Parliamentary questions

Education Policy

Michael Lowry

698. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the percentage of appeals to her Department for exemption from Irish studies that were not accepted by second-level schools, that were successful in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38660/23]

Education Policy

Michael Lowry

699. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education what methodology her Department employs to gather data on the approvals and rejections of applications for exemption from Irish studies in post-primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38661/23]

Social Welfare Code

Michael Lowry

1015. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to applications for carer's allowance, if she will consider abolishing the means test for carers or, alternatively, if the means of the carer be the sole consideration rather than the total household income when assessing eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38072/23]

Pharmacy Services

Michael Lowry

1508. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 14 June 2023, if he will provide an update on the review of fees that pharmacies receive from the State for the state drug payment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37218/23]

Legislative Measures

Michael Lowry

1633. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health for an update on the patient safety (licensing) Bill; if this Bill will introduce a licensing requirement for individuals practising aesthetic medicine in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37800/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

56. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 524 of 21 March 2023, when a decision will be reached regarding the application to the foreign birth register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36510/23]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Lowry

426. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an urgent update regarding an emergency works application submitted by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35754/23]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Lowry

447. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the current status of a school (details supplied); the scheduled date for the demolition of the old school buildings; when the site is expected to be made safe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36205/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

464. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education concerning a school transport renewal application for a person (details supplied), the reasons behind the rejection and refusal of this application for the school bus service to a school for the school year 2023/2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36315/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

465. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reasons behind the rejection and refusal of an application for the school bus service for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36316/23]

Defective Building Materials

Michael Lowry

607. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the introduction of a mica or pyrite redress scheme for households in County Tipperary; if a person (details supplied) will be able to obtain financial assistance through the mica or pyrite redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36228/23]

Departmental Funding

Michael Lowry

972. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will investigate the case of a company (details supplied) regarding delayed payments from his Department; the reasons for these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35624/23]

Disability Services

Michael Lowry

997. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification and detailed information regarding the current staffing levels in the children's disability network team 5 within community healthcare organisation 5 (details supplied); if he will outline any plans or initiatives that are being put in place to address potential staffing shortages or challenges within the children's disability network team 5; if he will provide further insight and updates regarding the staffing situation in the children's disability network team 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35986/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Michael Lowry

1038. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the governance structure of the new regional assessment of need teams; how many of these teams are or will be composed entirely of staff from the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36409/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Michael Lowry

1039. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the total budget allocated for the regional assessment of needs teams; how many children are projected to have their assessments of need completed by these regional teams by the year-end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36410/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Michael Lowry

1040. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, the six planned regional assessment teams will be fully set up and operational by 1 August 2023 to address the significant waiting lists for assessments of needs; if, in the event that the teams are not fully operational by this date, he will consider allowing for the full reimbursement of private treatment expenses for children with disabilities from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36411/23]

Dental Services

Michael Lowry

1236. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will resolve a mater concerning Cork University Dental School and Hospital (CUDSH) and its reliance on CUH consultants for admissions, given that currently CUDSH consultants lack admission rights to CUH (details supplied); if he will review the ongoing issues and seek prompt intervention to ensure seamless care for CUDSH patients at CUH; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36207/23]

Disease Management

Michael Lowry

1249. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1116 of 13 June 2023, if he can confirm when the HSE plans to meet the representative patient advocacy group for people diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36285/23]

Nursing Homes

Michael Lowry

1289. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to outline the potential changes to the nursing homes support scheme, commonly known as fair deal, specifically the plan to introduce incentives for long-term nursing home residents to rent out their homes; when the implementation of a 0% rate of assessment for rental income obtained from a principal residence will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36459/23]

Tax Code

Michael Lowry

277. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a reduction in the rate of VAT for music and live entertainment performers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34837/23]

School Transport

Michael Lowry

378. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education concerning a school transport renewal application for a family (details supplied) as to the reason behind the rejection and refusal of their application for the school bus service to a school for the school year 2023/2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35244/23]

Community Development Projects

Michael Lowry

504. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to address an urgent matter concerning Tipperary Community Services Centre in Tipperary town (details supplied); if assistance will be provided to find a solution to this pressing issue, given the urgency of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35299/23]

Visa Agreements

Michael Lowry

120. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34314/23]

School Accommodation

Michael Lowry

266. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department has received and reviewed urgent correspondence from a school (details supplied) regarding a critical situation it is facing in terms of providing adequate classroom and teaching accommodation for incoming first-year and their current students in September 2023; if, taking into account the urgency of the situation, she will provide the necessary assistance the school and outline what measures and support will be provided to the school to address its current accommodation crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33569/23]

Legislative Measures

Michael Lowry

482. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice to provide clarification regarding her awareness of the concerns expressed by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the forthcoming the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022; if she will provide details on what actions she intends to undertake in order to address the concerns put forth by this registered charity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33734/23]

Departmental Programmes

Michael Lowry

485. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice when an application (details supplied) will be finalised and permission granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33765/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Lowry

265. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can confirm the duration it takes to receive a decision from the Appeals Office regarding applications for carer's allowance and disability allowance that are refused and subsequently appealed; if she is aware of the hardship and stress experienced by individuals during the lengthy waiting period for an appeal decision (details supplied); the additional resources she will provide to the Appeals Office to reduce the waiting times for an appeal decision; if she will review the current issues with supplementary welfare allowance refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33211/23]

