Parliamentary questions

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

454. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that the number of students who received grants declined by 30% between 2021 (68,277) and 2022 (48,426), as outlined on page 40 of the public service performance report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31751/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

456. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his recent announcement regarding the €40 million capital grant for third-level universities, if this money can be used by third-level institutions to subsidise the cost of building new student accommodation (details supplied); if so, the number of beds it is likely to contribute towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31843/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

457. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his recent announcement regarding the €40 million capital grant for third-level universities, if this funding relates to new money, rather than a reannouncement (details supplied); if so, if this is an annual capital grant that it awarded; the amounts that were provided in 2020, and 2021 along with the total amounts drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31844/23]

Tax Reliefs

Mairéad Farrell

48. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if the family of a deceased person can claim tax relief on nursing home expenses on their relative's behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31513/23]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

110. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent of the invasive roach population in Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, which are both SACs; the consequences for the native brown trout and Atlantic salmon populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30605/23]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

111. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason no preliminary draft policy papers for the inland fisheries sector, no single comprehensive policy statement for the inland fisheries sector and no details on a broad public consultation on policies for the inland fisheries sector have been published to date as per his declaration in Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 23 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30606/23]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

112. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the inland fisheries division within his Department or Inland Fisheries Ireland have investigated the desirability of reintroducing European Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) into SAC waters, given that the reintroduction is the only measure available to achieve their favourable conservation status in Ireland under Article 22 of the EU Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30607/23]

Bus Services

Mairéad Farrell

10. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport his plans on improving bus connectivity in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29223/23]

Public Transport

Mairéad Farrell

13. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve public transport for students forced to make long commutes due to a lack of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29224/23]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Mairéad Farrell

85. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he has had any engagements with the retail banks to promote switching for mortgage loans held by vulture funds into the mainstream mortgage market. [30158/23]

Defective Building Materials

Mairéad Farrell

112. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he has engaged with mortgage lenders regarding forbearance measures and finance options for mortgage holders whose properties are affected by defective blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30157/23]

Public Transport

Mairéad Farrell

181. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he is committed to making public transport in rural areas accessible to passengers with mobility limitations; the improvements he is making in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29908/23]

Legislative Reviews

Mairéad Farrell

201. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the date he will be publishing the terms of reference for his review of section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997; the work he has undertaken to date with respect to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29025/23]

Financial Services

Mairéad Farrell

202. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the additional regulation of fintech companies providing banking services and holding an Irish banking licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29294/23]

Telecommunications Services

Mairéad Farrell

48. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the regulations, if any, that apply to telecommunications companies in respect of their obligations to know their customers, particularly regarding commercial services they offer for the mass sending of text messages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29874/23]

An Garda Síochána

Mairéad Farrell

145. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the means, if any, An Garda Síochána has to trace the origins of fraudulent text message-based scams; if the force has the power to request the names of customers who are engaging is such fraudulent practice from telecommunications providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29875/23]

School Textbooks

Mairéad Farrell

310. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if all public post-primary schools have an entitlement in relation to the parental support towards the cost of schoolbooks for post-primary schools set out in circular letter 0046/2013 and in relation to the book rental scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29413/23]

Pharmacy Services

Mairéad Farrell

633. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he has been made aware of the current lack of supply of progesterone across pharmacies in the country; if he is taking action to rectify the supply issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29209/23]

Special Areas of Conservation

Mairéad Farrell

222. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his officials have any future plans to delist Lough Melvin in the Border counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh as a Special Area of Conservation and Natura 2000 site considering that the SAC holds a stock of vulnerable Atlantic salmon (EU Habitats Directive Annex II) and unique brown trout subspecies of sonaghen, gillaroo and ferox; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29001/23]

Island Communities

Mairéad Farrell

68. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is committed to ensuring that an interdepartmental committee meets every three months to review projects and targets included as part of the Our Living Islands policy, and that there will be representatives from the islands on the committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28310/23]

Island Communities

Mairéad Farrell

96. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the work her Department is doing to ensure the sustainability of island communities in terms of necessary infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28309/23]

Tax Reliefs

Mairéad Farrell

359. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the current amount of tax relief of €7,000 that can be claimed per person for postgraduate fees, including the student contribution, to €8,000, €9,000 and €10,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27382/23]

Tax Reliefs

Mairéad Farrell

360. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of allowing tax relief on the first €1,000, €1,500 and €2,000 spent on tuition fees, including the student contribution, for full-time students, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27383/23]

Tax Reliefs

Mairéad Farrell

361. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of allowing tax relief on the first €500 and €1,000 of tuition fees, including the student contribution, for part-time students, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27384/23]

