Parliamentary questions

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

867. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if annual contributions are made to the technological sector strategic projects fund from the Exchequer; if so, the annual contributions to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54714/23]

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

868. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if annual distributions are made to the sector (institutions); and, if so, the annual distributions (related to capital expenditure) to date, together with the recipients, in tabular form [54715/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

877. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprenticeship dropouts in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55180/23]

Rental Sector

Mairéad Farrell

24. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will bring in a ban on no-fault evictions during winter months given that homeless services in Galway are currently overwhelmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54109/23]

Housing Schemes

Mairéad Farrell

88. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update in relation to the provision of affordable housing in Galway; when affordable housing will be available for purchase in Galway, and when people will be able to register their interest for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54110/23]

Driver Test

Mairéad Farrell

170. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide the current average waiting time to sit a driving test for each test centre; what steps are being taken to reduce the wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54339/23]

Public Transport

Mairéad Farrell

171. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport when the catering trolley will return to the Galway to Dublin train line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54341/23]

Public Transport

Mairéad Farrell

172. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if a review has taken place on the Galway to Dublin train line to facilitate the growing number of students commuting to Galway for third level education; the details of the review; if additional capacity has been added; if not, if additional capacity is being considered given the overcrowded nature of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54342/23]

School Admissions

Mairéad Farrell

204. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education to detail her policy in relation to secondary school-aged student who have not been offered a place in a secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54343/23]

School Enrolments

Mairéad Farrell

205. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education to detail the catchment area criteria for English medium and Irish medium secondary schools both for voluntary schools and ETB schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54344/23]

Medicinal Products

Mairéad Farrell

324. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the process for pregnant women to obtain the medication cariban under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54346/23]

Medicinal Products

Mairéad Farrell

325. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will be reviewing the process whereby a consultant must prescribe the medication cariban rather than a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54347/23]

Medicinal Products

Mairéad Farrell

326. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health how the accessibility to the medication cariban in Ireland differs to the international standard practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54348/23]

Medicinal Products

Mairéad Farrell

327. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of cariban prescriptions that have been processed through the drug payment scheme to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54349/23]

Military Neutrality

Mairéad Farrell

44. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that Irish neutrality is being upheld (details supplied), considering the recent training of Ukrainian soldiers at Kilworth army camp in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54142/23]

Caiteachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Mairéad Farrell

77. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an ndéanfaidh sí plé ar na rátaí pá a thuilleann mná tí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. [53572/23]

Toghcháin d'Údarás na Gaeltachta

Mairéad Farrell

88. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán céard é an t-eolas is déanaí maidir le toghcháin phoiblí do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53381/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mairéad Farrell

255. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) has been refused SNA support despite the recommendations of their teacher; if this decision will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53729/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Mairéad Farrell

348. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection for the avoidance of doubt could she provide the full list of payments which will receive the Christmas bonus along with the respective dates of disbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53234/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Mairéad Farrell

352. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the Christmas bonus, if she is aware of any concerns that the large number of different categories for social welfare payments, and the requirement for a specific type of payment to be listed amongst those eligible for the bonus, could result in some people unintendedly not receiving this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53292/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

619. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 4 October 2023, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of apprentices currently waiting for off-the-job training at levels 2, 4 and 6, in the months of October and November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53214/23]

Bus Services

Mairéad Farrell

19. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on BusConnects Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52125/23]

Public Transport

Mairéad Farrell

59. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he had any discussions with the National Transport Authority to increase the number of agents selling the student Leap card, to ensure every county has at least one provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51990/23]

Human Rights

Mairéad Farrell

230. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 16 November 23, and in relation to the record number of 182 exemptions which were provided in October, how many of these did he liaise with the Department of Transport on; what countries were granted these exemptions; if his Department keeps records on the destination of these aircraft (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51991/23]

Health Services Staff

Mairéad Farrell

470. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to outline the catchment areas for consultant psychiatrists in the Galway area; if an individual can be seen by these services outside of their catchment area; and to outline the options available to individuals who do not have a consultant psychiatrist in their catchment area. [52898/23]

Flood Risk Management

Mairéad Farrell

32. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the progress of the flood defences planned for Galway. [51992/23]

Flood Risk Management

Mairéad Farrell

42. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on flood relief for Clarinbridge, Galway city, and other areas in Galway impacted by Storm Debi; if he will further outline his Department’s plan for future flooding in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52361/23]

