Parliamentary questions

Departmental Properties

Brendan Howlin

72. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to bring the derelict houses in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare, back into the State housing stock and make them available once again for service members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5150/23]

International Protection

Brendan Howlin

119. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has been contacted by other Departments to assist in the housing or placement of refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5165/23]

Middle East

Brendan Howlin

118. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to date to sanction the Iranian authorities responsible for the brutal suppression of peaceful protest; his views on whether the Iran Revolutionary Guard should be listed as a terrorist entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4001/23]

Human Rights

Brendan Howlin

123. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current situation in relation to an Irish citizen (details supplied) detained in Iran since October 2022; his efforts to secure their release including his contact with the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Ambassador of Iran in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4002/23]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Howlin

127. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current state of negotiation between the EU and the UK on finding an agreed settlement on the Northern Ireland protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4004/23]

Disaster Response

Brendan Howlin

141. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the support by way of money, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief that Ireland has sent to Somalia and other drought-impacted nations in the Horn of Africa enduring mass starvation; the plans the European Union and other international organisations have to bring relief to the millions of persons affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4003/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Howlin

601. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the level of consultation with private nursing homes to determine the ratio, in relation to statements made by his Department concerning dependency levels within private nursing homes; if he will set out the average cost per resident in HSE-operated nursing homes for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3993/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Howlin

602. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by private nursing home operators at the recruitment by the HSE of trained staff from their sector who have been recruited by private nursing homes from abroad and have had their visas and travel arrangements processed at a considerable cost to the private nursing homes concerned; the steps he has taken to ensure that attractive terms and conditions are available for nurses and care workers in both the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3994/23]

School Textbooks

Brendan Howlin

365. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education the progress made to date on the roll-out of her Department’s programme for free primary school books; the engagement she has had to date with the education partners and other stake holders regarding this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3233/23]

Public Sector Pay

Brendan Howlin

381. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the pay claim submitted on behalf of community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3228/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Howlin

611. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the full authorised staffing numbers and positions for County Wexford’s children’s disability network team; the staff positions currently vacant; the efforts being made to fill these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3237/23]

Work Permits

Brendan Howlin

14. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63349/22]

Tax Credits

Brendan Howlin

388. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the new rent relief scheme for parents who are paying their children’s rent while studying at third level, if he will extend the scheme to cover parents of students who are paying for ‘digs’-type accommodation or ‘rent a room’ accommodation; if he will ensure that the parents of students studying in the EU and UK whose course fees are eligible for tax relief will also be entitled to tax relief for accommodation paid for these students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2407/23]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Howlin

605. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will propose a similar agreement to the proposal by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister to the US Government to agree a maximum number of representatives in each of their respective diplomatic missions in order to fix the maximum number of Russian diplomats in Dublin equal to the number of Irish diplomats in Moscow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63534/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

911. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 14 September 2022, if she will now make a similar decision in line with a number of EU member states in relation to the EU ACSH recommendation to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational injury under the occupational injuries benefit scheme for front-line health workers, in view of the fact that the majority of EU member states have now accepted same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1598/23]

Legal Aid

Brendan Howlin

1062. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if he met with the Legal Aid Board in 2022; if he has received any request from the board for additional staff resources in recent times; if he will review the supports currently available for this important work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63153/22]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

1086. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an application for a visa (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63710/22]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Howlin

1098. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if he will set out the establishment number and the current number in the Garda Reserve force; if the Garda Commissioner plans to recruit additional members during the course of 2023; if a review has taken place of the role and function of the Garda Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1017/23]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

1142. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) against the refusal of a family reunion visa in respect of their spouse who wishes to join them through their period of study for the completion of a PhD in the South East Technological University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2002/23]

Family Reunification

Brendan Howlin

1143. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made in relation to a family reunion visa in respect of the spouse and child of a person (details supplied); if he will give favourable consideration to allowing this person's spouse and child to join them for the duration of their PhD research work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2005/23]

Care Services

Brendan Howlin

1320. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the application for home care supports for a person (details supplied) who has had a leg amputated and is in need of assistance in their home but has been told that they must be of 65 years to avail of HSE supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63733/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

1381. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out a clear timeframe for the payment of the pandemic bonus to all eligible front-line healthcare workers, both in the public and private sectors, who faced additional risks in the performance of their duties during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1020/23]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Howlin

1901. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a feedback mechanism to communities and groups who failed to obtain funding under the town and villages renewal scheme, to ensure that applicants can learn the reason that their applications were not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63532/22]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Howlin

313. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has had the opportunity to meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the vacant apartments in New Ross, following his recent visit to the town; if he will set out the response that he has received from the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62170/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Brendan Howlin

391. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a disallowance of carer’s allowance and carer’s support in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61701/22]

EU Bodies

Brendan Howlin

477. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if it is intended that Ireland would join the European Public Prosecution Office; if it is desirable that all EU Member States be subject to the same office and system of protection of European taxpayers’ money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60714/22]

