Parliamentary questions

Rail Network

John Brady

180. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details on the timeframe for the delivery of new train carriages; if these will be used on the Dublin to Rosslare rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10728/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

John Brady

181. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details on any plans to develop park-and-ride facilities along the N11-M11 between Bray and Arklow; if he can provide a timeframe for the design, planning and delivery of any such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10729/23]

United Nations

John Brady

85. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if funding was provided to UNFPA supplies, the thematic programme of UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, dedicated to expanding access to family planning, in 2022; if he intends to allocate funding to this programme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10500/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

360. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the allowance paid to serving members of the Defence Forces on duty in the Border counties is considered as pensionable income for retiring members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8717/23]

Disability Services

John Brady

590. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if the Government plans to open the mobility allowance grant for people with disabilities to new applicants in the near future; if he will provide an update on the research and findings carried out by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, Transport Working Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8053/23]

Passport Services

John Brady

249. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department can provide verification that a person (details supplied) is an Irish born citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7831/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

112. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if the tender document that was due to go out by the end of 2022 for the next bundle of schools has been issued for a school (details supplied); and if so, to confirm that the school is listed on the tender document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7568/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

170. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if it is the intention to develop a masterplan for the 9.3 acre site that has been identified for a school (details supplied) to cater for a primary school as well as the secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6305/23]

School Accommodation

John Brady

171. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to develop a new secondary school in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6306/23]

School Accommodation

John Brady

172. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of any needs assessments that have been done in respect of the provision of secondary school places to cater for the Newtownmountkennedy, Ashford and Roundwood areas of County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6307/23]

Housing Schemes

John Brady

153. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the maximum amount that an applicant who is applying for social housing support can have in their bank account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5824/23]

Ukraine War

John Brady

172. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of aid, including finance and non-lethal military aid, provided by Ireland to Ukraine since the illegal invasion by Russia in February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5829/23]

Foreign Policy

John Brady

173. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement his Department has had with the Colombian authorities regarding Cerrejón coal mine; if concerns have been raised regarding human rights and the importation of coal to Ireland from the mine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5830/23]

Diplomatic Representation

John Brady

174. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if consideration has been given to opening an Embassy in Cuba; if discussions have taken place with the Cuban authorities on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5832/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

194. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the current status regarding land acquisition for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5629/23]

Visa Agreements

John Brady

319. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice if the Government is prepared to drop the visa requirement for Turkish officials visiting Ireland; the discussions that have taken place with Turkish authorities on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5831/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

1. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress that has been made towards implementing the working time directive for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5155/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

3. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress that has been made in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Commission on the Defence Forces report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5156/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

10. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department’s response to the change in practice where the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will no longer allow his Department to retain budget savings arising from the shortfall in the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5160/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

18. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of fully-qualified doctors in the Defence Forces; the establishment figure for doctors in the Defence Forces; the number that are currently active in Ireland at this time; the roles they are employed in; the number of locums that are being used by the Defence Forces; the number that are serving abroad; the specific missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5157/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

33. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans that are in place or under discussion for the role of the Defence Forces in Mali, particularly given the volatile and mutable nature of the security situation in the wider Sahel region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5159/23]

Departmental Reviews

John Brady

43. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress that has been made to date on the strategic defence review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5161/23]

United Nations

John Brady

68. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are plans to review the security and safety of Irish troops serving in Lebanon following the death of a soldier (details supplied), particularly with growing geo-political tensions in the region, and the potential impact of events outside their area of operations on the Irish Defence Force Forces in southern Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5158/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

291. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the process to develop a school (details supplied) given that agreement has been reached in principle with the landowner of a 9.3 acre site; if a parallel process can commence for the design of the new school and the final purchase of the site by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5272/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

292. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if the 9.3 acre site that has been identified for a school (details supplied) is to meet the needs of that school only; if it is intended for the site to be shared with a primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5273/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

293. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if the development of the new school (details supplied) will be bundled with any other schools; the process that will be used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5274/23]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

294. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if any sites have been identified for a new primary school in Bray, County Wicklow; if there have been discussions with Wicklow County Council on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5275/23]

