Parliamentary questions

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

123. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if in the instance of a first passport application there is a necessity of the identity verification form section 7 to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána or whether any witness from the list provided on the gov.ie website is suitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7626/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

268. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education to report on what schools in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area provide properly serviced reading classes for dyslexic children, and if there are any upcoming plans to provide properly serviced reading classrooms for dyslexic children in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7525/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

350. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the implications for a RAS tenant, considering RAS is designated like social housing as social housing support, whose income goes over the income limit, who pays rent in line with the increased income but then receives a notice to quit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7675/24]

School Meals Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the timeline for the full installation of the hot school meals programme; if there is a commitment by her Department to cover all schools by the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7614/24]

Judicial Appointments

Richard Boyd Barrett

429. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice in light of the recent conviction of a Circuit Court judge for sexual offences, to explain how it was possible for somebody with so many serious complaints against them to be appointed as a Circuit Court judge; to confirm that neither the Gardaí nor the school previously employing the judge undertook any activity which could be perceived as covering up complaints against the judge (or any behaviours similar to those subject to complaint) prior to his appointment; to outline any efforts taken by the Department or agencies of the Department to ascertain whether any possible covering-up took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7722/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media following the recent film industry section 481 stakeholder forum, her views on the widespread and legitimate concern of actors, writers, directors and film crew in relation to sustainable and secure employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7003/24]

Sports Facilities

Richard Boyd Barrett

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to address the significant shortfall of sports pitches and other sports facilities, that is growing particularly acute in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, considering the huge growth in people participating in sport, in particular women and girls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7001/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

44. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her assessment of the recent film industry section 481 stakeholder forum; her plans are to address the concerns, issues and proposals raised at the forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7002/24]

Television Licence Fee

Richard Boyd Barrett

57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to give an update on the Government’s latest thinking on the central funding of RTÉ and public service broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7004/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

95. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he now accepts the need for an outright ban on vulture funds purchasing large numbers of new homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/24]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

125. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he intends to put in place to ensure availability of affordable homes in south Dublin, in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7012/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

138. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take in relation to the cohort of people who earn more than the limit for social housing but are not eligible for cost rental on affordability grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7010/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

144. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will immediately raise the HAP and homeless HAP limits, considering the ever increasing numbers entering homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7013/24]

Homeless Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

153. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned about the increase in family homelessness and the lack of three bed homes coming on stream via the Part V programme; what changes he intends to make to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7014/24]

Water Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

409. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to confirm that Ireland has amongst the worst drowning rates in Europe; whether she intends to remedy this by increasing the number of lifeguards employed, ensuring proper training of all lifeguards, extending the months of the year that lifeguards are employed to cover the whole year, and by providing all lifeguards with the necessary equipment, such as radios, all-terrain vehicles and defibrillators, in line with European best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7110/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on the meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. [2797/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

15. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his meeting with the President of China. [6660/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his visit to the western Balkans. [2796/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there has been an increase in the amount of ammunition for automatic rifles expended at the Curragh and the Glen of Imaal army ranges since the beginning of 2021; and whether any of this ammunition was used for training soldiers from NATO countries. [6786/24]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for an update on the child poverty and well-being unit. [4031/24]