Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Parole Boards

Éamon Ó Cuív

515. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners released on parole by the Parole Board since the new independent Parole Board came into office; the number of prisoners who were not interviewed previously by the board who have had their first contact with the parole system since the new independent board was set up; when a permanent chief executive will be appointed to the Parole Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61612/21]

Health Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

749. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when funding will be allocated for the health centre in Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, County Galway given the dilapidated state of the health centre including the storeroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61928/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

783. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the introduction of an equine census that includes donkeys will cease with the need to forward passports for donkeys to his Department for the purposes of the ANC scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61507/21]

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

809. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an bhfuil an tuarascáil dheireannach ar a rabhthas ag fanacht maidir le Céibh Ros an Mhíl faighte; má tá, cén toradh a bhí ar an tuarascáil agus cén uair atá i gceist chun cinneadh a dheánamh maidir le forbairt céibhe doimhne mara ann, ag tógáil san áireamh an phráinn a bhaineann leis seo de bharr nach bhfuil ach achar reasúnta gairid fágtha ag an gcead pleanála don fhorbairt. [61920/21]

Tionscadail Fhorbartha Pobail

Éamon Ó Cuív

819. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén dul chun cinn atá déanta le measúnú a dhéanamh ar iarratas faoin gClár Seirbhísí Pobail (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [61510/21]

Departmental Budgets

Éamon Ó Cuív

820. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 7 December 2021, the implications for her Department of the plan to use deferred surrender of funds; if the funds surrendered will be lost permanently to her Department; the amount that is likely to be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61599/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of timber felling licences issued in each of the past five years to date; the volume of timber involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60442/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

45. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the new payment for ecological work out of pillar one funds will be calculated for each farmer; if the payment will have a relationship to the entitlements held by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60443/21]

Work Permits

Éamon Ó Cuív

88. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to widen the sectors that are eligible for work permits; the steps he will take to streamline the system of issuing these permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60444/21]

Enterprise Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policy instruments that are in place and available to Enterprise Ireland to stimulate industry in remote rural areas; if he plans to introduce other instruments in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60445/21]

Hospital Appointments Status

Éamon Ó Cuív

171. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for their hip operation in Galway University Hospital given the exceptional circumstances in this case; if the person will be considered for the surgery under the National Treatment Purchase Fund given the severity of the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60825/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

100. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total capital and current allocation to her Department for 2021; the amount spent to date in 2021; the main areas of underspend broken down between capital and current; the steps being taken to ensure a full spend of the allocation by the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60215/21]

EU Programmes

Éamon Ó Cuív

107. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the definition of rural area will be the same for the forthcoming Leader programme as it was for the previous programme that ran to 2020; the criteria that will be used to allocate funding to local area groups under the new programme; the scoring given to rurality in these criteria and if it is intended to strengthen this scoring in the forthcoming Leader programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60216/21]

Cúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige

Éamon Ó Cuív

31. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige an bhfuil i gceist aige blaiseadh den Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil do gach páiste mar chuid den Scéim Cúraim agus Oideachais Luath-Óige, ECCE; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [56741/21]

Childcare Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

47. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding provided in the estimates of his Department for the childcare sector for 2022; the improvements that will arise as a result of this funding in terms of affordability for parents and working conditions and salary for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58581/21]

Hospital Facilities

Éamon Ó Cuív

194. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the planned programme for the commencement of construction for the provision of new buildings at Galway University Hospital over the next five years; the services that will be provided from these new buildings when complete; if these proposed buildings will be located on the Newcastle Road site or the Merlin Park site; the additional beds that will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58582/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Éamon Ó Cuív

203. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the furthest distance persons requiring PCR tests are required to travel to get these tests; if it is planned to set up new testing centres nearer the populations furthest away from the existing centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58583/21]

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí cén soláthar atá i bPlean Teanga Gaeilge na Roinne maidir le seirbhísí Gaeilge a chur ar fáil don phobal i gcoitinne atá á lorg agus lena chinntiú go mbeidh rogha ag pobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge plé a dhéanamh i nGaeilge, i scríbhinn agus ó bhéal, le hoifigigh na Roinne; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [59629/21]

Energy Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

60. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is planned to develop a strategy in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that will detail the port facilities that will be required to service the targeted offshore energy production outlined in the climate action plan; if State grants or grants under Ten-T will be used to part finance these developments; if State aid issues are likely to arise; and the dates by which this infrastructure will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59371/21]

Departmental Communications

Éamon Ó Cuív

64. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if a memorandum for observations has yet been circulated to other Departments; if not, when it will be circulated; the Departments to which it will be circulated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59261/21]

Public Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

65. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the public transport projects aside from the purchase of new buses, firmly committed to in the NDP, either partially or wholly located in, the province of Connacht; the estimated total cost of these projects; the total population of Connacht; the estimated spend per capita; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59262/21]

Ports Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

74. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if Galway Port is eligible for either State grants or Ten-T grants to develop the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59372/21]

European Union

Éamon Ó Cuív

107. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of countries that have applied to join the European Union; the present status of their applications; the position being adapted by this country to these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59389/21]

European Union

Éamon Ó Cuív

110. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the policy of his Department in relation to the European Union policy to grow the armaments industry across the European Union in view of Ireland's traditional view of this industry and the destruction, suffering and poverty it causes worldwide and particularly in poorer countries; the reason that he spoke at and attended an online event recently that had as its aims networking in relation to promoting the new European Union funding and technology supports for the defence and security research, innovation, development and manufacturing ecosystem in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59387/21]