School Transport

John Brady

295. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if a decision has been taken on an application by a school (details supplied) to cover transportation costs to get students to and from a community centre for physical education due to no availability in their current temporary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5276/23]

Schools Administration

John Brady

296. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if a decision has been taken on an application for funding by a school (details supplied) to increase security measures at it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5277/23]

Middle East

John Brady

63. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether efforts to further the search for peace in Palestine have been further hampered as a consequence of the inflammatory rhetoric and actions emanating from the newly elected Government in Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4613/23]

Passport Services

John Brady

65. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures being put in place to ensure that there will be no unnecessary backlog in the issuing of passports in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4614/23]

Middle East

John Brady

76. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he proposes to take or is willing to support against Israel following the destruction of aid supplied by the EU and Ireland to Palestine by Israeli forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4406/23]

Ukraine War

John Brady

86. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts the Government is undertaking within the international community to attempt to bring about a peaceful conclusion to the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4408/23]

Disaster Response

John Brady

97. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the Government’s response to the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/23]

Foreign Conflicts

John Brady

126. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the Government’s response to the newly announced EU civilian mission to Armenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4409/23]

Human Rights

John Brady

130. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts the Government is undertaking to secure the release of a person (details supplied) from captivity in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4407/23]

Passport Services

John Brady

356. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that the application has passed the target issue date and the applicant’s date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4096/23]

Human Rights

John Brady

392. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures the Government is taking to raise at an EU level the issue of the continued unjust detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4776/23]

Diplomatic Representation

John Brady

393. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs If he will provide an update on plans to open an Irish Embassy in Cuba; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4777/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

402. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels, respectively, of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4516/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

403. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels, respectively, of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4517/23]

Air Corps

John Brady

404. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; the breakdown of the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in training, qualified military aircraft maintenance technicians, qualified military avionics technicians and military apprentices in training of both aforementioned disciplines. [4518/23]

Naval Service

John Brady

405. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service operations and patrols which have been cancelled to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4519/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

406. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces, by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4520/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

407. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4521/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

408. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women members who have left the Defence Forces in 2023, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4522/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

409. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4523/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

410. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/23]

Special Educational Needs

John Brady

465. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the reason there is currently no SENO in an area (details supplied) at present; when it is likely that this post will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4718/23]

Special Educational Needs

John Brady

466. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the number of NEPS child psychologists in Wicklow at present, broken down by each area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4719/23]

Special Educational Needs

John Brady

467. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the number of special educational needs organisers currently in place in Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4720/23]

Special Educational Needs

John Brady

468. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the current number of ASD places in both primary and secondary schools in Wicklow; if there are plans to increase capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4721/23]

Employment Support Services

John Brady

413. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason no walk-in service is available at an Intreo office (details supplied); when a walk-in service for the public will recommence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3292/23]

Defence Forces

John Brady

245. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the decision was taken to withdraw permission for family members of serving Defence Forces personnel to use the Defence Forces training centre swimming pool at the physical education centre in the Curragh; the reason that this decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2655/23]

Driver Test

John Brady

190. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons who are currently awaiting a date to sit their driving test, broken down by test centre, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63869/22]

Road Safety

John Brady

191. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the status of an application under the safer routes to school scheme by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63873/22]

Fire Service

John Brady

468. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the Retained Fire Service; if he has received the final report; if so, if he will publish the timeline for any recommendations that are contained in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63302/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

633. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63564/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

634. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will detail both the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63565/22]

Air Corps

John Brady

635. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in training, qualified military aircraft maintenance technicians, qualified military avionics technicians and military apprentices in training of both aforementioned disciplines. [63566/22]

Naval Service

John Brady

636. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service operations and patrols that were cancelled in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63567/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

637. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces, by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63568/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

638. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63569/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

639. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who left in 2022, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63570/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

640. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63571/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

641. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63572/22]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

729. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education her Department's plans for a site that is zoned for educational use (details supplied) for a future new school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63874/22]

Site Acquisitions

John Brady

730. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of plans to address the long-term accommodation needs for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63875/22]

Passport Services

John Brady

228. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied); if the application could be escalated given that the applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62861/22]

