Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

55. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on his most recent communications with his European counterparts in relation to imposing sanctions on Israel in light of the International Court of Justice’s recent ruling that there is a plausible case that Israel may be committing genocide in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20911/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been in contact with the German government about the suppression of the Irish language and other forms of censorship in relation to protests in Germany against genocide and Israel’s actions in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20912/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on the new committee in his Department to deal with special education. [17962/24]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the child poverty and well-being programme office. [20457/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

34. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent conversation with the British Prime Minister. [20458/24]

Medical Cards

Richard Boyd Barrett

511. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether injections for osteoporosis with the medication festeo are still reimbursable for medical card holders; to provide a rationale for their removal if these injections are no longer available for medical card holders; what recourse medical card holders who have previously required such injections have if they have been removed from the list of reimbursable medications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20232/24]

Civil Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

103. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is considering implementing pay caps for civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19522/24]

Local Authorities

Richard Boyd Barrett

105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is considering further funding for local authorities to support maintenance and repairs of council provided services, such as housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19520/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on the former Taoiseach's visit to Washington on St. Patrick’s Day. [17961/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [10626/24]

Grant Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what statistics are recorded regarding the recipients of the solar electricity grant, individual home energy upgrade grants (better energy homes), grants for a home energy upgrade, free energy upgrades (warmer homes scheme), with respect to the value of the grant; the number of grants availed of by the recipient (details supplied); the income of the recipient household; the value of the property; and the location of the property or any other details relating to the recipient household or property. [19675/24]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

117. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance what statistics are recorded regarding the recipients of the home renovation incentive, and the help-to-buy scheme with respect to the value of the relief; the number of reliefs availed of by the recipient (details supplied); the income of the recipient household; the value of the property; and the location of the property or any other details relating to the recipient household or property. [19675/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the frequent assaults on special education teachers; if she will ensure that assault leave is increased to cover the duration of assault injuries; if she will ensure her Department meets the costs of medical bills and counselling for employees arising from assaults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19660/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to Paris. [15146/24]

Constitutional Amendments

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his plan for constitutional amendments. [17960/24]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

202. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to ensure that each bus operator is updating the Transport for Ireland real-time applications where a service has been cancelled to ensure that customers are aware of service cancellations; the steps being taken to prevent cancellations from happening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18995/24]

Departmental Contracts

Richard Boyd Barrett

205. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the length of time a contract with a company (details supplied) lasts; when it was last renewed; the reason it was renewed, given that the service has been poor; how many times the company has been fined; the amount; when the contract will be put out to tender again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19006/24]

Local Elections

Richard Boyd Barrett

255. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to clearly outline which grades of employment are allowed to run in local government elections and which grades are prohibited from running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18960/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

492. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if any Israeli West Bank settler organisations are considered proscribed and subject to restrictive measures or sanctions by the State on the basis that the construction of settlements seriously destabilises the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structure of Palestine (details supplied); if any Israeli West Bank settler organisations are considered proscribed and subject to restrictive measures or sanctions by the State on the basis of their connection with reported violence against Palestinian civilians that seriously destabilises the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structure of Palestine; if the State is considering imposing any sanctions on such organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19020/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

493. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the measures the Government is taking to monitor financial support for Israeli West Bank settler organisations, considering that it is an offence under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 (details supplied) to collect or receive funds intending or knowing that they be used for the benefit of a terrorist group or in order to carry out terrorist activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19021/24]

Local Elections

Richard Boyd Barrett

610. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a general dental surgeon on grade H of employment is eligible to run in local government elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18959/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Richard Boyd Barrett

692. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the extensive waiting lists to receive gender-affirming healthcare at the gender clinic in St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown (details supplied); if there are plans to employ more gender-affirming healthcare professionals in this facility or others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19073/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

180. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm the timeline for the completion of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18527/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

181. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the number of years a school (details supplied) will remain at another location; if the specialist rooms, for example, the science lab, will be in place and ready for use when the new school year begins in August 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18526/24]

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]

National Development Plan

Richard Boyd Barrett

45. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is planning further updates to the national development plan in light of the growing consensus that Ireland’s housing demand will significantly exceed current projections and plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18088/24]

National Development Plan

Richard Boyd Barrett

49. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the Government has adequately considered the growing problem of labour and skills shortages in multiple sectors of the society and economy, including construction, healthcare, education, childcare and more, in the context of the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17862/24]

