Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to provide funding and support to assist younger GPs to establish practices by providing purpose-built GP premises, thereby avoiding substantial capital expenditure on 'bricks and mortar' (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8195/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

160. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will commission research to determine innovative ways to attract GPs into general practice to replace those GPs rapidly approaching retirement (details supplied), including the use of video consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

161. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies for the purposes of increasing the number of general practice nurses from the current figure of approximately 2,000 to 4,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/24]

Medical Research and Training

Colm Burke

180. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies to advance a specific rural curriculum and pathway within undergraduate medical education and GP training (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8197/24]

Medical Research and Training

Colm Burke

181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies to increase the exposure time spent by medical students in general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Colm Burke

369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the current position where a person is in receipt of carer’s allowance, and they are also working part-time, but due to hospitalisation are not able to work for a period of time; if there are proposals to amend the current system that does not allow them to qualify for illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

542. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7635/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

543. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7636/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

544. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7637/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

545. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7638/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

546. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7639/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

547. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the anticipated commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7640/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

548. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the anticipated commencement date and roll-out date of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7641/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

549. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7642/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

550. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7643/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

610. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department will give priority to the completion and implementation of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services taking into account the growth in the population and in particular the increase in numbers of people over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7984/24]

Sports Funding

Colm Burke

31. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount spent by her Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6818/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce appropriate measures, in partnership with industry, to ensure that over a five-year period, delivery is increased to an extent that 30% of all new dwellings are built to incorporate universal design principles to accommodate our ageing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6952/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7163/24]

Citizenship Applications

Colm Burke

279. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm the current status of a person's (detail supplied) application for citizenship; when a decision is likely to be reached, in view of the fact that the application was submitted over two years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7167/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Colm Burke

330. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm the non-capital (current) Government expenditure on Bantry General Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7202/24]

Departmental Data

Colm Burke

331. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients treated in Bantry General Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7203/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take the necessary steps to fully implement and fund the outstanding recommendations from the 2019 Joint Policy Statement, Housing Options for our Ageing Population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

211. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a revised timeline for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations from the 2019 Joint Policy Statement, Housing Options for our Ageing Population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7038/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the housing allocation model in relation to the development of any future specific housing schemes for older people; if he will take steps to ensure that a partnership approach is adopted between the HSE and the relevant local authority to identify the most suitable residents for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7039/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will work with other Departments and bodies to ensure that appropriate social and clinical supports programmes are put in place for older people within the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7040/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

214. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to take the necessary steps to ensure that eligibility for housing subsidies is based on available household income after deduction of essential household expenditure such as health expenses, energy and heating expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7041/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

215. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will fund a public awareness campaign to increase awareness of private residential tenancies legislation among older renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7042/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

216. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give due consideration to increased ring fencing of social housing for older people in light of the particular difficulties experienced by this cohort in the private rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7043/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

217. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he take the necessary steps to ensure that 25% of social housing is reserved for older renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7044/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

218. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to take the necessary steps to increase investment and evaluation of and development of promising housing models for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7045/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

219. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allocate funding to invest in research for the purposes of collating age related, tenure specific data to better understand and predict the needs of older renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7046/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

220. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will liaise with the appropriate Departments for the purpose of establishing a distinct unit operating both within and across both the Departments of Housing Local Government and Heritage and Health to better plan for the growing needs of an ageing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7047/24]

Housing Schemes

Colm Burke

221. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase investment in the housing adaption grant scheme and to provide incentives to private landlords to apply for same, similar to tax deductions granted to small scale landlords who undertake retrofitting works while tenants remain in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

222. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to work with the relevant bodies to ensure higher levels of compliance with accommodation quality standards in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7050/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

223. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to invest in alternative, secure and age appropriate housing for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7051/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Colm Burke

240. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to reviewing the housing assistance payment and rent supplement on an annual basis to ensure that the subsidy increases match increases in the private rental sector market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7049/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

241. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to benchmarking the State pension, to ensure that older people do in the private rental sector do not experience undue hardship in the context of rent affordability and expenditure on critical items such as heating electricity and healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7052/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

283. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when ACRES-CP payments to farmers in the scheme for 2023 will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7099/24]

School Staff

Colm Burke

130. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made to date by her Department with regard to the establishment of a transfer/relocation scheme for post primary school teachers to stem the teacher retention crisis; to outline in detail her Department plans going forward in addressing this issue; if engagement is taking place with stakeholders (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6377/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

265. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) has been refused approval under the Emergency Works Programme for an urgent project which impacts children’s safety in this school; what programmes are available to schools to apply for works urgently due to the health and safety nature of the works, that the school can receive urgent funding for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6073/24]

