Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Patrick Costello

525. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the gender services whose assessment is considered sufficient to avoid having to repeat an initial assessment by the National Gender Service; the number of referrals to the National Gender Service which did not have to repeat an initial assessment in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3894/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

526. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the evidence to support a claim by the National Gender Service on a recent television programme (details supplied) that prior to the use of blockers, most gender non-conforming children through puberty became comfortable with their bodies and assigned gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3895/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

527. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the National Gender Service's views on the exploratory or questioning model of care, as referenced on a recent television programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3896/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

528. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the National Gender Service's views on the harms and benefits of monitoring the hormone concentrations of people accessing transgender services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3897/24]

Middle East

Patrick Costello

31. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given the latest repeated rejection by the Israeli government of Palestinian statehood and the statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu that all territory west of the Jordan River would be under Israeli control, and if the minister will recognise now that state of Palestine. [3226/24]

Energy Policy

Patrick Costello

117. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will amend the energy credit scheme to address the gap where those who are not on social welfare and who have moved into a previously vacant house have not been able to get the energy credit due to the property being designated low usage. [3345/24]

Telecommunications Services

Patrick Costello

136. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he will direct the Commission for Communications Regulation to review the use of inflation-linked mid-contract price rises by phone and broadband companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/24]

Public Transport

Patrick Costello

200. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will liaise with the TFI and Dublin Bus to ensure that all literature, both hard copy and electronic, classifies child leap cards as covering the age range of 5-18, in line with the UN Convention on the rights of the child which define a child as being aged 18 and below (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3607/24]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

241. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to comment on the CSO dataset 'Educational Attendance and Attainment of Children in Care, 2018 - 2023' published recently; to outline how her Department is responding to the gaps identified for children in care in education; if her Department intends to further research this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3511/24]

School Transport

Patrick Costello

246. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department will liaise with the relevant authorities to introduce a school pupils' free travel scheme bus pass, similar to the free travel scheme for adults, recognising that children in rural areas can avail of free travel, but not those in urban areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3609/24]

Social Welfare Code

Patrick Costello

282. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will liaise with the relevant authorities to introduce a school pupils free travel scheme bus pass, similar to the free travel scheme for adults, recognising that children in rural areas can avail of free travel, but not those in urban areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3608/24]

Proposed Legislation

Patrick Costello

318. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the drafting of amendments to the Health Act 2007 that will transfer the registration and inspection functions for non-statutory children's residential centres from Tusla to HIQA; if the necessary amendments will be included in the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024 or the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 as a miscellaneous provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3510/24]

Care Services

Patrick Costello

332. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is planning to develop an overarching national strategy on alternative care which would include workforce and placement planning and interagency needs to meet the current and future needs of the care system in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3507/24]

Proposed Legislation

Patrick Costello

333. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to establish a National Child Care Act Advisory Committee prior to the passing of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024; what preparatory work is ongoing in terms of scoping the issues for the Committee's workplan before it is established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3508/24]

Legislative Measures

Patrick Costello

334. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to update provisions of the Child Care Act 1991 to include clear arrangements for a model of care for separated children seeking international protection; if he believes the overuse of sections 4 and 5 in these cases is sufficient given these children often do not meet the criteria for either on entering care; if he plans to further review the 1991 Act in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3509/24]

Heritage Sites

Patrick Costello

97. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason why Kilmainham Gaol has moved from a seven to five day a week opening hours; when this last took place (excluding closures for national holidays and pandemic related reasons); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3157/24]

Heritage Sites

Patrick Costello

98. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of tour guides who formerly worked in Kilmainham Gaol, on both seasonal and permanent contracts, who are now working in other OPW heritage sites. [3158/24]

Heritage Sites

Patrick Costello

99. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform given the recruitment issues for guiding staff in heritage sites, as evidenced by multiple seasonal calls in 2023, if his Department will move to a model which ensures that the majority of guiding staff, that is those below head guide/supervisor levels are employed on a full time basis in sites which are open year round such as Kilmainham Gaol. [3159/24]

School Funding

Patrick Costello

114. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 680 of 17 January 2024, when the next round of applications will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3166/24]

School Funding

Patrick Costello

115. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 680 of 17 January 2024, the reason all applicants were given equal weighting in the lottery, regardless of DEIS status or not. [3167/24]

National Monuments

Patrick Costello

133. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent announcement that exhumations are to take place in Mountjoy Prison to recover the remains of executed prisoners buried on site, if his Department will commence, as per its powers under the National Monuments Acts, a similar scheme of exhumations to take place at Kilmainham Gaol. [3104/24]

Legislative Programme

Patrick Costello

157. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice why the historical disregard legislation is absent from the spring legislative programme; and the timeline for the introduction of legislation for this Programme for Government legislation. [3099/24]

Sentencing Policy

Patrick Costello

159. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice what measures have been taken to reduce the number of people serving a custodial sentence of 12 months or less in line with the priority commitment since the publication of the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform in August 2022; and if any measures were taken, if these measures have resulted in any reduction. [3116/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

273. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of second-level education institutions aided by her Department whose fee status has changed from fee-charging to non fee-charging since 2000, indicating the year the school entered the free scheme, the school's roll number and the school planning area in each case. [2435/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

274. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of second-level education institutions aided by her Department whose school gender has changed from girls to mixed since 2000, indicating the year the school began admitting boys, and the school's roll number and planning area in each case. [2436/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

275. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of second-level education institutions aided by her Department whose school gender has changed from boys to mixed since 2000, indicating the year the school began admitting girls, and the school's roll number and planning area in each case. [2437/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

276. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of second-level education institutions aided by her Department whose ethos or religion has changed from catholic to interdenominational or multidenominational since 2000, indicating the year the school changed its ethos, and the school's roll number and planning area in each case. [2438/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

313. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of second level education institutions aided by her Department, indicating the school roll number and school planning area in each case. [3072/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

314. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide, in tabular form, a list of the 170 second level education institutions in Ireland whose students were assessed in the PISA 2022 survey, indicating the school roll number in each case; and to provide lists of the second level education institutions whose students were assessed in the PISA 2018, PISA 2015, PISA 2012, PISA 2009 and PISA 2006 surveys. [3073/24]

Prison Service

Patrick Costello

457. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of reports submitted to her office by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons that have not yet been published; the date of submission of each of these reports; when such reports will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3074/24]

School Accommodation

Patrick Costello

184. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when her Department's professional and technical team will complete the review of a report (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be communicated to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2184/24]

Departmental Reports

Patrick Costello

202. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the actions he will take in relation to the Mulcahy report, its publication and its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2128/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

274. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds entered on Rásaíocht Con Éireann’s race management system to date whose year of birth was 2021 and 2022, respectively with a breakdown in that number between those registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland and those registered to owners normally resident in Northern Ireland, in tabular form [2193/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

275. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds that completed one or more races whose year of birth was 2021 as recorded on RCETS and 2022, respectively with a breakdown in that number between those registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland and those registered to owners normally resident in Northern Ireland in tabular form [2194/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

276. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds exported before completing at least one official trial whose year of birth was 2021 and 2022, respectively as recorded on RCETS with a breakdown in that number between those registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland and those registered to owners normally resident in Northern Ireland in tabular form [2195/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

277. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds exported after completing at least one official trial whose year of birth was 2021 as recorded on RCETS, and 2022, respectively as recorded on RCETS, with a breakdown in that number between those registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland and those registered to owners normally resident in Northern Ireland in tabular form [2196/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

278. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds rehomed before completing at least one official trial whose year of birth was 2021 as recorded on RCETS and 2022, respectively as recorded on RCETS with a breakdown in that number between those registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland and those registered to owners normally resident in Northern Ireland in tabular form [2197/24]

Greyhound Industry

Patrick Costello

279. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds rehomed after completing at least one official trial whose year of birth was 2021 as recorded on RCETS and 2022, respectively as recorded on RCETS with a breakdown in that number between those registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland and those registered to owners normally resident in Northern Ireland in tabular form [2198/24]

Energy Usage

Patrick Costello

83. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how persons can get access to their personal data usage having installed a smart meter without signing up to a smart meter plan. [56961/23]

Energy Usage

Patrick Costello

102. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will amend the legislation for the energy credit under Budget 2023 to include the removal of the exclusion of ‘low usage’ homes in cases whereby new tenants/owners move into a previously vacant unit. [57332/23]

Road Tolls

Patrick Costello

182. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent toll road increases and the specific effect it has on areas such as Inchicore, Chapelizod and the Phoenix Park with cars using those areas to avoid toll roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56565/23]

Driver Test

Patrick Costello

270. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken by his Department to reduce waiting times for driving tests in the Dublin area; the current waiting times, by test centre in Dublin; his Department’s target wait time for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1338/24]

National Transport Authority

Patrick Costello

272. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport when the NTA will receive its 2024 funding allocation; and the reason for the delay to date.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1346/24]

Departmental Schemes

Patrick Costello

274. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if the eSPSV grant is due to reopen for applications in 2024; and if so, if the eligibility requirements will remain the same as in the 2023 round of the scheme. [1361/24]

Air Safety

Patrick Costello

291. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if his Department and the DAA have liaised in relation to the safety and quality control procedures of Boeing aircraft following recent incidents with their 737 Max plane; if either have liaised with the US regulatory body (FAA) in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1678/24]

Bus Services

Patrick Costello

293. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will liaise with the NTA in relation to recent route changes that have left elderly residents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1722/24]

Electric Vehicles

Patrick Costello

301. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to ensure that all motorway stop off petrol stations are fitted out with both fast charge and type 2 EV charging points, recognising the fact that many EV users only have type 2 connections; and if he will introduce minimum standards to ensure that all stations are required to facilitate type 2 charging points. [1866/24]

Tax Credits

Patrick Costello

336. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance if, given the ongoing housing crisis and the precarious nature of many renting arrangements, renters in non-registered tenancies can access the renter’s credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57329/23]

Heritage Sites

Patrick Costello

403. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform given the recent announcement that exhumations are to take place in Mountjoy Prison to recover the remains of executed prisoners buried on site, if his Department will commence a similar scheme of exhumations to take place at Kilmainham Gaol. [1687/24]

School Curriculum

Patrick Costello

659. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of second level education institutions aided by her Department, that did not provide applied mathematics for the Leaving Certificate in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2022, in tabular form. [1588/24]