if all midwife-led services are fully operational in the rural areas of north Tipperary and CHO3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50428/23]

General Practitioner Services

Michael Lowry

140. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health what advice is being provided to a person (details supplied) whose family do not possess a medical card but have approached eight different GPs in their local area, only to be informed by all these GP practices they are not accepting new patients due to their GMS books being closed; what alternatives are available to individuals in such circumstances who do not hold a medical card and cannot obtain a GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50068/23]

Weather Events

Michael Lowry

157. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if any additional or emergency funding will be provided for flood relief works in the Inch Lane, The Ragg area of Thurles in County Tipperary; if he will review the personal circumstances of a person (details supplied); if his Department has plans for any new flood relief schemes in this area of County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49901/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

496. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the School Transport Appeals Board will issue a decision on a school transport appeal submitted by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47934/23]

Further and Higher Education

Michael Lowry

1389. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of discussions between his Department and the representatives of an organisation (details supplied) regarding its contract proposal; what steps are being taken to address the concerns raised by the organisation regarding the proposed contract; if he will take action to expedite the process of reaching a satisfactory contract agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47713/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

116. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review a foreign birth register application by a person (details supplied); if, given the extensive additional supporting documents that needed to be provided with this application, he can confirm that his Department has now received everything required to have this application processed at the earliest convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47066/23]

Bus Éireann

Michael Lowry

133. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate discussions with Bus Éireann concerning its service from the South East Technological University (details supplied); if he will support this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47124/23]

Immigration Policy

Michael Lowry

212. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice when applications (details supplied) will be finalised and permission granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47106/23]

Visa Applications

Michael Lowry

213. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice when an application (details supplied) will be finalised and visa permission granted; if she will review the circumstances around the delay in processing this application and the reasons for the misinformation provided to the applicant and their spouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47107/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Lowry

52. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the processing times for carer's allowance applications; the sequential processing time for applications sent for review by applicants, and refusals that are under appeals by applicants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46638/23]

Bus Services

Michael Lowry

150. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he and Bus Éireann will consider the reinstatement of the Bus Éireann X12 Expressway service between Dublin and Limerick, which also includes a stop in Roscrea, County Tipperary in the event that the return of the X12 service is not feasible; if not, if he and Bus Éireann will consider introducing a public bus service from Roscrea to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46133/23]

Work Permits

Michael Lowry

221. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a permit application (details supplied) was refused; the relevant governing body/person that was consulted by his Department concerning this employment permit which led to a decision to refuse; what exactly is section 12(1I)(b) of the Employment Permits Act 2006; the reason the permit was under this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46195/23]

Work Permits

Michael Lowry

222. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the anticipated timeframe for the determination of an appeal lodged subsequent to the refusal of a permit application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46211/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Lowry

265. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review correspondence received from a school (details supplied) given the gravity of the issue raised by the management of the school; if she will make arrangements for officials in her Department to engage with the school without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46178/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

286. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 17 October 2023, if she can make enquiries with Bus Éireann and ask them to confirm whether their online system ever experienced any issues related to the capturing of eircodes during the 2023-2024 ticket application process; if such an issue with eircodes was indeed present; if Bus Éireann will provide the Minister with the date(s) when this issue was identified and when it was subsequently resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46442/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

296. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if school transport or school transport support grants can be extended to a student (details supplied) with special education needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46571/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

433. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 20 June 2023, and in view of the criteria stated in the native woodland conservation scheme (details supplied), if it is fair that this envisages the preparation and submission of the site-specific native woodland plan by a NPWS ecologist and NPWS forester to his Department prior to the clear-felling of the conifer forest taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46534/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

435. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 20 June 2023, if the Forestry Service has granted an approval for native woodland conservation under the private high forest category to anyone where the criteria under NPWS private high forest category listed on pages 3 and 4 of the scheme documents have not been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46566/23]

Departmental Policies

Michael Lowry

597. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health following a recommendation made by the WHO in 2021, to provide an update on his Department’s progress in developing a National Hearing Care Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46565/23]