School Transport

Colm Burke

302. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what measures are being taken by her Department to ensure that all eligible students who apply for school transport under the primary school transport scheme in an area (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 academic year will be facilitated, given there is a high probability that the service will be oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6442/24]

School Transport

Colm Burke

328. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what provisions are being taken by her Department to ensure that all eligible students who apply for school transport under the post-primary school transport scheme in an area (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 academic year will be facilitated, given the high probability that the service will be oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6565/24]

Sports Funding

Colm Burke

374. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date position in respect of an application by a club (details supplied) for the sports capital and equipment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6464/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

427. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6085/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

524. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how a person (details supplied) with a medical condition can receive personal assistance support to attend swimming lessons which greatly benefit their wellbeing as the organisation they were attending will no longer be providing this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6072/24]

Work Permits

Colm Burke

82. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made to date by his Department in respect of streamlining the employment permit applications process, whereby a single application process for employment permits and entry visa applications would be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5645/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

338. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to address home support waiting lists in CHO 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6000/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

339. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to recruit more home care workers in CHO 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6001/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

340. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the total number of people in CHO4 currently waiting for home support; the current average length of time between approval of home support and commencement of home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6002/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

341. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what percentage of home support assessments in CHO4 were carried out using interRAI assessment in 2023; what progress has been made to date on rolling out the interRAI assessment tool in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6003/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

342. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health how clients on waiting lists are prioritised for home support in CHO4; and how the waiting list is managed locally in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6004/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

343. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the total number of consumer directed home support (CDHS) home care packages currently being delivered in CHO4; if clients on home support waiting lists are being informed about CDHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6005/24]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

344. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to increase the number of hours delivered by private and non-profit home care providers in CHO4 in order to alleviate the home support waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6006/24]

Local Authorities

Colm Burke

250. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider reviewing the current position where local authorities are not entitled to sell properties to tenants where there are less than three bedrooms in the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5005/24]

Road Projects

Colm Burke

36. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to progress the Mallow relief road project; what level of funding will be allocated for 2024, given that €100,000 was allocated in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4614/24]

Road Projects

Colm Burke

75. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to progress the North Ring Road in Cork city; what level of funding will be allocated for 2024 in view of the large volume of traffic which is now forced to travel through Mayfield including traffic heading for the port facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4615/24]

Tax Yield

Colm Burke

92. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the amount received in income tax receipts in 2023; the total number of people paying income tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4548/24]

Fiscal Policy

Colm Burke

138. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the work he and his Department are doing to support people in the continued usage of ATMs and cash; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4549/24]

Electric Vehicles

Colm Burke

185. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the reason the regulations under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, which governs the use of e-scooters, have not come into effect; when they will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4800/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

257. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4790/24]

Wind Energy Generation

Colm Burke

283. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the results of the focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines relating to minimum setback distance for wind turbines from homes and residential areas will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4792/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

326. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of women farmer capital investment scheme applications received by his Department; the total number of applications that have been approved to date; the total number of applications that have been rejected; the total number that have been withdrawn, in tabular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4724/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

327. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the promised changes to the income supplement scheme under the Bovine TB Programme will come into effect, whereby the date of eligibility for income supplement would be the date of restriction, and these changes will be backdated to 1 February 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

377. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health for an indicative timeline for the new public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Bill as proposed in the Government's Legislative Programme for 2024, published on10 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4801/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

378. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health in light of the fact that the issues involved in the proposed new legislation have already been examined and discussed at length during the various enactment stages of the recent Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 which was enacted in December 2023, if he plans to proceed to the pre-legislative phase of the new Bill; if not, if he plans to move directly to the parliamentary stage without pre-legislative scrutiny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4802/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

379. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will be engaging with the EU Commission on the proposed new public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

380. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health how many submissions were received during the public consultation process for the public health (tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4804/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Colm Burke

11. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the roll-out of the national broadband plan in County Cork from 1 January 2023 to date; what percentage of targets of the roll-out have been met in Cork during this timeframe; the targets for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4369/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Colm Burke

118. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the Connected Hubs Network and the continued development of remote working facilities by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4012/24]

Departmental Consultations

Colm Burke

145. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the public consultation on disposable e-cigarettes; if a timeline has been developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/24]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

164. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to accelerate the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan Programme in Cork, given 17 of the 31 deployment areas in Cork are still in pre-build stage and have an anticipated date for connection between January 2026 and December 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4152/24]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

165. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a progress report on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in County Cork from 1 January 2023 to date;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4153/24]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

166. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of premises connected to fibre broadband under the remit of the National Broadband Plan Programme in Cork in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 1 January 2024 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4154/24]

