Parliamentary questions

Hospital Equipment

Michael Lowry

552. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of days from January 2022 to the end of September 2023 during which radiation oncology services at University Hospital Limerick were unavailable due to breakdowns in radiotherapy machinery/equipment, in tabular form; the average duration required to repair radiotherapy machinery/equipment at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43973/23]

Tax Code

Michael Lowry

115. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance regarding Revenue duty and charges levied on motor dealers, traders, and registered vehicle importers during and after the Brexit period; as the Minister is aware Revenue demands specific documentation before granting clearance and releasing vehicles to their owners; if he is aware that Revenue is currently re-evaluating the duty and charges applied to vehicles imported into Ireland from the UK over the past three years; if he is also aware that Revenue is now imposing an additional 10% fee on these vehicles; the reason why Revenue introduced new guidelines and altered the requirements; if he concurs that the imposition of this additional 10% levy appears unjust, especially considering that motor dealers, traders, and registered vehicle importers had diligently adhered to Revenue's requirements at the time of import; furthermore, if he could explain the removal of the 2020/21 guidelines for compliance that were initially provided to motor dealers, traders, and registered vehicle importers on the Revenue website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42886/23]

Energy Conservation

Michael Lowry

161. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reasons the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is no longer providing grants for the replacement of heat pumps; to specify what financial supports or grant funding can be obtained by persons whose existing heat pump systems are beyond economic repair and who have been informed by engineers that it is more cost-effective to replace than repair;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/23]

Road Safety Authority

Michael Lowry

186. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department and the RSA (Road Safety Authority) have engaged with the Irish Motorcycle Association for Ireland (details supplied); if he and the RSA will consider scheduling a meeting with them at their earliest convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43348/23]

Active Travel

Michael Lowry

187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department and the Road Safety Authority have recently initiated discussions with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the implementation and deployment of floating bus islands and cycle lanes as integral components of active travel initiatives; if he and the RSA will to arrange a meeting with the organisation to gather the insights and perspectives on these novel active travel initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43351/23]

Tax Code

Michael Lowry

213. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to reinstating the VAT equalisation measure for rental cars in budget 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43377/23]

Air Quality

Michael Lowry

231. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide information on the educational seminars, radio marketing campaigns, expenditures on radio marketing, email campaigns, direct mail initiatives or any other related activities that have been conducted between 26 May 2023, and 1 October 2023, with the objective of raising awareness among both public and private employers and employees in Ireland regarding the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; if he will provide information on any forthcoming activities scheduled for increasing awareness of the Code of Practice during the period from October to December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43243/23]

Air Quality

Michael Lowry

232. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an assessment has been conducted regarding the awareness levels of employees and employers in Ireland, encompassing both the public and private sectors, with regard to the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; if such an assessment has not been carried out, to outline the strategies and initiatives planned to enhance awareness among both employers and employees regarding the Code of Practice during the period from 1 October 2023, to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43244/23]

Air Quality

Michael Lowry

233. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he is confident that both public and private sector employees are well informed about the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; if he will elaborate on the steps taken to ensure there is awareness of the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43245/23]

Job Losses

Michael Lowry

235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what assistance his Department can offer to the residents of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, in light of the recent closure of a factory (details supplied) and the resulting loss of approximately 50 jobs, which has placed significant hardship on the affected families; if he will commit to making every possible effort to aid the people of Carrick-on-Suir and actively seek an alternative company to take over the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43319/23]

School Accommodation

Michael Lowry

241. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department will accelerate the processing of an application for additional accommodation submitted in March 2023, by a school (details supplied); if she will consider the unique circumstances of this school, which currently operates as a three-teacher school with only two classrooms; if she will take into account that using an SET classroom for the third teachers classroom is very unsatisfactory; if she will factor in the expected significant growth in projected enrolment numbers for the foreseeable future in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43320/23]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

242. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she has been apprised of the situation concerning a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43321/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

243. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 234 of 26 September 2023, if she will provide an update on this matter and confirm the current status of the provision of school transport for the person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43322/23]

Citizens Information Services

Michael Lowry

279. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that staff working in citizens information services have not received any pay rise since 2008; if she will provide information on the efforts being made to address this issue and bring the compensation of staff in citizens information services in line with those working in equivalent positions within the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43323/23]

Citizens Information Services

Michael Lowry

280. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a request from citizens information services in County Tipperary asking for additional funding and permission to increase its current complement of information officer posts (details supplied); if she will consider and approve the request from citizens information services in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43325/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Michael Lowry

318. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 970 Question Reference of 18 January 2023, if he will provide an update on the status of a person’s (details supplied) redress claim within the mother-and-baby institutions scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43349/23]

Health Services Staff

Michael Lowry

329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence (details supplied) from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on behalf of nursing members across Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, who are employed in CareDoc (section 39) organisation as community intervention team nurses; if he is aware that this cohort of nurses has not received their Covid-19 pandemic payment from the HSE or the Department of Health through KOSI; if he will support these nurses in receiving and addressing the non-payment of their Covid-19 pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43219/23]

Energy Conservation

Michael Lowry

54. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 16 May 2023, when the low-cost loan scheme for energy upgrades will be made available and opened for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42901/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael Lowry

144. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 28 September 2023, if he can confirm and provide clarity on the reason the timeframe for the approval to completion of works under the Croí Cónaithe (towns) fund was reduced from 18 months to 13 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43044/23]

Rail Network

Michael Lowry

181. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he and Irish Rail will consider the full reopening and upgrading of the train station in Clonmel, County Tipperary; if he and Irish Rail will explore the possibility of operating additional direct rail services between Waterford and Galway by utilising the current Waterford-Limerick line, thereby benefitting commuters of Ireland's largest inland town, Clonmel, with enhanced rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42107/23]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Lowry

420. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can confirm when the income limit for the carer's allowance means test was last reviewed by her Department; if she is aware that the current income limit appears to be excessively restrictive, particularly in light of recent wage increases aimed at offsetting the significant rise in the cost of living, including the substantial increase in mortgage interest rates (details supplied); if she will give serious consideration to raising the income threshold to a more realistic level, or even consider abolishing the income threshold for carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42489/23]

Animal Diseases

Michael Lowry

472. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a case (details supplied); if the Minister is aware that since the identification of TB reactors in their herd, they have been unable to trade and are experiencing extreme financial hardship; the reasons they have been informed by the Department that they cannot claim any TB support payments; what financial support schemes are made available to goat milk farmers to assist in reducing the burden and costs associated with TB breakouts on such farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42221/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael Lowry

196. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the timeframe for the approval to completion of works under the croí cónaithe (towns) fund was reduced from 18 months to 13 months; what the rationale behind this decision was, especially considering that the initial 18-month timeframe was already proving difficult to achieve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42004/23]

Energy Conservation

Michael Lowry

43. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he would consider extending the free energy upgrades provided under the warmer homes scheme to automatically encompass applicants who are over 66 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41701/23]

Media Sector

Michael Lowry

61. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to a range of queries concerning the Budget Oversight Committee's recent recommendations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41684/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Michael Lowry

125. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can confirm whether the six planned regional assessment teams were fully established and operational by 1 August 2023 to address the significant waiting lists for assessments of needs; if, in the event that the teams were not fully operational by this date, he has considered allowing for the full reimbursement of private treatment expenses for children with disabilities and special education needs assessment from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41878/23]

Medical Cards

Michael Lowry

126. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he would consider reviewing the medical card guidelines for individuals with spinal injuries; if he will contemplate the automatic provision of medical cards to individuals with a spinal cord injury based on certified medical needs, rather than financial means; if he will explore the possibility of extending the review cycle for medical card holders with a spinal cord injury to ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41666/23]

Pension Provisions

Michael Lowry

157. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department proposes to increase the pension threshold from €2 million to €2.4 million (details supplied); if he agrees that this proposed increase would support middle-income earners in maintaining their current standard of living and incentivise greater participation in private pension schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40997/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

234. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reasons that a Ukrainian child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41040/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

237. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/24 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41062/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

238. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41063/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

239. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41064/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

240. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41065/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

241. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41066/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

242. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41067/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

243. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41068/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41069/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

264. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reasons that a child (details supplied) did not receive the correct school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; when this issue will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41342/23]

Disability Services

Michael Lowry

469. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans in place to address the unfair pay disparity between staff employed by Section 39 organisations, such as those working with an organisation (details supplied) and those in equivalent positions within the HSE; if he will commit to allocating increased funding to Section 39 organisations in Budget 2024 to rectify this wage gap for section 39 organisation employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41621/23]

Disability Services

Michael Lowry

478. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the Roadmap for Progressing Disability Services; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41149/23]

Disability Services

Michael Lowry

489. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of funding that has been spent by children's disability network teams on outsourcing to private providers in order to maintain a level of service provision in 2022 and to date in 2023; if this data can be provided for every CHO and for each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41354/23]

Family Resource Centres

Michael Lowry

504. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has conducted a review of the funding streams for family resource centres; whether he is committed to allocating additional funding in Budget 2024 to family resource centres, considering the profoundly positive impact that increased funding would have on the valuable work these centres provide in supporting families and local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41645/23]

Departmental Programmes

Michael Lowry

627. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what funding or resources can be provided from her Department to assist community centres (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when the next open call for applications to the Community Services Programme is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41240/23]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

93. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason there is an extended waiting period of over 11 months for an invitation to apply for their driving test; when they can expect to receive an invitation to book their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39988/23]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

94. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when they can expect to receive an invitation to book their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39989/23]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

95. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when can they expect to receive an invitation to book their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39990/23]

Driver Test

Michael Lowry

96. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if the RSA was aware of IT issues when this person booked their driving test date; when they can expect to be placed back on the driving test waiting/invitation system and receive an invitation to book their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39991/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Lowry

204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has received correspondence from a union (details supplied) concerning 7,000 An Post pensioners who are still awaiting agreed increases to their pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39977/23]

Bus Services

Michael Lowry

282. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 23 March 2023, if the procurement plan for both an operator and associated bus stop infrastructure for a town bus service in Clonmel, County Tipperary, has been finalised; if the procurement process has been completed; if the Clonmel town bus service will begin as planned in Q4 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37797/23]

Education Policy

Michael Lowry

697. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the percentage of exemption from Irish studies applications approved by second-level schools in 2022, that were subsequently reversed or overturned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38659/23]