National Development Plan

Richard Boyd Barrett

54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the issues raised by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, in respect of the national development plan (details supplied), particularly in terms of capacity and resource constraints to deliver public housing, elder-care facilities and childcare and increase the number of hospital beds; his plans to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17863/24]

National Development Plan

Richard Boyd Barrett

67. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the national development plan has sufficiently considered and is adequately resourced to deliver community and cultural amenities and services needed to accompany increased residential construction and housing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17861/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

367. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policies and supports in place for individuals who previously met the threshold for a cost-rental property and who are permanently housed in a cost-rental unit, if the person’s income falls significantly due to illness or injury; the procedures in place to convert a cost-rental property into a social home where this is necessary due to a change in the ability of the occupant to pay for cost-rental tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17693/24]

An Garda Síochána

Richard Boyd Barrett

424. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice , further to Parliamentary Question No. 921 of 9 April, if further clarification will be provided on what specifically the figures for offences and convictions are in respect of the second table; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17318/24]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Boyd Barrett

658. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the services purchased by St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, under the national treatment purchase plan for the years 2021-2024; the breakdown of services purchased; the cost of these services, broken down by year and month, in tabular form. [17892/24]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Boyd Barrett

659. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the services purchased by St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, under the national treatment purchase plan for the years 2021-2024; the breakdown of services purchased, the cost of these services, broken down by year and month, in tabular form. [17893/24]

Artists' Remuneration

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in light of the basic income for artists initial report, if she will commit now to including a full roll-out of this scheme for all artists in budget 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17256/24]

Sports Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

56. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the NDP has sufficiently taken into account and is adequately resourced to meet the growing demand for sports facilities, particularly with the very considerable and welcome growth of women’s sports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16222/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will meet next. [10625/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy and investment will next meet. [15144/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

28. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent Munich Security Conference. [15145/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

77. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that schools that are looking to open special classes and that have a waiting list for these classes are not inhibited from doing so because of lack of physical space; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16471/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

79. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if the method of calculating the allocation of special needs resources to schools that has seen a third of primary schools lose resources for 2024/2025 will be changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16470/24]

Student Unions

Richard Boyd Barrett

763. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that the pilot project to provide free period products is extended to a permanent scheme and is put in place for all further and higher education institutions as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16542/24]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the recent report to area committee from DLR that only 140 affordable Purchase and 406 Cost rental are planned up to 2026 and does he agree this is wholly inadequate and what measures does he intend to take to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15656/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

66. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he agrees that inadequate HAP rates and social housing income limits and the lack of three and four-bed social housing are contributing to long-term homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15659/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

69. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he believes that considering the rapid increase in homelessness and the widespread unaffordability of rental and purchase property that the current Part V requirement for 10% social and 10% affordable are wholly inadequate and should be substantially increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15658/24]

Planning Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

84. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cases of complaints of unauthorised development or breaches of planning permissions if he believes the current enforcement legislation is adequately robust to prevent such breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15657/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

99. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he will block any plans to end direct rail services between Rosslare, County Wexford, and Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15755/24]

Ukraine War

Richard Boyd Barrett

167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice what options are available to a woman allowed into Ireland under the EU Ukraine Directive to have their mother and brother (who are from Gaza but are now in Cairo in an MSF facility) join them in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15772/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if, following the recent film industry stakeholder forum, he is planning any future changes to section 481 the film tax credit to ensure greater security of employment and incomes for workers in the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15245/24]

Foreign Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of reports of election-rigging in last February’s election in Pakistan; if he has taken the matter up with the government of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14051/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will investigate the practice of members of the Defence Forces being denied their presentation on the basis that they have made protected disclosures about issues in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15276/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if it is the case that members of the Defence Forces cannot take cases to the WRC for the issue of being penalised for having made a protected disclosure about issues in the Defences Forces; if so, the reason this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

210. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to provide all available information on the recipients of the wheelchair-accessible grant for taxis; for a breakdown of these recipients, by category (individually owned or rental taxis); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of safety concerns of taxi drivers at night; for an update on his latest engagements with taxi driver groups on this topic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14317/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

212. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of reports that the cost of renting vehicles from taxi rental companies may be contributing to the national taxi shortage; if he is aware of reports that the ban on individual sale of taxi plates may be contributing to the issue; if he is aware of reports that rental companies are charging high fees to rent out plates in contravention of NTA rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

213. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the latest updates on addressing taxi shortages at peak times; if this includes extending the operating hours of public transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/24]

Rail Network

Richard Boyd Barrett

269. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport how many incidents and complaints have been logged in the past 24 months with regard to public and staff safety on the Sligo to Dublin train service, particularly between Sligo and Mullingar and vice versa; if any security or staffing measures will be implemented to provide safe transport for customers and staff on this train particularly between Sligo and Mullingar and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15393/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

813. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year outturn on illness benefit in 2022. [15348/24]

An Garda Síochána

Richard Boyd Barrett

921. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the number of reports of breaches of protection, safety and barring orders (including interim barring orders) that were made to An Garda Síochána in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the number of subsequent arrests that are made following such reports; the number of convictions in court on foot of these reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15038/24]

Coillte Teoranta

Richard Boyd Barrett

929. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of the lease agreements that Coillte has entered by category (e.g. agricultural); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13570/24]

Primary Care Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1313. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if the HSE Dublin south primary care teams provide occupational therapy report services for housing assessment needs; the avenues for a local authority tenant to access HSE primary care teams OT services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14042/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Richard Boyd Barrett

1358. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there are consistent scheduling issues at St. Vincent's Hospital where patient appointments are being delayed for significant lengths of time due to a lack of interdepartmental co-ordination leading to scheduling overlaps and delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14291/24]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to improve the reliability of Dublin Bus services in general and routes operated by a company (details supplied) in particular; the extent to which he believes the reliability issues are connected to the difficulties in recruiting drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13254/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is appropriate that the new taxi regulator recently appointed has come directly from employment in a senior position with a taxi app company that has a commercial interest in the taxi industry; his further views on whether this represents a potential conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13253/24]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [10619/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach for a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the situation in Gaza. [10615/24]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

62. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 29 February 2024, the steps a person (details supplied) can take to ensure they receive their renewed passport in their new name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12446/24]

Arts Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

548. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the conditions imposed on arts companies that received funding grants from the Arts Council in relation to adherence to employment law; if sanctions are imposed on such companies if they are found to be in breach of employment law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11614/24]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

558. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department's working definition of public service broadcasting; if the term should be taken to imply all activity by State-owned broadcasters, or only activity taken by such broadcasters in service of a defined public service mission; if there is a definition; whether there are plans to ring-fence funding for particular activity that meets this definition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12335/24]

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

559. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views of the self-description by a company (details supplied) that it is a commercial public service broadcaster; whether her Department will take any action to publicly to clarify whether the term public service broadcasting is applicable to commercial providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12336/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

615. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a tenant’s top-up led them to accumulating arrears would he consider HAP rates for this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11788/24]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

684. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason part V council tenancies are excluded from the tenant purchase scheme when other tenants of council owned houses are included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12873/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1119. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date of the DNA working group established to consider the potential role of DNA in the context of the provision of the statutory tracing service under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11869/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on how to approach birth information and tracing policy where a birth parent or other individual with access to relevant information is withholding information or otherwise failing to cooperate with an individual who is seeking out their birth information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11870/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department has taken to inform adoptees and mother and baby home survivors of any potential role for DNA technologies in tracing birth information, given the diverse levels of technological literacy across society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11871/24]

Home Care Packages

Richard Boyd Barrett

1269. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the procedure for a new company providing home support to be placed on the approved providers list in CHO6; if the tendering process only occurs once per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11805/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

1300. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of reports that Covid testing laboratory staff employed by private providers were excluded from the Covid-19 recognition payment, although they carried out Covid testing on behalf of the HSE; if it was the deliberate policy of his Department or the HSE to exclude such workers; if so, to supply any details about how this policy was arrived at; his views on whether it is appropriate that workers in a persistently Covid-exposed environment and carrying out vital public health work during the height of the Covid-19 crisis would be excluded from a payment; if this was not HSE or his Department's policy, the steps those employed in Covid-testing laboratories in the relevant period can take to access the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11959/24]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1376. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the scopolinem patch; if there are plans to make it available for medical card users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12363/24]

Departmental Policies

Richard Boyd Barrett

1570. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has reviewed Water Safety Ireland's recommendations and compared them to those prevailing in Northern Ireland; if she plans to harmonise the lifeguarding season and equipment provisions between Ireland and Northern Ireland; her views on whether Northern Ireland's stringent lifeguarding recommendations play a role in Northern Ireland's impressive low drowning rate figures; if she has engaged with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland; if she has engaged with all-Ireland bodies with a remit for lifeguarding, such as an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12257/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

188. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if it is the policy of Dublin Bus, the National Transport Authority, NTA, or any Transport for Ireland, TFI, bus operators to record bus drivers' bathroom breaks alongside identifying information; given the lack of bathroom facilities at some bus termini and the length of some bus routes, if he thinks such a policy is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11244/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

189. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport given the duty of care that bus operators have towards their employees, if he or the bus operators have considered the potential impact of any policy to record bus drivers' bathroom breaks alongside identifying information on the mental health of bus drivers on account of compromised privacy; if he or the bus operators have considered the potential impact on the physical health of bus drivers who may be putting off taking necessary bathroom breaks as a result of any policy to record bus drivers' bathroom breaks alongside identifying information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11245/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport which persons would have access to any identifiable records of bathroom breaks taken by bus drivers; what measures are in place to ensure that this access policy is adhered to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11246/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to make bathroom facilities available for drivers at all bus termini; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11247/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services will meet next. [9317/24]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [9318/24]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [9319/24]

Water Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her agenda for improving Ireland’s drowning rate, with regard to her responsibility for Water Safety Ireland; to provide details of any engagement with lifeguards and lifeguarding groups to this end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10353/24]

Water Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her recent engagements with the board of Water Safety Ireland regarding recommended equipment guidelines for lifeguarding that it issues to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10352/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

100. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 27 February 2024, how Irish medical volunteers can offer their services specifically to communities of individuals displaced from Gaza to third countries, for example, Egypt; the steps his Department will take to assist individuals or groups who contact them expressing an intention to do so; what contact points in the Department are suitable for such individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10589/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

101. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 27 February 2024, if he is aware of an offer by a group which has a team of over 20 highly qualified specialist doctors, licensed and experienced in various medical fields in Dublin, ready to volunteer their services to communities displaced from Gaza into third countries, for example, Egypt (details supplied); if he has considered this offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10590/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 27 February 2024, if his Department has considered the direct deployment of Irish medical personnel in the region, including supporting or facilitating volunteer aid from Irish individuals; what in-kind and personnel contributions Ireland has made for same to European bodies for the purposes of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, in tabular form; whether the Department will consider unilateral deployment of in-kind aid in the absence of an adequate response from the above European bodies, given discordant views on the conflict between member-states (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10591/24]

Rail Network

Richard Boyd Barrett

187. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when the Woodbrook rail station will be opened and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10477/24]

State Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

270. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that a State funded event (details supplied) is issuing consent forms to parents of children participants and attendees which states that the consent form is for filming and photography with wide usage allowed for third parties of which include commercial and non-commercial partners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10027/24]

Visa Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

471. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice which visas are most suitable for Palestinians in Gaza to apply for in order to be permitted to enter Ireland; which visas are most suitable specifically for those with no family here, but who have previously resided in Ireland and for family members of such individuals; her Department's current policy on approving visa applications for Palestinians from Gaza; to provide a breakdown of available visas for Palestinians and guidance on which are most suitable for different categories of applicant, including guidance on making a successful application; if her Department will publish guidance in Arabic to potential applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9990/24]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

564. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form of redress that is available to former residents of an orphanage (details supplied) given reports of abuse and its exclusion from the mother and baby homes redress scheme (details supplied); whether the confessional character of the orphanage has played a role in the State's attitude towards liability to victims there, as it was a Protestant institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10250/24]

After-School Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

569. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter in relation to an after school service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10308/24]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

151. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what avenues are open to a person (details supplied) who has to apply for a passport if the copies of their birth certificate, name change and gender recognition certificate are notarised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9767/24]

Legislative Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [7881/24]

Immigration Status

Richard Boyd Barrett

90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the avenues a person with a three-month visa who has arrived in Ireland from Gaza can now use to apply for citizenship in Ireland whose close family member holds a work visa permit in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9469/24]

Child and Family Agency

Richard Boyd Barrett

105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what avenues are available for a person (details supplied) to access missing information from their early life report which they recently received from Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9487/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how Irish medical volunteers might be able to offer their services in Gaza, or to communities of individuals displaced from Gaza, for example in Rafah, Egypt, in light of the worsening humanitarian and health crisis unfolding in Gaza; the steps his Department will take to assist individuals or groups who contact them expressing an intention to do so; what contact points in the Department are suitable for such individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9268/24]