Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Special Educational Needs

Steven Matthews

161. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the discrepancy in the assistive technology grant for students with hearing difficulties whereby only students with physical hearing impairments can qualify; this excludes those with non-physical auditory processing difficulties; can this grant be reviewed to include all students with a medically certified recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13983/23]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

622. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the temporary accommodation committed to a school (details supplied); the timeline for the installation of same; if any remedial work is required on the prefab units; if her attention has been drawn to a meeting request from the five Wicklow TDs with senior officials responsible for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12514/23]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

625. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the confirmed delay of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the basis for this decision in the context of chronic secondary school place shortages in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12552/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Steven Matthews

930. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the First 5 Little Library Initiative; if a library book bag will be provided to every child starting school in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12978/23]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

667. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the commitment to eliminate the use of all single-use plastic in HSE-operated canteens and other food service outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11498/23]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

668. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if there is any consideration being given to the reduction in single-use plastic as part of his Department’s procurement policy for the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11499/23]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

669. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if he will take action regarding the level of single-use plastic in Ireland’s healthcare system; if any review of this has been carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11500/23]

Departmental Funding

Steven Matthews

61. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider establishing a fund for registered cancer support groups that would allow for the purchase of an electric vehicle, to be administered in a similar way to a scheme (details supplied) to transport clients to hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10268/23]

Hospital Charges

Steven Matthews

296. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding hospital parking charges for groups (details supplied); if a free parking pass system will be considered that would reduce the financial burden on these voluntary groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10685/23]

Hospital Services

Steven Matthews

308. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of persons from County Wicklow currently undergoing dialysis treatment; if any review is ongoing into the potential to offer this treatment in a primary care setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10777/23]

Maternity Leave

Steven Matthews

131. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding a survey carried out by his Department that was sent to Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas in relation to the provision of maternity leave for Members (details supplied); if he will provide the parameters of the research and results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10369/23]

Rural Schemes

Steven Matthews

722. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding a review of the CLÁR funding programme to expand the qualifying criteria to allow more rural groups to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10220/23]

Rural Schemes

Steven Matthews

723. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 746 of 21 February 2023, if the CLÁR programme will be expanded to allow groups, including an organisation (details supplied) qualify for funding, due to its membership living in a variety of locations in County Wicklow. [10221/23]

Fire Safety

Steven Matthews

139. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to significant wait periods to get a fire safety certificate from Wicklow County Council (details supplied) for completed building works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9004/23]

Electric Vehicles

Steven Matthews

196. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding grant support for taxi drivers to purchase electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8384/23]

Childcare Services

Steven Matthews

517. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to reports detailing serious structural concerns and required upgrades to a school (details supplied); the way that management of the facility can seek funding to carry out this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8799/23]

General Practitioner Services

Steven Matthews

600. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the extension of free GP cards for children beyond the existing age parameters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8107/23]

Departmental Funding

Steven Matthews

746. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grant support is being considered to support community groups including one such group (details supplied) to assist with purchasing electric vehicles to provide transport for sick clients and members to hospital appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8185/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Steven Matthews

55. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if he will confirm where the monetary returns related to fines for driving and parking fines issued by An Garda Síochána are returned to; how this money is accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4212/23]

An Garda Síochána

Steven Matthews

72. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to low levels of fines issued by An Garda Síochána at a local level in County Wicklow and at national level for driving infringements (details supplied), contrary to Government policy on cycling and pedestrian safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/23]

Patient Transfers

Steven Matthews

163. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if any grant support is being considered to support community groups including a group (details supplied) to assist with providing transport for sick members to hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5550/23]

Departmental Schemes

Steven Matthews

53. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby some sports clubs cannot apply for the sports club EV charging scheme due to not having phase 3 power set ups in their facilities; if funding could be provided to upgrade their electrical systems in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7572/23]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

105. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school build for a school (details supplied); the timeline for the completion of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7481/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Steven Matthews

104. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for future investment in the early years sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6011/23]