Rail Network

Mairéad Farrell

187. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport when the final all-island rail review report will be published; if he will ensure that the outcome of the rail review is reflected in the revision of the TEN-T Network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52531/23]

School Patronage

Mairéad Farrell

281. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education to list, in tabular form, the number of Irish medium post-primary schools which are ETB and those which are voluntary schools; to add a breakdown of these detailing how many of each are DEIS schools, Gaeltacht schools, multidenominational schools and singular faith schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52328/23]

School Transport

Mairéad Farrell

298. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education the reason that school bus route (details supplied) has been cancelled until further notice; when she expects this service to be returned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52574/23]

School Transport

Mairéad Farrell

299. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 21 November 2023, the reason this service was suspended in September; if Bus Éireann will provide an update directly to families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52575/23]

Rental Sector

Mairéad Farrell

337. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in the private rental sector inspected, by each local authority; the number that met minimum standards for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52462/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mairéad Farrell

389. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will offer advice to a person who has reached the limit of their eligibility for carer’s benefit and does not qualify for carer’s allowance, but cannot return to work as they are still needed to act as a carer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52446/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Mairéad Farrell

662. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to a debate in Dáil Éireann (details supplied), if any review of the requirement to pass the Ishihara colour vision test has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51989/23]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Mairéad Farrell

665. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 14 November 2023, if he will provide the total expenditure on research partnerships, arrangements or any other joint work that was entered into in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52017/23]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Mairéad Farrell

666. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 14 November 2023, if he will provide the total expenditure on research partnerships, arrangements or any other joint work that was entered into in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52017/23]

Departmental Policies

Mairéad Farrell

669. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his officials have begun the work to bring forward options to use the NTF surplus to address the urgent national skills needs (details supplied); the relevant Acts and sections therein related to the NTF which need to be amended to enable the release of the funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52259/23]

Third Level Staff

Mairéad Farrell

672. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he had any discussions with HEIs in relation to their adoption of an employment charter (details supplied); if he will support as many HEIs as possible signing up to the charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52414/23]

Third Level Education

Mairéad Farrell

673. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify who are the recognised worker and employer representative bodies for the purposes of sectoral bargaining in the university sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52509/23]

Third Level Staff

Mairéad Farrell

674. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the potential for a sectoral employment order for researchers in third level institutions as a means of addressing precarious work conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52510/23]

Arts Centres

Mairéad Farrell

681. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are funding schemes provided by her Department that can support the establishment of local arts centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52285/23]

Business Supports

Mairéad Farrell

191. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies with a registered address in Galway that availed of temporary business energy support scheme; and the value of the total value of support received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51477/23]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

38. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications why the appropriate assessment screening document as legally required under the EU Habitats Directive was not published by his officials in the Inland Fisheries Division for the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023 that went to public consultation on 16 November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51455/23]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

39. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his inland fisheries division officials, in conjunction with the senior management team of Inland Fisheries Ireland, have any plans to reduce the number of blue gill tags from the accustomed ten gill tags that may be issued to individual salmon anglers on Lough Corrib SAC in 2024 considering the quota has reduced from 3,331 salmon to 1,938 salmon in twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51456/23]

Hospital Staff

Mairéad Farrell

184. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for University Hospital Galway, Portiuncula University Galway and Merlin Hospital Galway, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51309/23]

Health Services Staff

Mairéad Farrell

185. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for CHO2, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51310/23]

Hospital Staff

Mairéad Farrell

186. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for University Hospital Galway, Portiuncula University Galway and Merlin Hospital Galway, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; and the WTE to which these relate. [51311/23]

Health Services Staff

Mairéad Farrell

187. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for CHO Area 2, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; and the WTE to which these relate. [51312/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

250. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in line with recommendation 56 of the Autism Committee’s recent report (details supplied), what would be the first-year and full-year cost of establishing a scholarship scheme to fund students in third-level courses in disciplines relevant to disability services with a commitment from graduates to work in Ireland for a set number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51542/23]

Further and Higher Education

Mairéad Farrell

251. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in line with recommendation 58 of the Autism Committee’s recent report (details supplied), what would be the capital cost of compiling sensory maps to provide to all Higher Education Institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51543/23]