Parliamentary questions

Housing Schemes

Paul Murphy

250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will inquire as to the reasons properties are not being acquired under the tenant-in-situ scheme due to repairs or similar reasons, while they were deemed appropriate for occupancy with council inspections and HAP payments. [11262/24]

Housing Schemes

Paul Murphy

251. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application by persons (details supplied) will be reconsidered. [11263/24]

Housing Schemes

Paul Murphy

252. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration of mental health impacts on children and families in the tenant-in-situ scheme, including assessing the potential impacts of homelessness and emergency accommodation on mental health; the effects of uprooting children from their lives, schools and friends to enter precarious living conditions, when they consider "value for money"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11264/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

253. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the contradictory stances between local authorities such as SDCC and the guidance from his Department and the Ombudsman (details supplied), if he will clarify the intended use and eligibility criteria of the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities, especially regarding structural modifications like sensory rooms. [11272/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure that local authorities are aligned with the national and his Department's guidelines and interpretations of the housing adaptation grant to prevent discrepancies and confusion among applicants without referring this matter back as a decision for local authorities. [11279/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

255. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which properties are assessed and categorised by local authorities like SDCC for families with specific medical and accessibility needs; and the oversight that is in place to ensure these categorisations are accurately applied and communicated. [11280/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

256. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cases where discrepancies arise between initial assessments and subsequent communications from local authority personnel (details supplied), the mechanisms that are in place for families to seek review or appeal these decisions to ensure their homes are made suitable for their needs without undue delay or confusion. [11281/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

257. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarification on the responsibilities and accountability within local authorities for ensuring that properties allocated as medical relets meet the requisite standards and adaptations as promised to families with disabled members. [11282/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Paul Murphy

313. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expand the redress scheme to include all those who spent time in a mother and baby institution or county home; if he will consider making an enhanced medical card available to all survivors, extend the scheme to anyone abused in a 'boarding out'/adoptive placement or abused through forced labour, vaccine trials, racial or disability-based discrimination or illegal expatriation outside the State for adoption, by allowing affected people to swear their testimony in a non-adversarial way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11271/24]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

352. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health in relation to the funding crisis facing the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (UMAAP) currently delivered via ADHD Ireland and the recent decision by the HSE to withdraw funding for UMAAP in 2024; and if he will instruct the HSE to reverse this decision and ensure the continuation of this vital programme. [11268/24]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

7. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services will meet next. [9320/24]

National Economic and Social Council

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [9321/24]

Cabinet Committees

Paul Murphy

21. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [9322/24]

Water Safety

Paul Murphy

43. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development with regard to her responsibility for Water Safety Ireland what measures she intends to take to reduce the number of drownings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10747/24]

Passport Services

Paul Murphy

90. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can provide a solution to an issue as regards guardianship (details supplied); if he will consider updating the legislation for someone who is the sole guardian in getting a child's passport; and if not, why not. [10054/24]

Mining Industry

Paul Murphy

111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to proposed lithium drilling in Moylisha Hill, if he is aware of the strength of local feeling against this development and the opposition expressed by environmentalists; if he will oppose this proposed programme of invasive drilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10019/24]

Energy Policy

Paul Murphy

136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on legal analysis to be provided to the Minister on Ireland’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty following Departmental engagement with the Office of the Attorney General in 2023; the scope and status of this OAG analysis and timeframe on when it will be brought to Government [10673/24]

Driver Test

Paul Murphy

163. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 20 February 2024, given that no one bar essential workers could sit a driving test or avail of lessons in 2020 and 2021, if he will take this into consideration and advocate for the RSA to make temporary changes to third learner permits to last for two years rather than one (details supplied). [10226/24]

National Monuments

Paul Murphy

236. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will confirm that animal traps (details supplied) which were being used at the Botanic Gardens, Dublin, are unlawful under the Wildlife Act, 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003 and, if so, what steps have been taken to ensure they have been permanently removed from this site and any other OPW properties. [10037/24]

National Monuments

Paul Murphy

237. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 29 March 2023, if the OPW established if a trespass occurred at Hore Abbey during a fox hunt and if so, what action has been taken against the hunt in question. [10044/24]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education in relation to circular 0002/24 issued by the Department on 6 February 2024, which proposes to eliminate the category of “complex educational needs” from consideration when allocating special education teacher (SET) hours, if she will ensure that this proposed change is withdrawn given the negative impact potentially revoking access to the educational setting appropriate to their needs can have on children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10030/24]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

325. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education her views on the adequacy of supports for children with autism and other additional educational needs in north Dublin, and the Ballymun-Finglas area in particular, and if she will comment specifically on the situation in which a person and his family (details supplied) find themselves. [10677/24]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

390. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a licence is required for the hunting of Irish hares with packs of hounds and if so, how many licences have been issued over the past five years; and the recipients of the licences and how many hares have been killed in hunting during that period. [10036/24]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

391. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an animal trap for rats and mice (details supplied) is unlawful under the Wildlife Act, 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003 and if so, what action his Department is taking against those selling or using them in Ireland. [10038/24]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

392. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can explain why a veterinary report form documenting the presence of two pregnant hares at Freshford Coursing Club has been modified on the National Parks and Wildlife Service website to now show that "nil" hares were identified as pregnant at the meeting; who authorised this modification; if he condones it; and if an investigation will be launched to establish if pregnant hares were present and if so, if this breached licence conditions. [10039/24]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

393. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will investigate if a pregnant hare who gave birth was among the hares in a coursing compound in Glin, given the number of hares at the end of coursing was one more than the number captured from the wild, if this breached the licence conditions and if so, what action he is taking against the club in question. [10040/24]