Work Permits

Colm Burke

247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued in Ireland from 1 January to 31 December 2023; the breakdown by nationality that each of the work permits was issued to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4193/24]

Work Permits

Colm Burke

248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued in Ireland from 1 January to 31 December 2022; the breakdown by nationality that each of the work permits was issued to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4194/24]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Colm Burke

386. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of PPS numbers issued in Ireland from 1 January to 31 December 2023; the breakdown by nationality that each of the PPS number was issued to, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4192/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

497. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm that funding will be provided to allow for the continuation of the two-year programme now in place which facilitates the training of qualified doctors from non-EU countries to qualify as general practitioners and work in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3644/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

498. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm that additional funding will be provided in 2024 to enable the two-year programme which is currently in place for the training of non-EU doctors as general medical practitioners so to enable the number of trainees to increase from 100 per annum to 150 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3645/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

507. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of recent reports of the increased use of snus or nicotine pouches among young people in Ireland; if his Department will investigate the matter; if his Department intends to regulate or prohibit these products, as the Netherlands and Belgium have done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3742/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

561. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to replace GP services in Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15, since Centric Health in Tyrrelstown Medical Centre has closed, having been in operation since 2005, because it could not recruit a principal GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4195/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

562. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his views on the provision of GP services in the Navan Road/Pelletstown/Ashtown area of Dublin West, whose population has reported difficulty in accessing GP services and complains the list of doctors it has been provided with is out of date, with retired and in some cases deceased GPs, and where an empty medical centre lies empty in Pelletstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4196/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

594. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Women’s Sheds supported by her Department, by county basis; what Government supports have been allocated to Women’s Sheds in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3999/24]

Official Engagements

Colm Burke

42. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on his recent meeting with the British Foreign Secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2633/24]

Waste Management

Colm Burke

118. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what progress has been made to date in respect of the key actions aimed at tackling rising waste generation and to improve the management of waste being generated in Ireland, as set out in the EPA 2021 National Waste Statistics Report in view that Ireland is on course to miss EU waste recycling targets in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2631/24]

Waste Management

Colm Burke

121. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to reduce Ireland's reliance on exporting our waste for final treatment overseas, that consideration would be given to the development of national capacity to treat residual non-hazardous and hazardous wastes to reduce our dependence on treatment facilities in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2632/24]

Housing Schemes

Colm Burke

257. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has ever made an exception to increase the funding available through the housing adaptation grant in exceptional circumstances, particularly where there are multiple children with special needs living in the one house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3477/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

273. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3436/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

274. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3437/24]

Departmental Websites

Colm Burke

313. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to address the issue with the AgFood Portal during December 2023 wherein key features in BISS were not accessible including the correspondence, in view that applicants who may have received correspondence from the Department in respect of BISS, CRISS and CISYF applications during this time did not receive a text alert or have access to their correspondence in BISS on their account on the AgFood Portal and were therefore unaware of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3533/24]

Departmental Websites

Colm Burke

314. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what assistance, if any, his Department is providing to those effected by the technical issue with the AgFood Portal which occurred during December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3534/24]

Departmental Websites

Colm Burke

315. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure that applicants who use the AgFood Portal are aware that there was a technical issue with the portal during December 2023, in view that time-sensitive correspondence may have been issued during this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3535/24]

International Protection

Colm Burke

342. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify the current position in respect of asylum seekers who can be accommodated in centres (details supplied) in view of the fact that Cork City Council approved each of the centres with a higher number than his Department is prepared to allow; the total numbers of places therefore available between each centre is 40 greater than what his Department has now allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3599/24]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

68. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what progress has been made to date in respect of the establishment of an independent external complaints system for serving members in the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2635/24]

Waste Management

Colm Burke

126. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to fund and promote community scale composting initiatives in urban areas in view of the high levels of organic household waste that still goes into landfill/general waste in households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2625/24]

Waste Management

Colm Burke

127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the new national waste management plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2626/24]

Waste Management

Colm Burke

128. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to deal with increasing levels of waste generation and poor levels of waste segregation practices in businesses and households given that this will be a core issue in preventing Ireland from meeting upcoming EU waste recycling targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/24]

Driver Test

Colm Burke

171. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to reduce the lengthy waiting times for driving test appointments at a test centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2421/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

547. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will he provide funding for a campaign to raise awareness of parental mental health, the impact on children, and the provision of information relating to local parenting support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

548. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take the necessary steps to establish a network of local peer support groups, utilising the Parent Peer Support Fund, in communities for parents and families dealing with parental mental health issues within the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3043/24]