Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Staff

Cathal Crowe

56. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will give consideration to the disbandment of Croke Park hours for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18152/24]

Special Educational Needs

Peadar Tóibín

57. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of special education teachers within the education system for each of the past five years; and the number of National Educational Psychology Services staff that exist for each of the past five years. [18164/24]

Special Educational Needs

Frankie Feighan

58. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if her Department has made a decision regarding a two-classroom autism unit for a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18179/24]

Schools Building Projects

Catherine Murphy

59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will sign a letter of intent in respect of a gaelscoil building project (details supplied) in Clondalkin, County Dublin; the reason for the delay in delivering this build; if her attention has been drawn to the duration of time that the school has operated in prefabs; the budget allocated to the delivery of the project and estimated time for delivery (details supplied). [18184/24]

Schools Building Projects

Catherine Murphy

60. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the date on which a building (details supplied) in Naas, County Kildare will be ready for pupils to use. [18185/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

61. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm why a school (details supplied) has recently been refused approval under the Emergency Works Programme for an urgent project which impacts children’s safety in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18199/24]

School Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

62. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education when her Department's ICT grant monies will be paid to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18200/24]

School Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

63. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education when her Department minor works grant monies will be paid to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18201/24]

School Enrolments

Richard Boyd Barrett

64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the latest updates on provision of new school places in the Dún Laoghaire area at primary and post-primary level; the latest population projections for the area; whether planned school place expansion is consistent with those projections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18210/24]

Special Educational Needs

Patricia Ryan

65. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a definite location for the proposed special school in County Kildare; the current status of the process; and the timeline for completion of same. [18220/24]

School Funding

Patricia Ryan

66. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education with regard to the removal of the ICT grant in Spring 2023, if she will take steps to speed up the payment of the late payment of the ancillary services grant and ICT digital strategy grant to schools that are running out of funds due to having purchased ICT and special needs equipment in anticipation of receiving the ICT grant as in the case of a school (details supplied). [18221/24]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will give further consideration to an increase in capitation grants for smaller primary schools, in view of the particular financial pressures facing some schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18248/24]

School Transport

Peadar Tóibín

68. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if the school transport section will approve a school bus for an area (details supplied) in County Meath given the demand. [18255/24]

After-School Support Services

Duncan Smith

69. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if, given the serious shortage in childcare and in particular after school facilities, she will approve the use of primary school buildings as after school service premises by childcare operators, as there is a severe shortage of premises available to provide these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18260/24]

School Staff

Ged Nash

70. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if there is a mechanism that would facilitate late applications for the PME/HDip allowance for post-primary teachers as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18372/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

71. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in her Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18388/24]

School Staff

Brendan Griffin

72. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a teacher in County Kerry (details supplied) will be granted the pre-2011 academic allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18418/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

73. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if her Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if she or her officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18440/24]

Sports Funding

Chris Andrews

74. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a date has been selected yet for the opening of applications for the next round of sports capital grants. [18234/24]

Sports Funding

Matt Carthy

75. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports available to gymnastics clubs for the purchase of equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18306/24]

Ministerial Appointments

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

76. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a list of each State board or council over which she has responsibility for appointments, by the total number of board Members; the number of current vacancies on the board; and if the position of chair of the board or council in question is vacant or occupied in each, in tabular from. [18318/24]

Tourism Funding

Brendan Griffin

77. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on a matter (details supplied); if her Department will provide financial support to an organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18349/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

78. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in her Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18401/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the latest figures regarding TV licence renewal and purchase for 2024 versus 2023; the end of year figures for same for 2023 as a whole versus 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18417/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

80. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if she or her officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18453/24]

Legislative Measures

Neasa Hourigan

81. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progression of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024; a timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/24]

Vacant Properties

Patricia Ryan

82. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority houses currently boarded up in County Kildare; and the timeline for those houses being ready for allocation. [18219/24]

Water Services

Frankie Feighan

83. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason his Department has consistently refused funding for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Leitrim on a number of occasions since 2018; the reason such a successful and healthy scheme is forced into being taken over by Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18254/24]

Housing Policy

Mark Ward

84. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a social housing passport will be introduced that will allow persons on social housing waiting lists to change local authority without losing time on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18283/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

85. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new buy and renew homes delivered in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18313/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

86. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the new-build social homes delivered in 2023, by delivery scheme, including SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Part V and PPP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18314/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

87. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing first tenancies delivered and sustained in 2023; the target number of housing first tenancies for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18315/24]

Housing Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

88. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of croí cónaithe town grants drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18316/24]

Housing Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

89. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation to croí cónaithe towns refurbishment grant scheme for 2024; the target for delivery under this scheme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18317/24]

Development Contributions

Ged Nash

90. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the value of the development levies waived to date under the terms of the development contributions waiver scheme since the scheme’s inception in relation to Louth County Council and Meath County Council; if he will provide the figures separately for those local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18350/24]

Development Contributions

Ged Nash

91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the terms of the development contributions waiver scheme permits contributions due from a developer relating to a condition attached to a planning grant to fund a piece of infrastructure on public roads outside of the precise subject site/location of the development to be waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18351/24]

Housing Schemes

Pádraig O'Sullivan

92. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the number of croí cónaithe applications have been made and processed in each local authority for 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18379/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

93. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18395/24]

Property Registration

Brendan Smith

94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that will be implemented to reduce considerable delays in processing applications through Tailte Éireann such as dealings in the former Property Registration Authority which may at times delay the provision of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18415/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

95. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18447/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Cathal Crowe

96. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the household benefits package allowance for those in receipt of a pension; and if she will remove the means test for those over 66 years of age. [18133/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

97. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to bring forward proposals to amend pension entitlements in order that women who had to leave work due to marriage could qualify for a pension in their own right regardless of their husband’s means. [18158/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Niamh Smyth

98. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a review/appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18161/24]

School Meals Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

99. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that children with coeliac disease, which has an incidence rate of 1 in 100 people in Ireland, are unable to avail of the hot school meals programme; the steps her Department can take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18163/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

100. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if children's allowance benefit will continue to be paid to a person (details supplied); and if arrears will also be paid. [18167/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

101. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18175/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard Durkan

102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when illness benefit or other suitable illness payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18177/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for child benefit by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18182/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Bernard Durkan

104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18187/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Patricia Ryan

105. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the unemployment benefit payments of a school caretaker (details supplied) are not going into their account when they are on annual leave. [18211/24]