Housing Schemes

John Brady

315. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarification on the length of the tenancy for a cost-rental scheme (details supplied) under the Land Development Agency, LDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62212/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

329. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of any instances of near misses, or where safety reviews were carried out into incidents which occurred during live fire training exercises conducted by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61690/22]

Disability Services

John Brady

615. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm when the long-promised community neuro-rehabilitation team for CHO 6, to be based in Bray, County Wicklow will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62145/22]

Driver Licences

John Brady

217. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to reimbursing persons over the age of 70 years who qualify for a free driving licence yet who are charged a fee of approximately €60-€65 for attending their GP to complete the driving licence medical report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59413/22]

School Transport

John Brady

351. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a family (details supplied) under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58877/22]

School Transport

John Brady

352. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if additional places will be offered to families that were unsuccessful in getting a place on the school transport scheme for a route (details supplied) and fulfil the eligibility criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58878/22]

Schools Building Projects

John Brady

353. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of a permanent school building for a secondary school (details supplied); the stage that the tender is at; the estimated timeframe for the new school building from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58879/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

1. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the interaction between the Naval Service and the Air Corps in relation to the new CASA aeroplanes due to be delivered to the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58338/22]

Defence Forces

John Brady

3. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the measures he and his Department are implementing or intending to implement to stem the exodus of doctors from the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58339/22]

Air Corps

John Brady

5. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the timeline for the delivery of a military air doctrine, following the publication of the Commission on the Defence Forces, and the subsequent publication of the Government’s high-level implementation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58340/22]

Air Corps

John Brady

22. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he plans to extend the runway at Baldonnel Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58335/22]

Air Corps

John Brady

41. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if his Department plans to review the tech pay and allowance and the specific service commitment schemes for aircraft technicians within the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58337/22]

Postal Services

John Brady

55. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will receive an eircode given that the owners cannot access broadband to work from home until an eircode is supplied. [58354/22]

Ukraine War

John Brady

75. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's response to the escalation in the conflict in Ukraine, particularly the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57928/22]

Human Rights

John Brady

77. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's response to the threats by the Iranian Government to execute protestors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57929/22]

Consular Services

John Brady

79. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's advice to any football supporters travelling from Ireland to Qatar for the World Cup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57922/22]

Middle East

John Brady

85. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's response to the refusal of the Israeli government to co-operate with an FBI investigation into the death of the US Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57921/22]

Middle East

John Brady

108. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's response to the election in Israel of the most right-wing coalition in that country's history; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57923/22]

Foreign Conflicts

John Brady

111. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide the details of the Government's response to the ceasefire in Tigray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57919/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

211. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of performance bonuses paid to a company (details supplied) for the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will provide a breakdown for the reason that the bonus was paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55074/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

212. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the financial penalties that have been issued to a company (details supplied) for each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the reason for the fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55075/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

213. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of performance bonuses paid to a company (details supplied) for operating routes 45a, 185 and 184 routes for each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the reason that the bonuses were paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55076/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

214. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the financial penalties that have been issued to a company (details supplied) for the 45a, 185 and 184 routes for each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the reason for the fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55077/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport if any review has taken place regarding the contract with a company (details supplied); when the contract is due to expire; if a decision has been taken to extend the contact by 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55078/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

216. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the actions that he or his Department have taken to address the issues in the bus service operated by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55079/22]

Bus Services

John Brady

217. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the nature of any meeting that he or his Department have had with a company (details supplied); the discussion that took place; the outcome of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55080/22]

Dental Services

John Brady

932. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are currently awaiting an orthodontic assessment in County Wicklow, broken down by 1, 3, 6 and 12 months plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54297/22]

Dental Services

John Brady

933. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are currently awaiting an appointment to commence orthodontic treatment in County Wicklow, broken down by 1, 3, 6 and 12 months plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54298/22]

Foreign Policy

John Brady

351. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of any knowledge that his Department has of the situation surrounding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53487/22]

Health Services

John Brady

584. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the reason that a weight management clinic (details supplied) has been suspended; and when the clinic will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52746/22]

Departmental Data

John Brady

585. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are currently attending a weight management clinic (details supplied) broken down by CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52747/22]