Parliamentary questions

Consular Services

Sorca Clarke

127. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken directly with the Irish Consul General in Sydney in the past three months. [26345/23]

Departmental Properties

Sorca Clarke

176. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence on whose authority have community groups in Columb Barracks, Mullingar had the locks on the units they have utilised for many years changed with no prior notice of same; the engagement he has had with his Department on this removal of access to the affected groups; and the immediate action he and his Department intend to take to rectify this situation. [26328/23]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

177. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the Defence Forces personnel who went to the UK for speciality military training by the Royal Air Force or the UK navy in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [26350/23]

Electric Vehicles

Sorca Clarke

200. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle grants provided for vehicles in 2022 in the price ranges of €30,000 to €40,000, €40,000 to €50,000, and over €50,000, in tabular form. [26349/23]

Tax Yield

Sorca Clarke

224. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the value to the Exchequer of VAT returns on the assistive technology scheme for children in primary schools. [26197/23]

Tax Yield

Sorca Clarke

225. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the value to the Exchequer of VAT returns on the assistive technology scheme for children in post-primary schools. [26198/23]

Legislative Programme

Sorca Clarke

257. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of the proposed companies (corporate governance enforcement and regulatory provisions) Bill 2023. [26351/23]

National Minimum Wage

Sorca Clarke

258. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has considered the request from trade unions (details supplied) to increase the minimum wage by €2 in January 2024, and again in January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26352/23]

School Funding

Sorca Clarke

275. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the spending per funding heading in national and primary schools, per county, for 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [25708/23]

Education Schemes

Sorca Clarke

291. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of digital devices provided to primary schools under the assistive technology scheme in 2023, 2022 and 2021; and the cost per year of same. [26195/23]

Education Schemes

Sorca Clarke

292. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of digital devices provided to post-primary schools under the assistive technology scheme in 2023, 2022 and 2021; and the cost per year of same. [26196/23]

Education Schemes

Sorca Clarke

293. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the full year cost for the digital grants for primary schools. [26199/23]

Education Schemes

Sorca Clarke

294. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the full year cost for the digital grants for post-primary schools. [26200/23]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

295. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and post-primary schools that utilise personal digital devices such as laptops or tablets purchased directly by the parent or guardian. [26201/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

296. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of increasing capacity on the school transport scheme by 10%, 25%, 30% and 50%, in tabular form. [26202/23]

School Facilities

Sorca Clarke

297. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number and the cost of school halls for primary schools delivered in 2023, 2022 and 2021, in tabular form. [26203/23]

School Facilities

Sorca Clarke

298. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number and the cost of school halls for post-primary schools delivered in 2023, 2022 and 2021, in tabular form. [26204/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

299. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [26205/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

300. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of increasing the number of special needs assistants per full year by 5%, 15% and 30%. [26206/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

301. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost per annum of providing behaviour analysts with direct employment contracts. [26207/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

302. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of behaviour analysts, by county in 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date; and the cost of same, in tabular form. [26208/23]

School Patronage

Sorca Clarke

303. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the schools in which reconfiguration/transfer of patronage of a school is being considered or implemented, by county, in tabular form. [26209/23]

School Patronage

Sorca Clarke

304. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the schools in which reconfiguration/transfer of patronage has been completed, by county, in tabular form. [26210/23]

Departmental Properties

Sorca Clarke

313. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the buildings under her Department's remit that are rented or leased; and the full-year annual cost of same, per county, in tabular form. [26263/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

325. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) are expected to move to tender stage of works. [26338/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

326. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) are expected to be completed; and the estimated cost for these works. [26339/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

327. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) are expected to be completed; and the estimated cost for these works. [26340/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

328. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works. [26341/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

329. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to detailed design stage. [26342/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

330. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works. [26343/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

331. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works. [26344/23]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

439. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of students at primary and post-primary who were provided with free school meals in 2022, 2021 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [26193/23]

School Meals Programme

Sorca Clarke

440. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing school meals per child in primary school and the cost per child in post-primary schools. [26194/23]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Sorca Clarke

475. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a PPS number. [26152/23]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

624. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE speech and language therapists in the children's disability network teams in County Westmeath that are currently vacant, in tabular form; and when these vacancies are expected to be filled. [26346/23]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

625. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the inspections, per county, conducted by his Department on sites being utilised for those seeking international protection in this country in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [26353/23]

Medical Cards

Sorca Clarke

667. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the increase in income limits for those under 70 years applying for a medical card will be applied. [25707/23]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

782. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the staffing budget allocation for Mullingar Regional Hospital in the years of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [26347/23]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

783. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder services and support will be in place in County Longford. [26348/23]

Hospital Services

Sorca Clarke

743. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of hospitals not accepting referrals for patients who availed of the cross-border initiative for treatment, despite HSE guidelines which assure patients that should complications arise they have the right "to access the Irish health care system to put it right"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24197/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

53. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the engagement her Department has had with the relevant stakeholders and the additional steps that will be taken this year to ensure that all children with special educational needs have an appropriate school place this September. [22505/23]

School Costs

Sorca Clarke

55. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the engagement her Department has had with schools regarding the payment of voluntary contributions by parents. [22506/23]

School Textbooks

Sorca Clarke

58. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the process her Department engaged in to determine the level of the schoolbook grant for 2023. [22508/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

116. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the additional capacity in school transport in 2023/2024 in comparison to the current school year. [22507/23]

Defence Forces

Sorca Clarke

198. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress made on implementing the recommendations outlined in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [22620/23]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

351. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the current assessment process for additional accommodations in exam settings; the necessary qualifying criteria; and the nature of the additional accomodations. [23149/23]

State Examinations

Sorca Clarke

352. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of students at Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate exams in 2023 that have applied, been awarded and refused additional accommodations for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [23150/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

353. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take and the measures she is examining to reduce carbon emissions associated with the school transport scheme. [23152/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

354. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when the school transport scheme review will be published. [23153/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

355. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the counties currently part of the pilot post primary voluntary redeployment scheme and what work has been undertaking to extend this scheme to other counties given the concerns around recruiting and retaining teachers. [23165/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sorca Clarke

643. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with employment agencies to ensure the €1,000 Covid bonus payment has been paid to all those workers who are entitled to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/23]

Passport Services

Sorca Clarke

133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken specifically in relation to the three-week time period it takes the Passport Office to check the validity of documentation once received by it, in view of the exceptionally long delays and impact on families that existed in the weeks of summer 2022. [21479/23]

Energy Policy

Sorca Clarke

142. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if woodchip imported to fuel power plants is sustainably sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21300/23]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Sorca Clarke

237. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the measures his Department will take to support struggling mortgage holders, considering the ECB increased its interest rates again on 4 May 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21871/23]

Job Losses

Sorca Clarke

256. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement, if any, his Department has had with a company (details supplied) with a workforce in its manufacturing facility in Athlone, County Westmeath, and its operations in Dublin, to minimise job losses as the company announced plans to cut 6,000 jobs globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21398/23]

Tourist Accommodation

Sorca Clarke

317. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the engagement she has had with representatives of the hotel industry regarding room availability; and her views on whether this matter will present difficulties during the tourist season. [21872/23]

Construction Industry

Sorca Clarke

381. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has studied the cost of construction review conducted by an organisation (details supplied) that compares the cost of construction across different countries; his views on the comparative costs of construction in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21873/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Sorca Clarke

484. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarity on the percentage of commanage that can be active turbary without negatively affecting the ACRES payment available to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21302/23]

Civil Registration Service

Sorca Clarke

603. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to provide the HSE civil registration service at the primary care centre, Athlone, County Westmeath as it had been. [21301/23]

Rail Network

Sorca Clarke

13. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on his Department's engagements to date on the reopening of Killucan train station, County Westmeath. [20741/23]

Departmental Consultations

Sorca Clarke

164. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the date and mechanism which an organisation (details supplied) was formally requested by her Department to extend its remit and support post-primary parents and the engagement before said date with the individual member organisations of the National Council of Public-Private Partnerships. [20917/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Sorca Clarke

43. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects all Irish citizens impacted by the conflict in Sudan to be exfiltrated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20759/23]

Foreign Conflicts

Sorca Clarke

44. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with Irish Aid agencies whose staff are still in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20761/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

62. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the expenditure incurred in relation to Columb Barracks, Mullingar, per expense type and including a description of the works undertaken, for 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [20234/23]

Departmental Reports

Sorca Clarke

63. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the last report produced by his Department in relation to the architectural significance and historical significance of Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [20235/23]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

480. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the addiction service for those under 18 years in the midlands counties, which was delivered by the Midlands Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforce in counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, is now fully staffed and operational. [20760/23]

School Discipline

Sorca Clarke

261. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of students who have been expelled from primary schools by county in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [20055/23]

School Discipline

Sorca Clarke

262. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of students who have been expelled from secondary schools by county in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [20056/23]

Departmental Funding

Sorca Clarke

136. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on potential funding for a feasibility study and environmental study in relation to the proposed boardwalk in Lanesboro, County Longford, and Ballyleague, County Roscommon. [18936/23]

Public Transport

Sorca Clarke

164. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the engagement he has had with Irish Rail regarding the ongoing overcrowding on trains from Sligo via Mullingar to Dublin. [18937/23]

Driver Test

Sorca Clarke

165. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of people awaiting a driving test in counties Longford and Westmeath; the current staffing level of the testing centres; and the average waiting time per centre, in tabular form. [18939/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

247. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of notices served under section 25 of the Education Act 1998 in each of the years 2018 to 2022, and to date in 2023, and the number that referred to students with an additional education need and or a requirement to have access and support of an ASD unit. [18930/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

248. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of students with additional educational needs that were not provided with transport for the 2022-2023 school year. [18931/23]

Schools Building Projects

Sorca Clarke

249. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the schools that have been given revised timelines for the completion of building works, given the recent announcement of the restarting of school building projects; and the revised timelines per school, in tabular form. [18932/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

250. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of teaching posts vacant per county in national, primary and secondary schools, per county, in tabular form. [18940/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

251. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of permanent teaching post contracts issued to teachers in national, primary and secondary schools in 2022, and to date in 2023. [18941/23]

Disadvantaged Status

Sorca Clarke

253. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what funding that is available to DEIS schools to assist in meeting the costs for school trips to facilitate further learning, integration and social development. [18968/23]

Special Educational Needs

Sorca Clarke

274. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the criteria set for accessing the summer programme 2023 and the home-based programme. [19307/23]

Housing Schemes

Sorca Clarke

301. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individuals and families per local authority who are supported via HAP, RAS, leases and long-term rentals, in tabular form. [18934/23]

Community Development Projects

Sorca Clarke

464. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason those who are undertaking community service have had their access to Columb Barracks, Mullingar removed, given the ongoing work that they were participating in on that site. [18929/23]

Hospital Staff

Sorca Clarke

505. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current vacancies in Mullingar Regional Hospital per department and speciality; and the length of time each post has been vacant, in tabular form. [18938/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

228. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of middle management positions in primary schools which were removed or scaled back during the austerity years that have been reintroduced per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18804/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

229. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of middle management positions in secondary schools which were removed or scaled back during the austerity years that have been reintroduced per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18805/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

230. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary schools that do not have a home economics teacher in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by county, in tabular form. [18807/23]

Departmental Data

Sorca Clarke

231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the initiatives, if any, she intends to roll-out to ensure that the number of special needs teachers matches the number of students who need them. [18808/23]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

260. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered via the cost rental equity loan, the affordable housing fund and project Tosaigh in County Westmeath in each of the years, 2016 to 2022; and the number planned to be delivered in 2023 with a breakdown of units per scheme and average price of units by unit size, in tabular form. [18699/23]

Housing Provision

Sorca Clarke

261. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered via the cost rental equity loan, the affordable housing fund and project Tosaigh in County Longford in each of the years, 2016 to 2022; and the number planned to be delivered in 2023 with a breakdown of units per scheme and average price of units by unit size, in tabular form. [18700/23]

Waterways Issues

Sorca Clarke

282. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the development of two marinas at Nutgrove Marina, Williamstown, and Whitegate, County Clare, as these marinas appear to be outside the jurisdiction line; and if there is either an encroachment licence or a lease in place with Waterways Ireland. [18806/23]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

311. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of sexual assaults reported in Irish hospitals in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [18810/23]

Third Level Staff

Sorca Clarke

415. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of vacant lecture positions per National University and subject in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [18809/23]

Official Engagements

Sorca Clarke

157. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has contacted the new leader of the Scottish National Party, Mr. Humza Yousaf, with a view to meeting with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16456/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sorca Clarke

174. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the recently released 2023 report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which calls for emissions to be reduced by half by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16455/23]

School Curriculum

Sorca Clarke

507. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if her Department is considering aligning the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages for primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16827/23]

School Transport

Sorca Clarke

583. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education given the profound difficulties experienced with the school transport system in 2022, the changes she plans to introduce for primary, post primary, children with special education needs and the special transport grant for the upcoming 2023/2024 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17765/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Sorca Clarke

642. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Counties Longford and Westmeath that have had school buildings/refurbishment/extension works approved; and the number of those approved works that are delayed at present, in tabular form. [16477/23]

Immigration Status

Sorca Clarke

1043. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice if he will review in its entirety the application under the regularisation of the long-term undocumented migrants scheme by a person (details supplied). [18262/23]

Health Services

Sorca Clarke

1421. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health in relation to the mobile breast screening units that will not return to Mullingar and Athlone until the end of 2023, the number of women who were scheduled to attend these units for screening who will now have to make the trip to Tullamore to avail of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16658/23]

Health Services Staff

Sorca Clarke

1471. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that healthcare assistants who are qualified above QQI level 5 do not need to repeat or obtain a QQI level 5 qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16825/23]

Dental Services

Sorca Clarke

1472. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists who provide services under the general medical card scheme, by county, in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [16826/23]

School Staff

Sorca Clarke

406. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education what engagement her Department has had with a school (details supplied) regarding behaviour analyst funding, given that the funding for this post has not been amended since 2005. [15145/23]