Social Welfare Code

Paul Murphy

438. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection why 'S' class contributions do not quality for carer’s payment; if there are any exceptions to this rule; if there is consideration around changing this; and if not, why not. [10056/24]

Visa Agreements

Paul Murphy

497. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice to provide any updates in relation to the requirement for a visa for Colombians to travel to Ireland (details supplied). [10670/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

510. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid out by Horse Racing Ireland in 2023 to hunts in point-to-point racing grants and any other funding, and if he will stop this, given that the money is propping up hunt clubs which are involved in bloodsports which the vast majority want banned. [10041/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

511. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if releasing a pack of dogs to chase a fox, failing to intervene to stop the dogs from attacking and-or killing the fox, and using terriers to corner and attack foxes when they try to escape underground are contrary to the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, which states that it is an offence to "do, or fail to do, anything or cause or permit anything to be done to an animal that causes unnecessary suffering to, or endanger the health or welfare of, an animal". [10042/24]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

512. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate why Greyhound Racing Ireland has categorised an Irish greyhound as "rehomed" after it was informed that the dog had been found straying in the UK in an underweight condition with a mouth "in an appalling state with rotten teeth" and that efforts were being made to find him a home; and if an investigation will be carried out to establish how this Irish-owned greyhound came to be abandoned in the UK. [10043/24]

Voluntary Sector

Paul Murphy

548. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the rationale for the State agreeing to pay for the role of safeguarding officer in St. Johns Ambulance; and to explain if this will be a mechanism available to other organisations in financial distress. [10045/24]

Voluntary Sector

Paul Murphy

549. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline whether any conditions will be imposed on St. Johns Ambulance in return for the State paying for the role of safeguarding officer. [10046/24]

Medical Cards

Paul Murphy

708. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health in relation to the proposed change in the medical card hair loss grant, if he will reconsider this proposal, ensuring that a grant is provided for anyone in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10311/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul Murphy

710. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health in relation to the special pay with leave long-Covid scheme for healthcare workers which is not to be extended beyond 31 March 2024 (details supplied) why have the Minister and the HSE reached this decision; if he is aware that these healthcare workers are still in the same situation and therefore still in need of the same support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10318/24]

Vaccination Programme

Paul Murphy

711. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 606 of 5 December 2023, the reasons for the delay between October and December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10320/24]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

713. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 565 of 20 February 2024, if he can provide a timeline for when the operation is going to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10323/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Paul Murphy

99. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Optional Protocol for the UN Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities will be ratified within the term of this Government; if so, when it will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9518/24]

Childcare Services

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9519/24]

Legislative Measures

Paul Murphy

269. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who are currently the subject of a High Court order placing them in special care in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991, who are not in special care due to the absence of an available bed; whether private agency staff can be utilised to staff the beds that are not currently open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9823/24]

Legislative Measures

Paul Murphy

270. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of agency staff currently employed to work in special care under the Child Care Act 1991; the hourly rates of pay offered to agency staff to work in special care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9824/24]

Health Services Staff

Paul Murphy

313. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the due diligence on therapists offered positions in the HSE is being outsourced to a private company; how long the average wait is from the time of application to completion of due diligence; how much the private company is being paid; whether there was a tender process for this company; and the reason the HSE is not itself verifying the qualifications and experience of applicants. [9825/24]

Legislative Programme

Paul Murphy

1. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [7878/24]

Trade Relations

Paul Murphy

37. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that Ireland imported €5.08 billion of goods from Israel in 2022 and €2.15 billion worth in 2021 (details supplied), yet in 2020, imports were only €138 million, which was par for the course on previous years; what precipitated the jump in trade after 2020; and as a significant trading partner with Israel, what part is Ireland playing in terms of trade in the cessation of the horrific events in Palestine. [9486/24]

Middle East

Paul Murphy

58. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of an offer by a group (details supplied) which has a team of over 20 highly qualified specialist doctors, licensed and experienced in various medical fields in Dublin, ready to volunteer their services in Gaza; if he has considered this offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8926/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Paul Murphy

124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 354 of 25 March 2021 and 86 of 7 February 2024, the reason there is no definite plan for implementing the legislation in 2024, given the importance of same in 2014 for the Garda Ombudsman and for an organisation (details supplied) in 2017 and the enacted legislation on it in 2023. [9164/24]

Special Educational Needs

Paul Murphy

213. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 13 February 2024, if she is aware that for children with dyslexia, the support provided through mainstream schools, 20 minutes for three times a week, does not compare to what children get in a special school, where they learn reading and writing using the Wilson method, which many mainstream teachers have zero education on how to teach; given this information, why the Department has no plans to open more of these classes; if she has considered that the demand is so high for these special schools because what is being offered through mainstream school is not working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8913/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Paul Murphy

218. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education regarding the current funding crisis threatening a preschool for autistic children (details supplied), if she will ensure that her Department responsible for processing the payments processes them promptly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8953/24]

Sports Events

Paul Murphy

252. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a set financial exposure limit on the Irish taxpayers commitment associated with Ireland hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027; if the commitment given by him on behalf of the Irish taxpayer is open ended; if such an exposure limit is set, the limit amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9184/24]

Sports Events

Paul Murphy

253. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to Ireland hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027, if a risk assessment on behalf of the Irish taxpayer regarding the specific costs to the taxpayer of hosting of this event has been put in place and in the interests of transparency can that risk assessment be made available to the public. [9185/24]