Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

National Car Test

Éamon Ó Cuív

318. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport whether he was consulted, by the RSA or the company that has the franchise for the delivery of the State’s NCT car testing system, in relation to the proposed decision, announced recently, that it is intended by the service to eliminate the acceptance of payment by the public in the legal tender notes of the EU Central Bank; if so, his response to the consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38191/23]

Brexit Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

570. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether there has been any increase in trade entering Irish ports from Britain and destined for Northern Ireland, and visa versa, since the signing of the Windsor Framework; if so, the amount it has increased by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38187/23]

School Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

600. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of school bus drivers that will have to retire this year on age grounds due to the rule that they do not allow Bus Éireann employ people with eligible full licences to work once they reach 70 years of age; whether she intends changing the age criteria for school bus drivers to bring it in line with national eligibility to drive a bus or alternatively whether she intends commissioning a report on the extra risk posed by allowing eligible drivers to drive over 70 years of age as compared to drivers under 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37386/23]

Feidhmeanna Roinne

Éamon Ó Cuív

616. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén fáth nach bhfuil múinteoir meán scoile (sonraí tugtha) ar an scála pá do mhuitnteoirí a thosaigh ag obair roimh 2011 ó tharla gur oibrigh sé mar mhúinteoir i scoil i 2010; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [37674/23]

Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta

Éamon Ó Cuív

809. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil i geist méadú substaintiúil a dhéanamh ar an íocaíocht a fhaigheann teaghlaigh atá ag coinneáil scoláirí atá ag freastal ar na Meán Scoileanna ar na hoileáin len é a dhéanamh níos tarraingtí do tuilleadh teaghlaigh na scoláirí a choinneáil de bharr an tabhacht a bhaineann leis an scéim seo do inmharthanacht na nOileán; an bhfuil i bhfuil i gceist freisin an córas iocaíochta a leasú le go mbeidh réamh íocaíocht a dhéanamh le na teaghlaigh gach mí le costais a chlúdach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [39293/23]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

817. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether it is intended to amend the tenant purchase incremental scheme 2016 to allow where a child grows to adulthood as a dependent of a social welfare tenant and is added as a co-tenant when an adult that all the years as a resident in the house will be taken into account towards the ten years of being in receipt of social housing support for the purposes of the tenant purchase incremental scheme 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37310/23]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

818. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends amending the tenant purchase incremental scheme 2016 to include people with a lifelong disability under the eligibility and income rules that now apply to pensioners, where a pension income can be accepted as the primary income in a household and the income threshold is lower; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37311/23]

Offshore Islands

Éamon Ó Cuív

966. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when human remains removed from an island off the coast (details supplied) will be returned for burial on the island; the reason for the delay with this despite assurances given in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/23]

Departmental Reviews

Éamon Ó Cuív

1062. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date with the review taking place in her Department on means testing of social welfare schemes; when it is hoped this review will be completed; whether it is intended to include reforms to means testing in the forthcoming budget and social welfare Bill this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39294/23]

Student Visas

Éamon Ó Cuív

1089. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the reason foreign language students in Ireland on six-month courses are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week as well as attending their course under the terms of their visas; whether she would consider changing this for all such students as long as there is adequate proof that they are attending the language course fully; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37431/23]

Brexit Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

1296. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes brought about by the Windsor Framework to the handling of SPS goods entering Irish ports from Britain and destined directly for Northern Ireland; the effect of these changes in facilitating more trade from Britain through this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38188/23]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

1336. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department is satisfied with a proposal from an applicant for a felling licence (details supplied) to replant 90% of the trees with sitka spruce and 10% with hardwoods as they indicated in their felling licence application in 2018; if not, on what grounds this proposal is being refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39289/23]

Land Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

1337. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a letter will issue from the Land Commission to a solicitor (details supplied) confirming whether or not land specified was subject to Land Commission Proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39290/23]

Disability Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1384. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason no alternative speech and language therapy cover has been provided for the speech and language therapy post in (details supplied) while the incumbent is on maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37722/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

1545. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the Covid bonus of €1,000 will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37382/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

1546. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of workers who have received the Covid bonus of €1,000; the cost of the scheme to date; the number of applications still on hand to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37383/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2007. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for an MRI scan in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form, less than three months, three months to six months, six months to nine months, nine months to twelve months and more than twelve months. [39402/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2008. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for a CT scan in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39403/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2009. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for a bone scan in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39404/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2010. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for an angiogram in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39405/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2011. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for an electroencephalogram in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39406/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2012. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39407/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2013. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for an ultrasound scan in the Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39408/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Éamon Ó Cuív

2014. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting, as of 1 September 2023 or the nearest available date, for an electrocardiogram (ECG) in Saolta University Hospital Group for the following waiting periods, in tabular form: less than three months; three months to six months; six months to nine months; nine months to twelve months; and more than twelve months. [39409/23]

Community Development Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

2087. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of valid applications received for assistance under the new facilities grant for new, large community facilities; when decisions will be made on these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37712/23]

