Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Dental Services

Colm Burke

1510. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside additional funding of €20 million for the two dental schools at UCC and TCD to increase the number of dental graduates that will practice in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14875/24]

Health Services Staff

Colm Burke

1599. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed within the health service, by categories (details supplied) for each year from 1 January 2014 to 29 February 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15363/24]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

18. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what progress has been made to date in respect of current accommodation projects being carried out by his Department to accommodate members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13076/24]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the progress made to date to increase the Defence Forces to 11,500 members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13077/24]

Bus Services

Colm Burke

79. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to improve the bus service in Cork city in view of recurring issues with reliability of bus services including cancelled and late buses, and the frequency of these issues occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/24]

Electric Vehicles

Colm Burke

110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport his views on the provision of mobility hubs nationally under the new Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022 – 2025, in particular details of the launch of pilot hubs in two cities and a major town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10955/24]

Immigration Status

Colm Burke

253. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when an application (details supplied) will be completed, given it is over six months since the application was submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13471/24]

Legislative Measures

Colm Burke

85. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he intends to legislate for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes; and if so, whether he intends this to be a standalone Bill or whether it will form part of a broader package of measures to regulate flavours and packaging as part of proposed further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11633/24]

Cycling Facilities

Colm Burke

199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the provision of additional funding for the expansion of the Cork city bike scheme into the north side of Cork city in view of the increase in bike journeys in Cork city from 2022 to 2023 as set out in a recent review undertaken by the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13074/24]

Coast Guard Service

Colm Burke

285. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when a project (details supplied) which was granted planning permission in 2022 can proceed; if this project has been advertised in order that tenders can be submitted; when is it likely that the tender process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11858/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

464. 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. [12436/24]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

497. 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. [12662/24]

Legislative Measures

Colm Burke

552. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on progress made to date in respect of legislation regarding a company (details supplied) and short-term lettings, which is to include the provision of a short-term tourist letting register through Fáilte Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11857/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

726. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal (details supplied) by a person; 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. [11922/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Colm Burke

752. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted a review of the optical benefit scheme; and if so, to outline in detail the outcome of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12510/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Colm Burke

753. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a change to the optical benefit scheme eye examination fee for contractors is under consideration; if this matter will be raised at her Department’s next meeting with stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12511/24]

Local Authorities

Colm Burke

1019. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider developing a national initiative in view of the success of a recent free trees initiative by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12508/24]

Local Authorities

Colm Burke

1020. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider in conjunction with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders (details supplied) the establishment of a nationwide free trees initiative, in view of the success of a recent frees trees initiative by Cork City Council during Tree Week 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12509/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider moving to a fully publicly funded model of early years and school age care to bringing Ireland line with the best-in-class systems available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with services in the local area, such as the CCCs, to source alternative places for children when child care closures are unavoidable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/24]