Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

518. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to launch the native woodland conservation scheme as part of the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6645/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

519. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date he intends to launch the revised ash dieback scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6646/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

520. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of clearfell and thinning licensed per county for 2024, 2025, 2026; the details that are available to him on the felling licence application provided by the applicants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/24]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

534. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); when a final decision will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6311/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if an environmental grant is available for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6011/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Lowry

283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason an application for ECCE time extension exemption for a child (details supplied) was refused; whether the professional medical letter issued by the CDNT in support of the time extension was fully reviewed; whether this refusal will be reviewed and a time extension will be granted upon review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/24]

Banking Sector

Michael Lowry

103. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he has been made aware of issues regarding the issuance of cheque books by Irish banks; if steps are being taken to address the issue; if there is a problem with the supply of cheque books due to issues with the printing companies; if so, the measures being taken to resolve this issue to ensure that customers of Irish banks are not adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5070/24]

Visa Applications

Michael Lowry

355. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice for an update regarding an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5324/24]

Visa Applications

Michael Lowry

356. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application (details supplied); the exact location of the application; when this application will be reviewed; the average processing times for such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5337/24]

Departmental Inquiries

Michael Lowry

479. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health for a status update concerning an inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State; when the terms of reference for this inquiry will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4977/24]

Education and Training Boards

Michael Lowry

584. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when hourly-paid adult education tutors with the ETB will receive parity with their full-time equivalent colleagues in respect of the terms and conditions for their employment, particularly a public service contract and access to an incremental salary scheme (details supplied); what work he is undertaking to avoid further disputes with this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5282/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the matter of school placements for children with disabilities in County Tipperary (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4694/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

8. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can review an application (details supplied), given the urgent nature of this application, if all documentation required has been received to have this application processed at the earliest possible convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/24]

Business Supports

Michael Lowry

37. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the increased cost of business scheme, ICOB, announced as part of budget 2024 (details supplied); the current status of the ICOB; the date on which it will start; the process businesses need to follow to apply for this grant; the measures in place to ensure the grant is distributed fairly and reaches the businesses most in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

115. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied); the progress made in afforestation efforts, particularly in relation to the targets set for 2024; what measures are being implemented to ensure sustainable forestry practices in these operations; how these trends align with the national forestry management strategies and environmental conservation efforts; the impact of the ash dieback scheme and the native tree scheme on biodiversity and forest health in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Michael Lowry

224. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 23 January 2024, if he will provide further clarification on when the Revenue Commissioners interpretation of section 86 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 changed (details supplied); when Revenue Commissioners notified farmers, accountants and tax consultants that their interpretation of section 86 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 was going to change and differ considerably from the previous 12 years of interpretation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4270/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Michael Lowry

221. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to review the correspondence from a person (details supplied); if he will provide clarification on the interpretation by the Revenue Commissioners of section 86 of the VAT Consolidation Act 2010; the reason and when the Revenue Commissioners reviewed and changed its interpretation of section 86 of Act; the reason farmers are being refused refunds/reclaims of VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/24]

Work Permits

Michael Lowry

251. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the Government's approach in accessing and approving employment permits in Ireland, specifically the current guidelines and procedures for obtaining employment permits for companies who are trying to secure employment permission for foreign nationals who are seeking employment opportunities with their company; if he could provide details on the reason permit applications submitted by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2821/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Lowry

543. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/24]

Land Issues

Michael Lowry

268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a tree growing on private land falls onto the public road and a car collides with an already fallen tree, is the landowner or the County Council liable particularly in the case of Ash trees impacted by Ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2159/24]