Parliamentary questions

School Transport

Brendan Smith

421. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when it is expected to finalise the review of the school transport scheme; if she will ensure that improvements to its existing operation will be introduced, taking into account the need to facilitate students on the transport service who are ineligible at present but where there is a history of students from an area going to a second-level centre; if such students could be considered eligible in the future operation of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15307/23]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

535. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when grant approval will issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15422/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the role the Defences Forces play in fulfilling the security needs of the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14235/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he plans any review of existing defence structures in the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14234/23]

School Staff

Brendan Smith

77. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the implementation of the new pay deal for school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14188/23]

School Facilities

Brendan Smith

79. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the progress on the schools decarbonisation pathfinder programme; the number of schools are part of the programme; if there are plans to increase the number of schools in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14187/23]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

192. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that adequate funding is allocated to a local authority in 2023 to advance proposed road projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14562/23]

Tourism Industry

Brendan Smith

212. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the outcome of discussions she has had with her counterpart in the British Government concerning the difficulties that will arise for the tourism sector on an all-island basis if the proposed electronic travel authorisation scheme is implemented as proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14558/23]

Sports Funding

Brendan Smith

213. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a new sports capital programme will be announced at an early date in view of its importance in assisting sporting organisations to modernise and develop additional facilities, which are much-needed in many communities and across different sporting disciplines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14576/23]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person can be considered for a local authority home loan where exceptional circumstances pertain in relation to one of the conditions of the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14554/23]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

238. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of any recent discussions he had with the United States authorities regarding the need to regularise the status of the undocumented Irish and have an appropriate visa programme put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14556/23]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the British Foreign Secretary concerning the difficulties that will be caused by the proposed electronic travel authorisation scheme as that legislation is currently framed; if he is aware of the concerns of some people travelling across the Border on this island on a regular basis, both residents and visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14557/23]

Domestic Violence

Brendan Smith

326. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in providing a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14546/23]

Care Services

Brendan Smith

364. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in advancing a project to provide additional accommodation at a health care facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14585/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

365. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the outstanding Covid bonus payments will be made to health care workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14586/23]

Local Authorities

Brendan Smith

144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify, In relation to the rules and guidelines provided by him to local authorities to purchase homes with tenants in situ; the position of a tenant , in receipt of housing supports, facing eviction on grounds of sale but where the local authority are refusing to consider purchasing the home because the tenant, while registered with this local authority, and is actually housed in the jurisdiction of a neighbouring county and local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14373/23]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

181. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of a school building project (details supplied); when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14317/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [11295/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Britain and Northern Ireland division of his Department. [12838/23]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

273. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will give urgent consideration to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13135/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Brendan Smith

533. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that will be implemented to eliminate delays in the processing of foreign birth register applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/23]

Brexit Supports

Brendan Smith

1563. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the details of funding allocations made to date under the BREXIT Adjustment Reserve Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13119/23]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

21. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in reducing the delays in processing and finalising tree planting and tree felling licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11871/23]

Farm Costs

Brendan Smith

38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there have been discussions at the EU Agriculture Council in relation to the need to introduce measures to help offset the increased costs of fertilisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11872/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Smith

156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on measures to increase the supply of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11757/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

3. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a report on any recent discussions with political parties in Northern Ireland in regard to the shared island initiative. [11296/23]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give detailed consideration to all the issues outlined in a recent publication (details supplied); if he will raise these issues in appropriate fora such as the EU Foreign Affairs Council and the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11983/23]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek a specific discussion at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the concerning issues outlined in a recent publication (details supplied) about the persecution of Christians around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/23]

Tax Credits

Brendan Smith

78. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the number of persons in County Cavan who are eligible to claim the rent tax credit; his estimate of the number of persons in County Monaghan eligible to claim the rent tax credit; the number of persons in County Cavan currently claiming it; the number of persons in County Monaghan currently claiming it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11325/23]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the number of County Cavan businesses that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of County Monaghan businesses that have applied; the number of County Cavan applications that have been successful; the number of Monaghan applications that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11324/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

404. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, there are to confer DEIS status on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11551/23]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

411. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the provision of additional funding for a scheme will enable the inclusion of schools (details supplied) to avail of this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11579/23]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Smith

531. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to address the shortage in GPs throughout the country particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10806/23]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Smith

532. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures taken to improve the recruitment and retention of GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10807/23]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Smith

606. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional healthcare professionals (details supplied) will be recruited in view of long delays in children receiving appropriate therapeutic interventions and supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11155/23]

Driver Test

Brendan Smith

23. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the measures that will be implemented to eliminate unacceptable delays in applicants receiving appointments for driving tests in the Cavan test centre; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that much inconvenience is caused to applicants through late cancellations, in many instances within a very short time of the test being due to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10499/23]

Driver Test

Brendan Smith

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport when additional driver testers will be appointed to the Cavan test centre, in view of the delays in applicants receiving appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/23]

EU Funding

Brendan Smith

98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected timeline for the roll-out of the PEACEPLUS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10464/23]

EU Funding

Brendan Smith

105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proposed level of funding for the PEACEPLUS programme; the breakdown in funding to be provided by the Government, the European Union and the British Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10465/23]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

210. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider expanding the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme to include persons who may wish to restore a derelict house to habitable use for a family member or as a small-scale investment, thus increasing the availability of property for the rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10697/23]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

241. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project will proceed to the next stage (details supplied) in view of the urgency of providing additional permanent accommodation at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10702/23]

National Development Plan

Brendan Smith

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the implementation of Chapter 17 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10558/23]

Legislative Measures

Brendan Smith

80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when measures (details supplied) in the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10565/23]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

378. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if additional supports will be provided for service providers (details supplied), in view of the substantial increase in energy costs and the difficulties caused for these operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10213/23]

Departmental Contracts

Brendan Smith

458. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the exact procedures for payment of accommodation providers when new circumstances arise (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10209/23]

Ambulance Service

Brendan Smith

612. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there are to change protocols for ambulance personnel in the discharge of patients to hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9913/23]

White Papers

Brendan Smith

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how the new White Paper on Enterprise will help reduce the cost of doing business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9096/23]

White Papers

Brendan Smith

124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how the new White Paper on Enterprise will help businesses in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9095/23]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

77. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that all households, including small flats and apartments with electricity supply from all energy companies, are credited with the Government energy support programme, as this has not happened to date for some households (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9151/23]

Healthcare Policy

Brendan Smith

231. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if supports will be introduced to assist people suffering with ME and POTS with medical costs arising from their conditions; if his attention has been drawn to reports that, in many instances, people are off work due to these diseases and have a much-reduced income, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9101/23]

Cabinet Committees

Brendan Smith

8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [8502/23]

Departmental Strategies

Brendan Smith

12. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's strategy statement 2021-2023. [8114/23]

Departmental Bodies

Brendan Smith

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit in his Department. [8504/23]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

10. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the additional measures that will be implemented at an early date by his Department and agencies under its remit to tackle the scourge of illegal drugs throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7546/23]

Substance Misuse

Brendan Smith

59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the additional measures, in conjunction with the Department of Health, that will be implemented to deal with the serious problems arising from the prevalent use of illegal drugs throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7547/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

104. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure, without further delay, that there is equal treatment of private nursing homes in relation to subvention payments as the present system is unfair and is causing serious difficulties for some small-scale nursing home providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7649/23]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there is equal treatment of private nursing homes in relation to subvention payments regardless of their location; if the sizeable divergence in payments at present will be removed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7648/23]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

331. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when a service (details supplied) will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7796/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of education and or training places that are available for young persons with autism who have completed a course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7591/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Smith

481. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional third level places will be made available for students wishing to study pharmacy in view of the shortage of community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7438/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Smith

482. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional third level places will be made available across different disciplines in health and social care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7439/23]

National Economic and Social Council

Brendan Smith

22. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [5799/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

343. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when front-line healthcare staff employed by agencies will receive their Covid bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5612/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

27. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the review by his Department and the Defence Forces of the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5145/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will review the structures and organisation of the Defence Forces with particular reference to the security needs of the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5146/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if there are proposals to extend the current Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4950/23]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Smith

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the level of funding and plans for the 2023 July Provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4949/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Northern Ireland for discussions with the political parties there. [4220/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

2. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. [4221/23]