Community Care

Brendan Howlin

646. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of community neuro-rehabilitation teams in place in each CHO area; if it is his intention to establish such a team in each CHO area; if he will set out the timeframe for the establishment of such teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60713/22]

Departmental Consultations

Brendan Howlin

317. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice the discussions that she has had to date with unions representing civilian staff working with An Garda Síochána in advance of drafting of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill; if it is intended to change the terms and conditions of such staff; if she will meet the unions to discuss this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59975/22]

Defective Building Materials

Brendan Howlin

261. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is his intention that houses badly affected by the defective blocks issue in County Wexford will be included in the national redress scheme; if his attention has been drawn in particular to a badly-affected home (details supplied) in Ferns, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58731/22]

Dental Services

Brendan Howlin

604. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 1 March 2022, if he accepts that it is now impossible for medical card holders to find a dentist who will treat them in County Wexford; if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who has contacted all eight dental practices in the county that accept medical card patients and has been informed that they are not accepting new patients; the steps that he intends to take to address this urgent matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58703/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brendan Howlin

607. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider his Department's policy to supporting HSE employees with long-Covid; if he will ensure that payment continues for an advanced nurse practitioner (details supplied) whose salary is due to conclude on 28 November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58732/22]

Third Level Education

Brendan Howlin

285. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the agreements reached between the Irish and UK governments post-Brexit provide that Irish students wishing to study at postgraduate level in the UK pay the same fees as British students; if such students are eligible for maintenance grants under the Irish student grants scheme; if students undertaking distance-learning postgraduate courses at a UK university are covered by the post-Brexit agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58644/22]

Disaster Response

Brendan Howlin

76. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that he has taken to date at the EU, UN or directly to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57817/22]

Human Rights

Brendan Howlin

80. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that he has taken to date to protest at the suppression and violence being perpetrated on peaceful protestors in Iran; if he has summoned the Iranian ambassador to personally set out Ireland's abhorrence of these actions; the additional sanctions that Ireland is supporting or has proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57819/22]

Sports Events

Brendan Howlin

91. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made any public statement or had any communication with Qatar authorities regarding LGBTQ+ rights for visitors to the World Cup games underway at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57820/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

110. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the actions taken to date by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the holding of Assembly elections in Northern Ireland; the discussions that he has held with parties with a view to restoring a functioning Assembly and Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57821/22]

United Nations

Brendan Howlin

113. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Ireland's remaining priorities before the end of its term on the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57822/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Howlin

120. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will set out the totality of supports in money and material given to support Ukraine to date; if Ireland has offered or provided any additional financial or technical assistance to Ukraine in restoring its damaged power, heating and water systems following Russia's recent targeted attacks on that infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57818/22]

Budget 2023

Brendan Howlin

260. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she will set out the amount allocated in Budget 2023 to update ICT in her Department; the amounts to be allocated to updating the digitalisation needs relating to asylum, migration or border controls including Eurodac, SIS and VIS; if she will set out the expenditure on these issues in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57054/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

96. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56909/22]

Naturalisation Applications

Brendan Howlin

462. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure that an application for naturalisation for a person (details supplied) will be processed by her Department [56161/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Howlin

599. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had any discussions with Coillte Ltd. in relation to the pension situation of former Coillte workers who have not received a pension increase since 2007; if his attention has been drawn to reports that workers who transferred to Coillte from the Civil Service were assured that their terms and conditions as civil servants would be fully maintained; the action that he proposes to take to ensure that this commitment is fulfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56120/22]

Election Management System

Brendan Howlin

230. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to any difficulties with persons accessing the check the register website and in registering to join the electoral roll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55923/22]

Redundancy Payments

Brendan Howlin

231. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision in relation to a statutory redundancy entitlement appeal in relation to a person (details supplied) on the basis of fairness; if she agrees that the decision to make an award on the basis of their final work period, during which the person was undergoing intensive treatment for cancer, rather than for their normal working income, should be re-visited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53970/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

98. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53807/22]

Food Prices

Brendan Howlin

172. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions that he has taken to date to ensure that bread retailers are not over-charging for this basic food stuff; if his attention has been drawn to bakers who are concerned that some retailers are inflating the price of bread above that being charged to them by suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50792/22]

Work Permits

Brendan Howlin

162. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied) for a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49533/22]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Howlin

348. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of accredited diplomats from the Russian Federation who are based in Ireland; the number who are located at the Russian Embassy; the total number of staff who are located here who work in the Russian Embassy; the information that his Department has on the duties of each Russian diplomat located here; the changes in staffing levels at the embassy that have occurred since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49910/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

353. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application of a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50084/22]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

69. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Defence if the capital provision in budget 2023 is sufficient to meet the needs of the Defence Forces in 2023; if he will outline the way in which the funds will be provided in 2024 for accommodation improvements in barracks, new ships and aircraft and other needed equipment; if there is current funding provision for pay improvements for personnel beyond the terms of the new public service pay agreement to improve retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49363/22]