Tax Reliefs

Mairéad Farrell

368. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of providing an income tax relief at a rate of €2,000, €3,000 and €4,000 for those tutors training craft apprentices in the education training boards, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27613/23]

School Curriculum

Mairéad Farrell

564. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to add Korean as a curricular language for the Leaving Certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27865/23]

Energy Conservation

Mairéad Farrell

645. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses in Galway city and Galway county that have been upgraded through the retrofitting programme for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27058/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mairéad Farrell

819. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are supports available for mortgage-holders who have lost income due to long-term illness or disability to help them stay in their own home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27856/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mairéad Farrell

1021. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is his intention to organise work done by speech and language, OT and physio professionals who work with ASD classes around the class as a whole rather than individual students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27234/23]

Health Services Staff

Mairéad Farrell

1113. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plan to regulate the psychology profession under CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27124/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

1336. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 940 of 23 May 2023, if he will provide the full-and first-year cost to the Exchequer from the one-off reduction in the student contribution fee that was enacted in the academic year 2022/2023 as part of the cost-of-living response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27076/23]

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

1337. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of the gap that was closed via Budget 2023, following his Future Funding in Higher Education report published in June 2022, in which a core funding gap of €307 million was identified and it stated that this would be closed with "additional investment over a number of budgets"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27096/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

1338. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 722 of 9 May 2023, the total number of craft and consortia apprenticeships currently in the system, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27100/23]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

1339. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 19 May 2022, the number of on-campus student accommodation places or places in accommodation owned by institutes of higher education that have been added to the system in the past year; the steps being taken to increase the number of on-campus, institution-owned accommodation places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27114/23]

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

1361. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the technological university development fund, the proposed successor to the technological university transformation (TUT) fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27705/23]

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

1362. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in light of the technological universities' recent designation, and the requirement for successor funding for the necessary internal infrastructure and the need to maintain stable industrial relations at a critical time of change, this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUTF fund on 31 August 2023; the level of funding that is going to be made available under the new TUT fund; if the TUs that merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUs that merged earlier; and if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this very important juncture in the project. [27706/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

1368. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how he intends the Committees of the Board, known as Councils, as part of the new national research agency referenced in the Research and Innovation Bill 2023, will operate; if they should be mandatory to ensure diversity of expertise and advice in relation to excellence in research and innovation and research priorities, including representing researchers at all career stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27905/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

1369. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the issue of precarious employment in the university sector, he will be aware that the Employment Control framework managed by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Delivery Plan Development and Reform has been in place since the austerity period, and although reviewed annually as part of the estimates process, hinders long-term planning and contributes to the use of short-term casual contracts, how does he plan to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27906/23]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

81. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his plans for student accommodation, in terms of both digs and vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25327/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

83. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his plans to increase the throughput of apprentices in the ETB system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25328/23]

Legislative Programme

Mairéad Farrell

91. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his new Research and Innovation Bill 2023, the reason there was no public consultation with the third-level research sector; and if he will meet with representatives as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. [25330/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

102. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will further outline hisplans to expand SUSI eligibility to part-time students, as has been reported in the media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26711/23]

Third Level Staff

Mairéad Farrell

107. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work his Department is carrying out to address precarious work conditions for PhD researchers and early year academics; if he has engaged with some of the representative groups in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26710/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

115. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to expand the list of courses that are taught through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26712/23]

Third Level Fees

Mairéad Farrell

131. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans in relation to student fees, and how reductions could be used to ease the cost-of-living for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26718/23]

Citizenship Applications

Mairéad Farrell

256. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if a person whose spouse has died is eligible to apply for Irish citizenship through marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26860/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

385. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his plans in relation to expanding the teaching of university courses through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25329/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Mairéad Farrell

87. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to install public wastewater treatment plants in the villages of Corofin and Abbeyknockmoy in County Galway to enable the delivery of new housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26600/23]

Third Level Fees

Mairéad Farrell

208. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in relation to SI (No. 94 of 2023) and the issue of postgraduate funding, there is any derogation from the rules whereby, for example, someone may have had their fees paid for one year through a scholarship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26619/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

793. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total annual student contribution charge to each consortia-led apprenticeship for each phase, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25722/23]

Third Level Fees

Mairéad Farrell

794. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of further reducing third-level student contribution charges to €1,000 in 2023-2024, and subsequently to abolish these fees in 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

795. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total estimated yearly cost to the Exchequer of abolishing apprenticeship student contribution charges, broken down by consortia-led and craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25724/23]