Third Level Education

Michael Lowry

630. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 797 of 30 May 2023, the status of the proposed new veterinary school at the University of Limerick; if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine and his Department concerning funding and the quantity of additional veterinary education places that will be available in UL; if these additional veterinary education places will be listed and available for students to apply for on the CAO system for the 2024-2025 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46184/23]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

200. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be issued regarding the application for a personal special needs assistant for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45979/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Lowry

272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding and assistance can be made available to a school (details supplied), which is at risk of closure due to the loss of its premises for the academic year 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45968/23]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

101. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he has received the correspondence regarding the unacceptable waiting times for driving tests, which are currently at an all-time high (details supplied); when he intends to issue a response to the correspondence received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45725/23]

Business Supports

Michael Lowry

187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 05 October 2023, while it is heartening to read about the supports available to companies across the country and across County Tipperary if he will commit to utilising all available State agencies and exerting every possible effort to support the community of Carrick-on-Suir; specifically, if he, his Department and State agencies actively seek an alternative company to take over a factory (details supplied) and address the loss of approximately 50 jobs in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44631/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

226. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a student (details supplied) did not receive a school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; if the Bus Éireann system had an issue with the capturing of eircodes, as suggested by the applicants mother; if so, when this issue was resolved; when they will be allocated a ticket for the 2023/2024 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44785/23]

School Curriculum

Michael Lowry

255. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 10 October 2023; if he will confirm when the work on the Junior Certificate School Programme review will physically recommence; what is the new timeline for completing this review; when its findings will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45193/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Lowry

434. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of the proposals for a voluntary dairy exit scheme that is currently under consideration by his Department; if he will provide information regarding the consideration given to the inclusion of an entry scheme for young farmers as part of or alongside the proposed exit scheme; if he will provide information on the various proposals being examined as part of this voluntary scheme and any engagement his Department has had with key stakeholders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45276/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

69. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 56 of 25 July 2023, when a decision will be reached regarding an individual's application to the foreign birth register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44499/23]

Childcare Services

Michael Lowry

164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child was removed from the NCS scheme without a parent's knowledge or consent (details supplied); if he will review what additional recourse is now available to this child's parent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44505/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Michael Lowry

194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a company (details supplied) entrusted with the management of a significant number of properties under contract with his Department, has properties that either remain completely unoccupied or possess and have available family rooms that have not been allocated to anyone for over two months; the reason individuals continue to reside in tents in Stradbally while the company have secure, contracted properties which remain unutilised with vacant beds; if he will provide clarification regarding which department or section are now responsible for assigning persons to properties under contract with his Department as currently it appears that Citywest is no longer in charge of assigning persons to properties, and regional temporary accommodation hub managers are also without this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44260/23]

School Curriculum

Michael Lowry

228. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the JCSP review commenced; to outline the scope and guidelines for this review; when the review is expected to be concluded; when its findings will be issued; if it his intention to reopen the programme once the review is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44022/23]

School Accommodation

Michael Lowry

234. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the ongoing issue pertaining to the need for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); what is the long-term plan for this school accommodation needs; if a permanent structure will be built on the school grounds or is it anticipated that additional modular units will be provided as a short-term measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44081/23]

Animal Diseases

Michael Lowry

405. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 3 October 2023 and the case of goat milk farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44190/23]

Mental Health Services

Michael Lowry

456. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he has received a copy of correspondence originally sent to An Taoiseach by a person (details supplied); if he will provide an additional €115 million for mental health services in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43454/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Michael Lowry

514. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 528 and 532 of 13 December 2022, if he will review correspondence from the chairperson of an organisation (details supplied) concerning an increase in the number of proposed palliative care beds in Clonmel at the new development in St. Anthony's unit on the grounds of Tipperary University Hospital; if he will agree to review the current complement of palliative care beds in the Clonmel region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43683/23]

Hospital Equipment

Michael Lowry

552. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of days from January 2022 to the end of September 2023 during which radiation oncology services at University Hospital Limerick were unavailable due to breakdowns in radiotherapy machinery/equipment, in tabular form; the average duration required to repair radiotherapy machinery/equipment at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43973/23]