Cuanta agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

2106. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar iarratas atá curtha chuig an Roinn le tamall anuas ag Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe maidir le cead agus maoiniú a fháil le tuilleadh staidéar a dhéanamh maidir le forbairt saoráidí calaíochta ag Céibh an Chaladh Mhóir, Inis Meáin. [39292/23]

School Textbooks

Éamon Ó Cuív

433. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the estimated number of children who will benefit from the free schoolbooks scheme in primary schools in counties Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, respectively for 2023-2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35893/23]

Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

551. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil i gceist aici scéim deontais a thabhairt isteach do choláistí Gaeilge cónaithe atá ag feidhmiú taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, ag féachaint don obair mhaith a dhéanann siad agus don líon áiteanna teoranta atá ar fáil ar chúrsaí Gaeilge sa nGaeltacht. [36872/23]

Water Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

623. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the multi-annual rural water programme, which was due in Q3 of 2022, will be published; the reason for the delay in publishing this programme, in view of the many rural areas that are awaiting a supply of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36449/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

671. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason social welfare applications that are successful but delayed in processing are not being backdated automatically to the date of initial application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35633/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Éamon Ó Cuív

1041. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the mother-and-baby-home redress scheme will open for applications; when redress payments are likely to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36471/23]

Disability Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1076. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether it is intended to provide significant extra funding for full-time residential places for people with high dependency needs in view of the waiting lists for such services and the waiting lists for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36867/23]

Disability Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1077. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to ensure there is adequate respite available for people with high dependency needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36868/23]

Cancer Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

1335. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to provide core funding for the 19 community cancer support centres to allow them to continue to provide vital supports and services to cancer patients and their families nationally. [36591/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

7. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason all farmers in the suckler carbon efficiency programme, SCEP, must also be in the Bord Bia scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34529/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

9. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers with fewer than ten suckler cows in the suckler carbon efficiency programme, SCEP, scheme; the percentage of such farmers estimated to be in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34528/23]

Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

100. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil na teaghlaigh ar fad a choinnigh scoláirí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí suas go dtí deireadh mhí an Mheithimh tar éis a gcuid íocaíochtaí a fháil ón Roinn; mura bhfuil, cathain a íocfar iad; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34527/23]

Departmental Budgets

Éamon Ó Cuív

106. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expenditure provision for arts and culture in the Revised Estimates volume this year; the increase this represents on the out-turn for 2019; the expenditure provision for the Gaeltacht in the Revised Estimate volume for this year; the increase this represents on the out-turn for 2019; the reason for the difference between the two; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34526/23]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to siblings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34997/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Éamon Ó Cuív

118. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when an application for registration of a foreign birth will be considered (details supplied); the reason for the delay in the processing of said application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35007/23]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

122. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing this application given the fact that it is a renewal application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35453/23]

Coastal Erosion

Éamon Ó Cuív

336. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made by the Interdepartmental Group led by the OPW in putting forward solutions and policies to deal with coastal erosion; if this group considered, as part of its work, necessary remedial work that need to be carried out in a small number of coastal communities along the coast where ever higher tides cut them off more frequently during spring tides stopping residents going about their daily business of going to work or school or services virtually making these place islands for a period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35142/23]

School Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

370. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the recorded start date of a teacher (details supplied) for pension purposes in her Department's records as there seems to be some confusion about it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35104/23]

Rental Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

464. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason tenants who have the resources to buy out their local authority house are not facilitated to do so irrespective of income under the present tenant purchase incremental scheme; whether he intends on changing the rules of the scheme to facilitate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35045/23]

Visa Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

536. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if an original birth certificate of a person (details supplied) that was supplied for visa purposes to the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi was returned to them as they claim that after repeated requests, they have not received it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35117/23]

Health Services Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

733. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether the risk assessment of the principal health and social care professionals seeking regulation, including athletic therapists, by the Health Research Board ever took place; if it did not take place, the reason it did not take place; if ongoing, when it will be brought to a conclusion; if completed, if its findings were published; what the intended actions to take as a consequence are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35075/23]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

122. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais ag éirí as freagra ar Cheist Pharlaiminteach Uimh. 125 ar an 29 Meitheamh 2023, cé mhéad den 25 iar-bhunscoil ina múintear roinnt ábhar trí Ghaeilge a bhfuil aonad neamhspleách faoi leith acu ina múintear gach ábhar trí Ghaeilge; líon na scoileanna a bhfuil sruth lán-Ghaeilge acu taobh istigh den scoil; agus líon na scoileanna ina múintear roinnt ábhar trí Ghaeilge ar bhonn roghnach do scoláirí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34624/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

162. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if civil and public servants who take early retirement and are under 65 years of age and were paying full rate PRSI as they were employed post 1995 will have to be actively seeking work to be eligible for a social welfare payment and notify the Department when they are going on holidays; whether their entitlement to Jobseeker's benefit will be limited to nine months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34649/23]

International Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether there are negotiations ongoing between his Department and accommodation providers in Galway city with regard to providing further accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and other asylum seekers; if so, the number of premises involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34548/23]

Ambulance Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

268. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether an application for planning permission has been lodged with Galway County Council by the HSE for the conversion of the disused health centre in Recess into an ambulance base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34621/23]