Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Home Schooling

Colm Burke

213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to instituting a review on amending current working conditions for home tutors as set out by her Department in order that they can claim travel expenses such as those made available for Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate supervision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53979/22]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

223. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if the board of management of a school (details supplied) will be entitled to rent additional space in order to accommodate the students in the school in a safe manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54050/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

315. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to reviewing the proposed ten-unit cap on milking parlours under the TAMS scheme, in view of this parlour size being inadequate, to ensure that two generations of farming families can make a reasonable living from dairy farming together with other factors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53933/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

202. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to reviewing the proposed changes to the dairy beef welfare scheme from 2023, wherein the scheme currently rewards farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd via a payment of €20 per calf weighed, where he is now proposing to change the criteria of the scheme by rewarding dairy farm breeders for using high dairy beef index sires in dairy herds instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53820/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

203. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that pedigree stock bulls are to be excluded from the dairy beef welfare scheme from 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53821/22]

Work Permits

Colm Burke

153. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will confirm that his Department is currently accepting new employment permit applications for the role of dairy farm assistant, in view of the fact that dairy farmers are having difficulty in recruiting employees; if the quota has been filled for this role; if so, when his Department will be accepting new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52833/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

178. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement that has occurred between National Broadband Ireland and third-party broadband companies in relation to providing additional fibre broadband infrastructure to premises that do not have a fibre broadband connection in place and are situated in the amber area in which the private operators have capacity to provide a service. [52796/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the roll-out of broadband by National Broadband Ireland to over 670 schools across the country; if additional broadband hubs will be put in place in community facilities in rural areas in which broadband connectivity will not be in place in homes and businesses for at least another three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52797/22]

Tax Code

Colm Burke

255. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the way that farmers are to be included in the temporary business energy support scheme; when they can expect to benefit from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53149/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Colm Burke

589. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the new extension of a facility (details supplied) which is fully completed with 60 additional beds, will be fully operational; if the required number of nurses, care assistants, porters and administrative staff have been recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52798/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Colm Burke

590. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when work on the Golf Links Hotel in Blarney, County Cork, which was purchased by the HSE for the provision of step-down beds, will be completed; when it is envisaged that this facility will be fully staffed and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52799/22]

Health Services

Colm Burke

591. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set out in detail the number of additional step down-beds that will become available in each of the HSE operational areas from 1 November 2022, given that there will be increased pressures in the hospital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52800/22]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

592. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the current position in respect of the discharge of patients from hospitals to step-down facilities in cases in which the patient or their immediate family are given no say by the HSE in respect of which step-down facility they are transferred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52801/22]

Brexit Supports

Colm Burke

722. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when successful businesses will be awarded funding under the second call of the Brexit impact loan scheme for those in the agri-food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53377/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Colm Burke

761. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the investment by his Department in research and innovation that is focused on the delivery of climate action and solutions for farmers, particularly with regard to supporting farmers in achieving the 25% target of lowering greenhouse gas emissions for the agriculture sector by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53150/22]

Departmental Funding

Colm Burke

809. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of grant funding that will be made available for businesses under the streetscape enhancement scheme to assist with the upgrade and enhancement of shop fronts; the number of towns that have been selected to date under the scheme by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53471/22]

Antisocial Behaviour

Colm Burke

17. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice her plans to tackle anti-social behaviour in Irish cities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52459/22]

Crime Prevention

Colm Burke

56. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the details of the newly launched rural safety plan 2022-2024; the planned outcomes of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52458/22]

Hospital Staff

Colm Burke

115. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current position in respect of the negotiations between his Department and the medical consultants' representative bodies in respect of the proposed new consultant contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52294/22]

Hospital Facilities

Colm Burke

140. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a site will be identified for the building of a new elective hospital for Cork; the timeline for the design, applying for planning and building of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52293/22]

Fuel Prices

Colm Burke

204. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the action that is being taken by his Department to help keep down the cost of diesel and petrol which is used by the commercial sector, in view of the fact that the suppliers now appear to be operating on a far higher profit margin than any time over the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52523/22]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the agreements that are in place between the Office of Public Works and local authorities in respect of removing debris and trees which have become trapped in bridges crossing rivers; the action that his Department and the OPW are taking together with local authorities to ensure that there is not an adverse outcome at these bridges as a result of increased rainfall and flooding; if all bridges will be inspected before the period of time when there would be increased rainfall and larger volumes of water in rivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52518/22]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

211. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current position in awarding a contract for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; if he will outline the likely date when the contract will be awarded; when work is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52519/22]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current position in awarding a contract for the Blackpool flood relief scheme; if he will outline the likely date when the contract will be awarded; when work is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52520/22]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

243. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that in the new Defence Forces structure that emerges as a result of the recommendations set out in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces that Collins Barracks, Cork will be the location of the headquarters of the military formation that will control military operations in the southern region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52522/22]

School Transport

Colm Burke

249. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a 22-seater bus will be commissioned to accommodate students (details supplied) given that an additional 18-seater bus has been put in place however four students are still without a seat for this route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52525/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

298. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will confirm the way the €60 million announced in Budget 2023 to support community and voluntary organisations with energy costs will be allocated; the framework for assistance under same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52396/22]

Third Level Fees

Colm Burke

97. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the process for contribution fee refunds in 2022; when students can expect a refund of their contribution fee in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51686/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Colm Burke

106. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to introduce additional funding for apprentices to support them to continue in their apprenticeships in view of the increase in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51687/22]

Fuel Prices

Colm Burke

222. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action that is being taken to support businesses with the cost of petrol and diesel, particularly those that employ drivers, in view of increased prices since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51209/22]

School Transport

Colm Burke

442. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a pupil (details supplied) with a diagnosis of autism who changed school and was notified transport would be provided under the school transport scheme for children with special needs service under the new school will receive this service, given their parents have been informed this service is no longer possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51508/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Colm Burke

60. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when cost-of-living payments scheduled before Christmas 2022 will issue to recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50532/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

87. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports for pensioners announced in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50531/22]

Children in Care

Colm Burke

119. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to increasing the foster care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50533/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

168. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated savings to parents following the introduction of supports for children in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50534/22]

Legislative Measures

Colm Burke

215. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will give serious consideration to include an amendment in the Finance Bill 2022 which will amend Section 84 of the Finance Act 1996 which currently gives a power to the tobacco manufacturers to set the price which retailers can charge for cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50922/22]

School Staff

Colm Burke

253. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if an additional SNA will be allocated to a school (details supplied), given that the current SNA is required to give over 85% of their time to one student, who has very complex needs, and that the remaining students are not receiving the required level of support which they require; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50923/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

176. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if additional payments for pensioners announced in budget 2023 will be reflected in an increase in the threshold for applying for a medical card, or that additional cost-of-living payments will be disregarded in the calculation of means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50530/22]

Education Schemes

Colm Burke

59. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm that formal recognition will be given to teachers working in the Cork Life Centre and that funding will be provided by her Department for payment of teachers in the Cork Life Centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50035/22]

School Transport

Colm Burke

88. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education her long-term plans to address the issue of school bus transport to ensure that all children who require it receive it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50034/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

189. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if local community centres will be included in the €600 energy credits announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49890/22]

State Examinations

Colm Burke

384. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when students who completed their Junior Certificate in 2022 will receive their results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49615/22]

Infectious Diseases

Colm Burke

683. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the consideration that would be given by his Department and the HSE to screening for vancomycin resistant enterococci in respect of all hospital patients on admission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49845/22]

Foreign Policy

Colm Burke

15. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the review of the Global Ireland Strategy which commenced at the end of 2021; if this review will alter the objectives of the strategy going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48550/22]

Passport Services

Colm Burke

45. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made to date on the Passport Service Reform Programme; if the roll-out of the programme is on target; when the programme will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48549/22]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

80. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence the actions that his Department will undertake in relation to the recruitment of women into the Defence Forces in 2023 as per the recommendations set out in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and in line with Defence Forces recruitment objectives announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48632/22]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

91. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence the amount of funding that will be allocated to pay and allowance enhancements for serving members of the Defence Forces following the announcement in Budget 2023; the timeline for when these increases will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48631/22]

Energy Policy

Colm Burke

136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm that the €600 energy credit is to be paid in instalments will be paid to prepay and pay-as-you-go customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49358/22]

Departmental Budgets

Colm Burke

424. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the expenditure by the Forestry Service is in line with the budget for the month of September 2022, thereby ensuring that there is no underspend for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49405/22]

Departmental Budgets

Colm Burke

425. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure by the Forestry Service for the month of September 2022 versus September 2021 to enable comparison in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49406/22]