Energy Policy

Brendan Smith

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that persons who live over their business premises where the same electricity connection covers the entire premises, both residential and business, will have their accounts credited through the electricity costs emergency benefit schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5140/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his attendance at the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4264/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with the United Kingdom government on Northern Ireland legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4265/23]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

200. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the Government’s commitment to help progress the proposed upgrade of the A5 road in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4081/23]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

261. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage in view of the urgency of providing additional permanent accommodation at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3823/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

106. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3460/23]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

92. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the way he will be protecting banking services in rural areas, especially in relation to the right-to-cash services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3066/23]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the operation of the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of businesses in each of the counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth and Sligo that have applied; the number of businesses in each county that were successful in their applications; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3065/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

604. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the implementation of the UK Nationality and Borders Act and the need to have exemptions to this scheme to ensure the continuation of the free movement of people on a cross-Border basis on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63514/22]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the CLÁR areas will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62767/22]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Brendan Smith

35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the proposals, if any, there are to implement programmes on a cross-Border basis that are of a particular importance to rural communities; if her Department, its agencies and their counterparts in Northern Ireland will avail of funding under the PEACE PLUS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62768/22]

National Broadband Plan

Brendan Smith

135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date in the roll-out of broadband in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the progress that will be achieved in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62763/22]

Grant Payments

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that the timeline in the processing and approval of applications for grant aid for retrofitting of private homes is reduced substantially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62762/22]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

195. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the landscape and management plans that are in place to help combat climate change by maximising the use of roadside spaces to help reduce carbon emissions and pollutant gases, provide roadside shelter and increase biodiversity by the use of native tree species while at all times taking into account health and safety concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63099/22]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

196. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if native tree species are always planted in tree planting programmes along roadways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63100/22]

Credit Unions

Brendan Smith

206. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to lower the requirement for credit unions to retain 10% of deposits, given that other countries in Europe have a requirement of 3% or 4% retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63110/22]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

207. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the outcome of the work of the Banking Forum to date; if specific consideration is being given to the need to ensure that large parts of rural Ireland are not deprived of banking services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63114/22]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that there will be a substantial financial allocation for the 2023 housing voids programme in view of its success since 2020 and the value of such works in bringing back to habitable use unoccupied homes; if he will ensure that additional support is given to local authorities, such as those in County Cavan, which have a very low rates base and have very limited revenue-raising capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63024/22]

Teacher Training

Brendan Smith

229. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the reason for replacing the higher diploma in education in 2014 with a two-year master's degree in education; if any review of this programme has been undertaken in the meantime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62859/22]

School Accommodation

Brendan Smith

230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62860/22]

School Enrolments

Brendan Smith

237. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if pupils who are enrolled in a school after 30 September will be included in enrolment numbers of that school for capitation purposes in cases in which it is clear that such pupils were not enrolled in any other school in this State at the end of September; if this matter will be given further consideration in view of the increased movement of persons and families to this State in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63021/22]

State Examinations

Brendan Smith

238. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when appeals submitted to the Independent Appeals Scrutineers which had to be submitted by 21 October 2022 in respect of students who sat the Leaving Certificate 2022 will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63022/22]

Third Level Admissions

Brendan Smith

275. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional third level places will be provided for all therapy courses, in view of the difficulties in recruiting therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63126/22]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Brendan Smith

276. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the initiatives that will be undertaken to promote student mobility North-South and South-North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63128/22]

Family Law Cases

Brendan Smith

291. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 9 November 2022, if there has been any further progress in the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63119/22]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

334. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the additional financial supports that will be provided for small-scale nursing home providers in view of the substantial additional costs incurred recently by such providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63018/22]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

335. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate financial support is provided for small-scale nursing home providers given that a number of such providers have closed over recent months and it is essential that private nursing home care is not provided solely by large-scale operators, which would result in some rural communities losing such important health care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63019/22]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

336. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional health care places will be provided to an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63020/22]

Health Strategies

Brendan Smith

362. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the initiatives that will be undertaken within a health care programme in 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63050/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brendan Smith

393. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that are available to farmers to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62855/22]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

400. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who had to cease willow production will receive compensation payments under the Just Transition Programme due to the substantial costs that they have incurred in exiting such production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63015/22]