Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the funding announced as part of Budget 2024 under Programme D - An Equal and Inclusive Society which states "Funding will primarily focus on additional therapy assistant posts, additional supports across a number of targeted children's services and on the expansion of educational programmes in this area" if these additional therapy assistant posts will be utilised in a school setting. [45514/23]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

232. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the funding announced as part of Budget 2024 under Programme D - An Equal and Inclusive Society which states "Funding will primarily focus on additional therapy assistant posts, additional supports across a number of targeted children's services and on the expansion of educational programmes in this area" to provide details of which educational programmes are to be expanded. [45515/23]

Budget 2024

Sorca Clarke

263. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health what funding his Department will allocate to the National Educational Psychological Service as part of Budget 2024. [45499/23]

Environmental Schemes

Sorca Clarke

1. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the provision of up to 6kW photovoltaic panels on all schools; when the scheme will be open for applications; and what the provisions of the scheme are. [45120/23]

Capitation Grants

Sorca Clarke

3. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the budget 2024 allocation of €7 million in additional capitation grants for schools; and detail the analysis that was undertaken by her Department regarding sufficiency of this amount. [45121/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

5. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the Budget 2024 allocation of €50 million for the school transport scheme between capital and revenue; and the details of additional capacity this will cater for and the priority for spending. [45122/23]

School Textbooks

Sorca Clarke

45. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the engagement that her Department has had with school book publishers and the booksellers' associations regarding the Budget announcement of the extension of the school book grant scheme. [45130/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

54. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the Budget 2024 allocation of €4 million for additional supports for special schools between capital and revenue spent; and what are the planned areas for investment. [45129/23]

Work Permits

Sorca Clarke

207. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason work permits have still not been made available to the meat processing industry. [45236/23]

School Admissions

Sorca Clarke

245. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide the data that was used when determining the catchment area for a school in Ballyogan (details supplied), and the reason Ballyogan Estate has been excluded from the catchment area given the school is built within the estate. [45036/23]

Legislative Measures

Sorca Clarke

248. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill. [45118/23]

School Textbooks

Sorca Clarke

258. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the breakdown per capita of what will be the allocation to 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of the Government’s expansion of the schoolbook grant; and if the criteria will be the same as that currently in place for primary schools. [45207/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

259. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education in relation to Budget 2024, if the Financial Support Services Unit will have any additional moneys available for schools that are facing financial hardship that sees a rapid increase in pupil numbers after 30 September 2023 cut-off date. [45208/23]

National Educational Psychological Service

Sorca Clarke

260. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of allocation specifically to NEPS as contained in Budget 2024, which appears to state a reduction of funding of over €20 million. [45209/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

261. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the breakdown of the 1,000 AP posts in primary and post-primary schools. [45210/23]

Court Sittings

Sorca Clarke

390. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the policies that are in place regarding support for minors attending court sittings in circumstances other than when they are witnesses. [45039/23]

Courts Service

Sorca Clarke

391. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the engagement her Department have had with the Courts Service regarding the potential expansion or additional sittings outside of Dublin of specific children's courts. [45040/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

578. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of approved nursing posts in the paediatric emergency department in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [45123/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

579. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the recommended number of paediatric nursing posts in an accident and emergency department seeing more than 12,000 children a year. [45124/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

580. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of posts currently filled on a permanent basis by paediatric-qualified staff. [45125/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

581. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical nurse manager posts for the paediatric emergency department in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [45126/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

582. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department staff in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar currently trained in the Irish childhood triage system. [45127/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

583. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health given the level of actual, compared to recommended staffing in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar if he feels that his Department is staffed to a safe level [45128/23]

Road Safety

Sorca Clarke

90. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport to detail the engagement he has had with local authorities regarding their involvement with the announced plan to lower speed limits in regard to alteration or replacement of currently installed speed limit signs. [44209/23]

Bus Services

Sorca Clarke

91. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the engagement his Department has had with Local Link Longford regarding the expansion of the service to facilitate students in Cavan IT. [44216/23]

Tax Forms

Sorca Clarke

93. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the number of access officers within the Revenue Commissioners available to assist people with a disability complete tax return; what offices they are located in; and what tax returns are available to them to provide assistance. [44212/23]

Tax Credits

Sorca Clarke

142. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on his Department’s implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight Committee on the examination of the section 481 film tax credit. [44214/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

240. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of school transport routes in Longford and Westmeath which are currently not running; and the number of children affected. [44217/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

241. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers and staff recruited by schools over the summer period who have not yet received their salaries or wages, per county, in tabular form. [44220/23]

Tax Credits

Sorca Clarke

251. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on her Department’s implementation of the recommendations contained in the Budgetary Oversight Committee report on the examination of the Section 481 Film Tax Credit. [44213/23]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

311. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants, per county, in need of housing suitable on medical or disability grounds based upon a HMD 1 form, in tabular form. [44215/23]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

312. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing developments and total housing units approved under strategic housing developments by An Bord Pleanála following rejection by Longford County Council previously. [44218/23]

Housing Schemes

Sorca Clarke

313. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received under the tenant purchase scheme per local authority area; the number refused; and the number approved following the change in criteria for the scheme, in tabular form. [44222/23]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

590. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health in light of the current situation in Temple Street and Cappagh Orthopaedic service, the arrangements that have been put in place for children with non-spinal surgical needs to have their ongoing therapy continue. [44210/23]

Hospital Procedures

Sorca Clarke

591. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children with hip dysplasia who have had treatment, x-rays or assessments cancelled or delayed because of the current ongoing investigations and reviews at Childrens Health Ireland. [44211/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

592. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have their cancelled x-ray and proposed surgery before school age following ongoing treatment for hip dysplasia. [44219/23]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

593. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current situation with staffing in relation to the paediatric diabetes service in Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar; the number of children currently attending; and the number of children awaiting an appointment. [44221/23]

Youth Services

Sorca Clarke

308. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to improve recreational facilities and services for young people in County Westmeath. [43358/23]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

343. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant radiologists attached to Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43360/23]

Legislative Programme

Sorca Clarke

344. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current status of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023; and when this Bill will move to the next stage. [43361/23]

Hospital Facilities

Sorca Clarke

345. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current number of ICU beds in place; how many beds are funded; the all-in costs for a new ICU bed, support services and staffing; and the projected cost for 20 additional ICU beds. [43362/23]

Vaccination Programme

Sorca Clarke

346. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing the HPV vaccine free to adults who have not received it yet but want to access it through their GP. [43363/23]

Electric Vehicles

Sorca Clarke

354. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding provided by the Higher Education Authority towards the cost of installation of electric vehicle charging points at Irish universities in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43365/23]

Third Level Fees

Sorca Clarke

355. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost if the student contribution charge were reduced by €650 for the 2024-2025 academic year. [43366/23]

Departmental Schemes

Sorca Clarke

371. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated cost in 2024 if the budget for the senior alert scheme increased by 20%. [43357/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

292. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the reason that a qualified Irish teacher, who worked in a school in Abu Dhabi, and is now looking to return to the Irish labour force, is not entitled to increments; and what plans she has to ensure teacher retention in Ireland and ensure that teachers who are in similar circumstances are welcomed back with equality of opportunity and treatment. [42179/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

315. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the reason that students in a school in Dublin (details supplied) who require full access to an SNA have been denied this access, with only one SNA shared between two junior infant classes; and the plans she has to ensure that children with SEN receive a full education, like their peers, and do not miss out on school due to lack of SNAs/ SNA hours. [42467/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed and the estimated cost for these works. [42540/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

323. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to the tender stage of works. [42542/23]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

523. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why a person (details supplied) who has been availing of temporary accommodation in Waterford, has been refused permission to stay with her daughter in Athlone to help her with her newborn child. [42302/23]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

524. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why person (details supplied) who was heavily pregnant at the time was accommodated on the 3rd floor of a converted convent. [42303/23]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

531. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports there are for Ukrainians and other nationalities, whose first language is not English, to help them communicate with relevant authorities in an effective manner. [42333/23]

Waterways Ireland

Sorca Clarke

353. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of contracts containing confidentiality clauses of non-disclosure agreements that Waterways Ireland have entered into in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 by county, in tabular form. [41534/23]

Waterways Ireland

Sorca Clarke

354. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the current Board of Waterways Ireland, and where that information is publicly available for members of the public. [41535/23]

Business Regulation

Sorca Clarke

144. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance if, in light of the increasing number of popular cultural, agricultural and sporting events becoming cashless/card-only entry events, which is impacting particularly older people and new Irish arrivals, he will consider introducing regulations to ensure that these events are accessible to those who wish to pay with cash. [40883/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

302. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when route B1762 to a school (details supplied) will recommence. [39993/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

305. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when an alternative school bus route for a school (details supplied) will be put in place, given parents were informed only two days before children were due back in school that their usual bus provider would no longer provide this service for the coming school year. [40005/23]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

632. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications by schools, per county, to change from providing a cold lunch to students to the provision of another meal, in tabular form; what the process for this change is; and what funding is available for these schools who wish to change from cold food provision to hot food provision. [40101/23]

Departmental Licences

Sorca Clarke

469. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated full-year yield if the licence for amusement machines for up to three months increased from €38 to €70 based on 2022 figures; and the estimated full-year yield if the licence for amusement machines for up to 12 months increases from €125 to €225 based on 2022 figures. [38629/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

670. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of SNA posts recruited for and filled to the end of the school year in 2023. [38406/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

671. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated first- and full-year saving of removing the monetary subsidy given to private schools. [38409/23]

Irish Sign Language

Sorca Clarke

680. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of posts offered for the role of ISL classroom support to date in 2023; the number of posts filled to date; and how many posts were filled by the beginning of the school year 2023. [38504/23]

Community Development Projects

Sorca Clarke

2094. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under measures 1, 2 and 3 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme in County Westmeath in 2022; the grant approved for each project; the current status of each project; and the completion dates for each project in tabular form. [38632/23]

Departmental Schemes

Sorca Clarke

2095. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under the town and village renewal scheme in County Westmeath in 2022; and the grant approved for each project in tabular form. [38633/23]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

416. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what actions are planned to ensure that the Irish students from the North are not negatively impacted by the post-marking adjustments for final examinations. [35612/23]

Coroners Service

Sorca Clarke

779. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice what additional resources have been provided to the Coroner Courts to address the backlogs that bereaved loved ones are currently experiencing. [35610/23]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

372. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education where the equity and fairness is for the young Irish students in the North of Ireland who are not able to avail of the same postmarking adjustments of final year exams that apply in the South. [35181/23]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

373. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will make adjustments to ensure that final-year students in the North of Ireland will benefit from postmarking of exams in the same way students in the 26 counties do to ensure equity for all students on the island of Ireland. [35182/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Sorca Clarke

497. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if retained firefighters are entitled to supplementary welfare allowance while the dispute over pay and conditions is ongoing. [34841/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Sorca Clarke

498. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if renewal and first-time applications for jobseeker’s benefit by members of the retained fire services are being processed as normal given the ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. [34842/23]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

291. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of children per county that are receiving additional supports for deafness or hard of hearing. [34110/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

292. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the full year cost for a primary school teaching post. [34111/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

293. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the school transport review will be published. [34112/23]

Youth Services

Sorca Clarke

294. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the funding, in tabular form, for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 provided to Foróige. [34113/23]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Sorca Clarke

295. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education for a county breakdown of the average class size in primary schools for the 2022/2023 school year. [34114/23]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Sorca Clarke

296. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education for a county breakdown of the average class size in secondary schools for the 2022/2023 school year. [34115/23]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

307. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education which organisation will be responsible for operating the Leaving Certificate helpline this year; and the estimated cost of same. [34302/23]

Education Policy

Sorca Clarke

314. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the legislative or policy basis on which the parents of a child (details supplied) are being requested to sign an insurance indemnification form stating that they as the lawful father and mother respectively, agree to indemnify and keep indemnified the board, its servants and agents, including class teacher and/or the principal of the said school from and against all claims, both present and future, arising from the administration or failure to administer the medicine buccolam midazolam which is used to treat prolonged, acute convulsive seizures. [32620/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

322. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on recent Departmental engagement with representatives on the issue of post-primary redeployment of teachers. [32719/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

325. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education is she will intervene in the case of a child (details supplied). [32766/23]

Eating Disorders

Sorca Clarke

689. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health what services are available in County Longford for adults living with eating disorders. [32750/23]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

80. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if her Department will carry out a full review of the reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations scheme. [31619/23]

Departmental Funding

Sorca Clarke

82. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the payment dates of the minor works grants, ancillary grants and ICT grants. [31620/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

85. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the last tender for educational books in Braille happened; and what action she intends to take to end the inordinate delays experienced by students requiring these books. [31617/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the intervention she and her Department have made in relation to the ongoing issue of school transportation from Ballyvourney, Macroom and surrounding areas to a school (details supplied). [31618/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

79. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the SNA allocations for 2023/2024. [31584/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

80. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the spending per funding head for primary and post-primary schools for the full-year 2022 and to date in 2023. [31585/23]

Departmental Budgets

Sorca Clarke

309. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the capital budget allocation for her Department in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [31084/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

310. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed. [31085/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

311. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed. [31086/23]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Sorca Clarke

312. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of additional teachers that would be needed to reduce the pupil/teacher ratio to 22:1 at primary level. [31087/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

313. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed. [31088/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

314. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost of this project. [31089/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

315. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed. [31090/23]

State Pensions

Sorca Clarke

424. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals officers assigned to assessing both applications and appeals, respectively, for the State pension (contributory). [31091/23]

Residency Permits

Sorca Clarke

481. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Irish residence permit cards that were issued in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [31098/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

512. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capital budget allocation for his Department in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [31093/23]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

597. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of additional respite hours that would be delivered by opening two extra full-time, six-bed respite centres. [31092/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Sorca Clarke

716. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the current average waiting times for urgent and routine paediatric dermatology appointments in each of the seven hospital groups. [31094/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

717. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of times that the HSE has advertised for the post of consultant otolaryngologist since January 2022. [31095/23]