Parliamentary questions

Motor Fuels

Michael Lowry

227. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the plans for the end of the motor fuel subsidy on 31 March 2024 (details supplied); if he plans to review or reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6143/24]

School Management

Michael Lowry

329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 17 January 2024, when her Department will issue a detailed and explanatory response to serious matters raised in correspondence from the management and principal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6567/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

330. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 17 January 2024, how the lottery system used during the STEM grant application process was highlighted in the briefing document to schools before they applied; her views on whether a lottery system was fair, considering the short timeframe offered to schools to complete the application, and the considerable effort schools put into submitting these applications and for them to fail without having the opportunity to be fully assessed on their individual merits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6568/24]

School Meals Programme

Michael Lowry

455. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to small rural primary schools that do not have the equipment or staff to heat, maintain and serve hot school meals through the hot meals programme; if her Department will provide such schools with additional funding to obtain heating equipment and the finances to compensate an existing member of staff, such as the school secretary, for the additional work and time needed to prepare, heat, and serve these meals to students five days per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6564/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Lowry

490. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene in the case of issues concerning a 2023 basic income support for sustainability, BISS, application by farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

518. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to launch the native woodland conservation scheme as part of the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6645/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

519. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date he intends to launch the revised ash dieback scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6646/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

520. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of clearfell and thinning licensed per county for 2024, 2025, 2026; the details that are available to him on the felling licence application provided by the applicants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/24]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

534. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); when a final decision will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6311/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if an environmental grant is available for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6011/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Lowry

283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason an application for ECCE time extension exemption for a child (details supplied) was refused; whether the professional medical letter issued by the CDNT in support of the time extension was fully reviewed; whether this refusal will be reviewed and a time extension will be granted upon review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/24]

Banking Sector

Michael Lowry

103. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he has been made aware of issues regarding the issuance of cheque books by Irish banks; if steps are being taken to address the issue; if there is a problem with the supply of cheque books due to issues with the printing companies; if so, the measures being taken to resolve this issue to ensure that customers of Irish banks are not adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5070/24]

Visa Applications

Michael Lowry

355. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice for an update regarding an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5324/24]

Visa Applications

Michael Lowry

356. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application (details supplied); the exact location of the application; when this application will be reviewed; the average processing times for such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5337/24]

Departmental Inquiries

Michael Lowry

479. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health for a status update concerning an inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State; when the terms of reference for this inquiry will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4977/24]

Education and Training Boards

Michael Lowry

584. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when hourly-paid adult education tutors with the ETB will receive parity with their full-time equivalent colleagues in respect of the terms and conditions for their employment, particularly a public service contract and access to an incremental salary scheme (details supplied); what work he is undertaking to avoid further disputes with this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5282/24]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the matter of school placements for children with disabilities in County Tipperary (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4694/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

8. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can review an application (details supplied), given the urgent nature of this application, if all documentation required has been received to have this application processed at the earliest possible convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/24]

Business Supports

Michael Lowry

37. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the increased cost of business scheme, ICOB, announced as part of budget 2024 (details supplied); the current status of the ICOB; the date on which it will start; the process businesses need to follow to apply for this grant; the measures in place to ensure the grant is distributed fairly and reaches the businesses most in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/24]

Forestry Sector

Michael Lowry

115. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied); the progress made in afforestation efforts, particularly in relation to the targets set for 2024; what measures are being implemented to ensure sustainable forestry practices in these operations; how these trends align with the national forestry management strategies and environmental conservation efforts; the impact of the ash dieback scheme and the native tree scheme on biodiversity and forest health in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/24]