Middle East

Mairéad Farrell

105. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that Ireland played its part in ensuring that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has fully complied with the UN Human Rights Council mandate to compile, publish and regularly update a database of all businesses operating in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory; if he fears that extensive political pressure may have been brought to bear on the High Commissioner to disregard this mandate, to interpret it in a particular way or to hamper progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25452/23]

Middle East

Mairéad Farrell

106. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that no Irish companies are engaged in activities in Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine or profiting from or contributing to systematic human rights violations against Palestinian communities; the tangible systems and procedures that are in place to end any involvement in illegal Israeli settlements of Irish companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25453/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Mairéad Farrell

135. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of wastewater treatment plants that will be included in NDP delivery up until 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25468/23]

Nursing Education

Mairéad Farrell

254. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he plans to review future placement pay for students in work following the announcement of student nurses to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25346/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Mairéad Farrell

299. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has considered ring-fenced funding for wastewater treatment plants for offshore islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25467/23]

School Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

89. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding an additional school accommodation application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25056/23]

Health Services Staff

Mairéad Farrell

238. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time permanent speech therapist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist roles in Galway; the number of these that are vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25287/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mairéad Farrell

239. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if it is his intention to organise work done by speech and language, OT and physio professionals who work with ASD classes around the class as a whole rather than individual students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25288/23]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

168. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department have put in place any measures to prevent an app (details supplied) and other AI applications being used to undermine future public consultations on inland fisheries policy and inland fisheries legislation where written submissions are accepted from stakeholders as well as the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24213/23]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

169. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department will issue any guidance to Inland Fisheries Ireland, which operates under his Department's aegis, regarding the threat of an app (details supplied) and other AI applications to future public consultations run by the statutory body where written submissions are accepted on inland fisheries plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24214/23]

Rail Network

Mairéad Farrell

221. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if there will be time for the Government to ensure that the Western rail corridor is added to the TEN-T network following the publication of the All-Island Rail Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24970/23]

Housing Policy

Mairéad Farrell

445. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to including self-builds which commenced prior to the announcement of the waiver connection and council fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24990/23]

State Pensions

Mairéad Farrell

477. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can outline the reason a person (details supplied) in receipt of an old age (contributory) pension as a qualified dependant on her husband's pension received the October and Christmas bonus, but has been told she is ineligible for the spring bonus, and as she had previously inquired with her office but could not get an explanation. [24498/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

940. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first- and full-year cost of reducing the student contribution charge (academic year 2023/24 rate) by €500, €750 and €1,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24149/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

941. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first- and full-year cost of increasing the SUSI maintenance grant by 15%, 25% and 35%, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24150/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

942. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first- and full-year of extending SUSI to cover part-time students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24151/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

943. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first- and full-year cost of extending the free fees initiative to graduate entry medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24153/23]

Education Costs

Mairéad Farrell

944. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there has been any change in a figure (details supplied); if so, the current funding gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24155/23]

Third Level Fees

Mairéad Farrell

945. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first- and full-year cost of increasing the reckonable income threshold for SUSI by €5,000 under several categories, in tabular form (details supplied). [24164/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

954. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of all colleges in the North attended by students from the South, that are eligible for SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24911/23]

Island Communities

Mairéad Farrell

474. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the ReAct (Renewable Energy for self-sustainable Island Communities) is still open for applications or if there are similar schemes available for solar panels on Ireland’s offshore islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23729/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Mairéad Farrell

476. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide funding for towns in rural areas to develop remote working hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23781/23]

Departmental Data

Mairéad Farrell

37. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the asset allocation of the National (Surplus) Reserve Fund, disaggregated by asset type and location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23478/23]

Disability Services

Mairéad Farrell

239. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of residential care service for adults with disabilities; the number of persons currently waiting for this service, by county, in tabular form; if his Department is looking at opportunities for developing new residential facilities for adults with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23436/23]

Housing Schemes

Mairéad Farrell

395. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 337 of 25 April 2023, when he will issue a circular to local authorities setting out the guidelines for the tenant-in-situ scheme for common situations where a tenant receives their HAP payment from one local authority, but it is a different local authority that wishes to purchase the property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22436/23]

Departmental Policies

Mairéad Farrell

397. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department’s policy to remove a social housing applicant from choice-based letting for a year following a first refusal of a housing offer and to remove the applicant from the housing waiting list for a year following a second refusal of a housing offer, or if this is up to the discretion of individual local authorities; if he will point to the legislative basis for such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22499/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mairéad Farrell

437. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for disability allowance in each year since 2018; the number of these which were considered long-term/whole-of-life disabilities; the number considered rehabilitation appropriate applications; the number of successful applications under both categories, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22409/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mairéad Farrell

438. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are operational guidelines for medical assessors and social welfare inspections to allow for assessment of applications for disability allowance with a view to rehabilitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22410/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mairéad Farrell

679. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 433 of 8 February 2023, if he will investigate the reason a person (details supplied) has yet to receive their pandemic recognition payment. [22832/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

746. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has anymore plans to encourage the use of more online learning given the accommodation crisis facing students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22566/23]

Student Accommodation

Mairéad Farrell

747. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has had any engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to bringing forward legislation with regards to accommodation used as student digs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22567/23]

Abortion Services

Mairéad Farrell

748. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the health units in the various universities that are currently offering on-campus abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22568/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

749. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who dropped out of university in 2022, disaggregated by university name, course family, (i.e. engineering, arts/humanities, science, and so on), stage of departure (i.e. 1st year, 2nd year, and so on) and EU vs non-EU student, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22569/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

750. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a list of universities which currently have an Irish language strategy/scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22570/23]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

119. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department support the conservation of invasive coarse fish and invasive pike in Ballyquirke Lough (part of Lough Corrib SAC), under the Conservation of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 and the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law No. 809 of 2006 respectively, to the detriment of the marginalised native salmonid populations in the Lough Kip River system that flows into Ballyquirke Lough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22211/23]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Mairéad Farrell

312. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will detail the consent permit required to transfer raw sewage from one Údarás na Gaeltachta facility to another; the competent authority with the statutory function to grant such consent; the reference number and date of issue of the consent permit granted to Údarás na Gaeiltachta to transfer raw sewage from its industrial estate at An Tulach, County Galway, to a discharge to sea facility licensed to Údarás na Gaeltachta at Ros a' Mhíl, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21176/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mairéad Farrell

647. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 433 of 8 February 2023, the status of the pandemic recognition payment for a person (details supplied); if this matter will be escalated to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21694/23]

Third Level Fees

Mairéad Farrell

721. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of further reducing third-level fees to €1,000 in 2023-2024, and subsequently to abolish these fees in 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21115/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

722. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total estimated yearly cost to the Exchequer of abolishing apprenticeship registration fees, broken down by consortia-led and craft; the average cost per apprentice, broken down by craft and consortia-led apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21116/23]

Bus Services

Mairéad Farrell

55. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if work is being done to increase the frequency of the service of the 424 bus to Ceantar na nOileán and Iorras Aithneach, or to provide a Local Link service between Leitir Mealláin or Carna and an Cheathrú Rua; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20740/23]

Bus Services

Mairéad Farrell

56. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the Connecting Ireland projects due to be delivered in 2023 in Galway - routes 438, 423, 424, 547, 350, and 425A; if these are on track to be delivered on the schedule set out earlier this year; and if he will provide details of the design of these projects. [20332/23]

School Transport

Mairéad Farrell

178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she is considering providing free or reduced cost school transport seats in rural areas where there are not sufficient pupils who meet the criteria for free school transport for a bus to be viable; if she is considering any other solution to this problem to ensure that as few pupils are arriving to school in private vehicles as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20625/23]

Social Welfare Offices

Mairéad Farrell

250. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of instances in which local Intreo offices have given incorrect advice, particularly around illness benefit; if she sees these instances as a pattern; the steps she is taking to minimise the instances of incorrect advice being given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20428/23]

Animal Welfare

Mairéad Farrell

316. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the new rodenticide recently approved for use by British authorities (details supplied); if he is concerned about the impact this may have on the population of birds of prey in Ireland; if this rodenticide is being considered for use in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20492/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mairéad Farrell

453. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on pandemic bonus payments for a person (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20603/23]

National Broadband Plan

Mairéad Farrell

101. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected deadline for the NBI rollout of fibre broadband across the State; if he is satisfied with the current rate of the rollout with 109,000 out of 569,000 premises connected after the third year of the plan; how he plans on ramping up delivery of the rollout, particularly across the west, where areas are disproportionately in the 'survey pending' stage compared to other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19922/23]

Environmental Policy

Mairéad Farrell

118. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the work his Department has undertaken on requiring a certain amount of floor space in supermarkets of a certain size to be reserved for reuse and refillable products, following recommendations to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action in 2021. [19923/23]

Housing Schemes

Mairéad Farrell

336. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many staff have been hired to deal with the tenant in situ scheme; the number of vacant positions still available; the breakdown by local authority of the number of persons hired to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/23]