Tax Code

Michael Lowry

77. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance regarding the proposed increase in VAT to 13.5 % for the hospitality sector (details supplied) if he will give a commitment to maintain the current 9% VAT rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32903/23]

Wildlife Regulations

Michael Lowry

107. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 20 June 2023, if he will provide a precise list of "key stakeholders" and other “organisations of interest within the game shooting fraternity” that have been invited to engage the National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the review and public consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32947/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Lowry

139. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the qualifications of the officers and staff within her Department who are responsible for medically assessing applications for carer's allowance and disability allowance; if she will clarify whether the staff members who review the medical reports of these applications on appeal hold a more senior medical qualification from those who initially assess and reject the original application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33181/23]

Community Development Projects

Michael Lowry

732. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on the community services programme, which aims to encourage operational employment in the community sector; if June 2023 is still the targeted deadline for announcing successful recipients; if she will give serious and honest consideration to an application by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32830/23]

Environmental Policy

Michael Lowry

103. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if, regarding the proposed auto-enrolment scheme for pensions and the potential allocation of funds to investments in fossil fuel exploration or extraction, she will take into consideration the recommendation put forth by the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community Development and the Islands to ensure that these funds are not invested in fossil fuels (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31557/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Lowry

88. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign birth registration will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30544/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Lowry

119. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the agreed pension increase for An Post pensioners will be paid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30792/23]

Transport Costs

Michael Lowry

156. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will increase the current age range of the young adult Leap card from 19 to 23 to 19 to 26 years, as is the situation in the majority of European nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30528/23]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Lowry

294. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the status of a building project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30542/23]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

322. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the status of an ICT grant for a school (details supplied); if this school will be given an allocation of ICT funding for 2022-2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31205/23]

Grant Payments

Michael Lowry

601. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will give a facility (details supplied) specific information regarding the reasons it was denied funding through the building blocks improvement grant 2023; if he will inform applicants of the results of his review of their appeal for the building blocks improvement grant 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31189/23]

Departmental Strategies

Michael Lowry

610. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the prompt implementation of the 2% pay increase for all public nurses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31191/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

686. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been called for a procedure in University Hospital Waterford; if they can obtain the procedure through the treatment purchase scheme, the cross-Border directive or the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30875/23]

Health Services

Michael Lowry

687. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not yet been called for a procedure in University Hospital Limerick; if they can obtain the procedure through the treatment purchase scheme, the cross-Border directive or the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30887/23]

Third Level Education

Michael Lowry

778. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on a series of key aspects related to the ongoing review and the upcoming Research and Innovation Bill, 2023 and the ongoing review of PhDs in Ireland, with particular attention given towards the status of PhDs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30512/23]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Lowry

163. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide clarification on the reasons an applicant (details supplied) to the warmer homes scheme was refused funding for new windows; if the applicant's urgent medical needs were taken into consideration during the assessment process by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; what specific criteria or guidelines are followed by the SEAI when evaluating applications which may need window replacements under the warmer homes scheme; if there are any provisions or exceptions in place to accommodate applicants with urgent medical needs, especially when it pertains to improving indoor air quality, insulation and overall living conditions; in light of the applicant's urgent medical needs, what alternative solutions or recommendations can be provided to ensure their health and well-being are adequately addressed within the framework of the warmer homes scheme, as it is crucial to understand the rationale behind the refusal and to ascertain if appropriate consideration was given to the applicant's urgent medical requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30283/23]

Education Policy

Michael Lowry

241. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an overview of the objectives and scope of the pilot programme of counselling supports in primary schools (details supplied); how many primary schools will be selected to participate in the pilot; the criteria that will be used for their selection; the specific supports and resources that will be provided to the schools taking part in the pilot; if there will be any specialised training or professional development opportunities offered to school staff to enhance their ability to identify and address students' mental health needs effectively; the measures that will be put in place to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot programme; if she will review correspondence from a concerned primary school principal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30277/23]

Schools Building Projects

Michael Lowry

323. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 376 of 28 March 2023, the status of a school construction project (details supplied) in Thurles, County Tipperary; when the building projects will receive full and final approval; when the necessary funding will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29509/23]

Wildlife Regulations

Michael Lowry

361. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the review of the game bird open seasons Order; if he will provide an update on the progress of meetings held between key stakeholders and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well as a list of any potential changes or recommendations that have emerged from the review and public consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29181/23]

Wildlife Regulations

Michael Lowry

362. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage concerning the review of the game bird open seasons Order, if he will provide a list of key stakeholders and other organisations of interest within the game shooting fraternity that have been invited to engage the National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of the review and public consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29182/23]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Lowry

475. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if applications for the native woodland conservation scheme in situations pertaining to the conversion of existing conifer forest to native woodland must be lodged with the Forestry Service before the clear felling or final harvesting of commercial sitka spruce takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29260/23]

Climate Change Policy

Michael Lowry

92. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for the Government's strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting sustainable development; if he will elaborate on the key policies and measures being implemented in Ireland to achieve the country's climate goals, particularly in the areas of the farming sector, transport, renewable energy, carbon reduction and fostering a green economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28785/23]

State Examinations

Michael Lowry

207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken to address the issue regarding the recent Leaving Certificate maths exam paper 1, given that concerns have been expressed by teachers and students about the wording and structure of the Leaving Certificate maths exam paper, which has caused confusion and uncertainty among students who sat the exam, to ensure fairness for all affected students; how impacted students will be accommodated in terms of grading and assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28999/23]