Adult Education Provision

Steven Matthews

150. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding public service contracts for adult education tutors as recommended by the Labour Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6239/23]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

162. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a new school for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6241/23]

Medicinal Products

Steven Matthews

263. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of Hyperemesis Ireland regarding the current reimbursement policy in respect of medication to treat this condition; if he proposes to meet the group to discuss its concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6253/23]

Departmental Policies

Steven Matthews

60. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the adequacy of existing measures to prevent dog fouling at a local authority level; if his Department is considering any further measures to reduce this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5605/23]

Education Policy

Steven Matthews

205. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of qualified post-primary teachers seeking to upskill and teach home economics at both junior and leaving certificate levels; if a similar support programme to an existing scheme (details supplied) has been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5711/23]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

210. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the new school building for a school (details supplied); if the basis for any delays on the project to date could be outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5757/23]

Care Services

Steven Matthews

341. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of national standards for home care and support services, as recommended by the HIQA report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5609/23]

Health Services

Steven Matthews

429. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing a fund for registered cancer support groups that would allow for the purchase of an electric vehicle to transport clients to hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5951/23]

School Facilities

Steven Matthews

106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the rollout of free solar panels to all schools; the timeline for the initiative to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4713/23]

School Transport

Steven Matthews

137. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a review of the provision of school bus services; if efforts are ongoing to ensure that more students than ever are accommodated for the next school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4082/23]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

276. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the school building for a school (details supplied); the efforts that her Department is making to ensure that students will be in the new building for September 2024 as per the original plans; the basis for any changes to this commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4389/23]

Departmental Programmes

Steven Matthews

120. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the schools' energy retrofit pathfinder programme; the number of schools supported to date under this programme; the proposed number to be funded in 2023 and 2024, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4083/23]

Insurance Industry

Steven Matthews

283. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to cases of car insurance quotes increasing significantly from previous years, despite no significant change in the circumstances of the applicant; the efforts he is making to engage with this sector to avoid this financial impact on customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4771/23]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

346. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details regarding SI 664 of 2022, Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (Number 5) Regulations 2022; if the process whereby this was introduced will be outlined; the reason for same; and if a detailed explanatory note will be provided to all Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, supplementary to existing briefing material. [4327/23]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

469. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of accommodation for practical subjects and other facilities in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4723/23]

Sports Funding

Steven Matthews

12. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next round of sports capital funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3062/23]

Swimming Pools

Steven Matthews

22. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the campaign to have a permanent public pool constructed in Blessington, County Wicklow following the success of a temporary pop-up pool installation; if she will consider meeting the campaign team to discuss the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3061/23]

Electoral Process

Steven Matthews

106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way that the Government plans to encourage 16-to-18-year-olds to pre-register for the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3197/23]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

169. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the new regulations that will require a changing places toilet to be included in certain buildings as signed by him (details supplied); if these regulations are now in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3193/23]

Driver Test

Steven Matthews

71. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby driving test candidates have been refused tests due to NCT expirations on their vehicle, in spite of having one booked, and the known delays for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3475/23]

School Facilities

Steven Matthews

346. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of accommodation for practical subjects and other facilities in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2757/23]

Bus Services

Steven Matthews

97. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the introduction of a looped bus service for Bray and Greystones, County Wicklow, as proposed under BusConnects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2132/23]

Rail Network

Steven Matthews

104. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport his views on the value of extending an electrified train service to Wicklow town, as included in the NTA's transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2222/23]

Court Accommodation

Steven Matthews

130. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will request that the OPW engages with the Courts Service regarding upgrade works (details supplied) for the former courthouse in Wicklow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2139/23]

Equal Opportunities Employment

Steven Matthews

21. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding any initiatives being implemented or under consideration by his Department to reduce barriers to employment for persons with intellectual disabilities; if any consideration has been given to a paid internship and apprenticeship model that could be tailored to an individual’s circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63451/22]

Equal Opportunities Employment

Steven Matthews

22. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details regarding any research that has been carried out by his Department into the barriers to employment for persons with intellectual disabilities; if any future research is planned in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63455/22]