Education Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

115. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the process that will be followed in reviewing the DEIS programme; if there will be a public consultation before consultants are appointed to carry out the review; when the review will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59272/21]

Social Welfare Code

Éamon Ó Cuív

128. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is obligatory for persons in receipt of social welfare payments including job seeker’s benefit to have a valid public services card issued by her Department; the reason for this rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59382/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Éamon Ó Cuív

135. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it is planned to introduce health regulations in relation to the holding of in-person third-level examinations between the end of November and Christmas 2021 in view of the risk that they might become super-spreader events and cause Covid-19 to be reintroduced by students returning home for Christmas to households throughout the country including parents, vulnerable family members and grandparents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59380/21]

Legislative Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

157. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when she plans to sign the commencement order in relation to the extension of the time period to three years for clinical negligence actions which is provided for in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59386/21]

Hospital Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

198. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of beds available in Galway University Hospital, Newcastle Road and Galway University Hospital, Merlin Park respectively; the number of these occupied at the latest record of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59373/21]

Legislative Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the studies that have been carried out in relation to the possible erosion of fundamental rights of assembly and protest for a wide variety of reasons and causes, including industrial disputes, funerals and other events by the introduction of the proposed The Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59388/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

229. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of forestry planting licences issued by his Department in 2021; the total number of hectares involved; the total number of planting licences issued in 2020; and the total number of hectares involved; the steps he will take to expedite the issuing of planting licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59383/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of forestry felling licences issued in 2021 by his Department; the total number of cubic metres involved; the total number of felling licences issued in 2020; and the number of cubic metres involved; the steps he will take to expedite the issuing of felling licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59384/21]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

231. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of cubic metres of raw timber imported for processing in sawmills in the State in 2020 and 2021, respectively; the jurisdictions the timber is coming from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59385/21]

Further and Higher Education

Éamon Ó Cuív

65. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the increases or decreases that have been made to the rates of grant under the SUSI grant scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate students since 2008; the years they were made; if he plans to increase these grants for the 2022–23 academic year; the provision made in the Estimates of his Department for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58580/21]

Legislative Measures

Éamon Ó Cuív

113. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the discussions he has had with the Minister with responsibility for introducing the Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) into the Houses of the Oireachtas in relation to the additional requirements that will arise out of this Bill for graduates with a capability of doing their business through Irish; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58579/21]

Litter Pollution

Éamon Ó Cuív

168. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he plans to amend both the litter pollution and waste management legislation to provide a lawful basis for local authorities to use CCTV to inhibit illegal dumping and litter pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59082/21]

Abortion Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

726. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason he has not commissioned a report to examine the operation of telemedicine for advice on pregnancy and the prescription of abortion pills; the reason he is relying on evidence in this matter from a jurisdiction outside the EU with different laws to Ireland's; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59052/21]

Health Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

727. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when it is planned to provide fit-for-purpose cancer care infrastructure for the Saolta region West, Northwest Hospitals Group; the reason for the delay in providing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59084/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Éamon Ó Cuív

27. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to introduce further reform to the means testing regime under various social welfare schemes in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56744/21]

Employment Support Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

99. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she plans to take to ensure that all available places are taken up on the community employment, Tús and rural social schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56745/21]

An Garda Síochána

Éamon Ó Cuív

181. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if further legislation is being prepared by her Department to give extra powers to An Garda Síochána in relation to reducing the amount of drug-related crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57468/21]

An Garda Síochána

Éamon Ó Cuív

201. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of members in An Garda Síochána at present; if it is planned to increase the strength of the force and provide the funding for same; the number of stations in the country that have less than their allocated number of Garda members attached to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56742/21]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Éamon Ó Cuív

80. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén dul chun cinn atá déanta i dtaca le beartas a fhorbairt maidir le teagasc na Gaeilge agus leis an teagasc trí Ghaeilge i scoileanna na tíre i gcomhréir leis an Stráitéis Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge; cé na hacmhainní breise foirne agus airgeadais atá curtha ar fáil ina leith sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56740/21]

Education and Training Boards

Éamon Ó Cuív

122. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the reason ETB small second-level schools are not entitled to be designated as a small school for the purposes of the small schools' designation that gives extra teaching resources to small second-level schools despite the fact that some of the smallest second-level schools in the country including all island secondary schools are under the patronage of the ETB. [57211/21]

Housing Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

289. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to increase the eligible income limits in respect of social housing; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who are solely dependent on social welfare income and low income from employment are being removed from the social housing waiting lists on income grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57348/21]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

301. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of successful applications made under the improvement works in lieu scheme in each of the past three years by local authority; the amount expended on the scheme on the same basis; if he plans to amend the terms of the scheme to broaden its appeal as a solution to issues of substandard housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57535/21]

Departmental Policies

Éamon Ó Cuív

386. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the policy of her Department in relation to classroom size in primary schools; the minimum size of classroom permitted relative to the number of students in the class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57536/21]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

435. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the availability of activation schemes, including those run by the local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57419/21]

Health Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

658. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reduce drug misuse in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56743/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Éamon Ó Cuív

700. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken in consultation with other relevant Departments and their agencies to ensure that the legislation on the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 are adhered to, particularly in retail, hospitality, workplaces and so on in view of the rapid increase in Covid-19 numbers; the response he has received from these agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57538/21]