Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

225. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take to address the substantial shortfall of educational places in Cork city for children with autism spectrum disorder, and if she will set out her proposals for dealing with this shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23861/24]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

51. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance to clarify what measures are to be taken to ensure there is not a discrepancy between higher and lower paid workers as a result of a higher BIK being made available for electric cars, which may be more expensive, but simultaneously result in greater tax reliefs than for those with internal combustion engine models; what incentives are available and will be introduced for lower income workers to ensure that plug-in electric hybrid vehicles are more affordable for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23015/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the up-to-date status of a carers allowance application review (details supplied), given that further documentation was provided some time ago; when a decision will be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22026/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

299. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) for reconfiguration and refurbishment; when it is likely that work will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21452/24]

School Transport

Colm Burke

307. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if the school transport section will approve an application for school transport for a child (details supplied) with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21465/24]

Public Sector Pay

Colm Burke

335. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to amending a stipulation (details supplied) in Circular Letter 0041/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21736/24]

Departmental Funding

Colm Burke

696. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21729/24]

Passport Services

Colm Burke

122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures being undertaken by his Department to ensure there is sufficient staffing numbers in passport services, in order that the current processing times for passport applications are maintained, in view that a spike in volume of passport applications received by passport services often occurs in the lead up to, and during, the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21065/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Colm Burke

217. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a living alone increase payment for a widower (details supplied) will be backdated to the date of death of their spouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20947/24]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

200. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application for reconfiguration of a school (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be made in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20471/24]

Citizenship Applications

Colm Burke

395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is 19 months since the application was first lodged (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20859/24]

Citizenship Applications

Colm Burke

204. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is over 48 months since the application (details supplied) was first lodged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19961/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

155. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19752/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

156. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19754/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a person's (details supplied) appeal; when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19578/24]

School Textbooks

Colm Burke

355. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to include private schools under the free books scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19389/24]

Community Development Projects

Colm Burke

357. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18463/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

61. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm why a school (details supplied) has recently been refused approval under the Emergency Works Programme for an urgent project which impacts children’s safety in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18199/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the return of essential therapists including a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, play/behaviour therapists, and social worker to a special school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18262/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the reason a special school (details supplied) is still without essential therapists including a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, play/behaviour therapists, and a social worker; the date they will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18263/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to increasing the allocation of therapists to an area (details supplied) to meet the needs of the caseload, in view that the current level of allocation does not deliver essential intervention and support necessary to every pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18264/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

201. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the grants awarded to groups under the 2023 towns and villages renewal scheme will be announced. [18209/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

187. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17166/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17191/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of a person’s (details supplied) appeal and when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17131/24]

Social Welfare Code

Colm Burke

234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the living alone increase to elderly people who have their disabled child living with them but the children attend disability day services and they cannot work due to their severe needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17150/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17192/24]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application for the town and village renewal scheme 2023 by an organisation (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; when they might be awarded funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17081/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

9. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for retrofitting to home boilers, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

10. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for diesel in diesel cars, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Colm Burke

23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration would be given to reclassifying hydrotreated vegetable oil as a home heating fuel, in view that it is currently rated as a transport fuel and is therefore more expensive to purchase than diesel and kerosene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/24]

Housing Provision

Colm Burke

49. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes completed in Cork in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15653/24]

Grant Payments

Colm Burke

72. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money spent in Cork on housing adaption grants in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15654/24]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm that the family of a child (details supplied) on a HSE waiting list for an occupational therapist since 2022, who requires assisted technology for their exams and requires rest breaks, will be permitted to request this assisted technology from SENCO for their Junior Certificate if referred by their teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15799/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

123. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review, as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15806/24]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

124. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15807/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

190. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current number of teams for each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (EIP), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide, the current staffing levels of each of these teams and the shortfall in staff within each team as per the required number in the respective Models of Care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15778/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

191. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (EIP), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide, in the year 2023 and to-date in 2024 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15779/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of people in mental health community residences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15780/24]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, on the costs of accommodating people in mental health community residences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15800/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Colm Burke

261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress of the review of the two proposed national procedures for allowances towards post-mastectomy products (prostheses and specialist bras), along with hair loss products initially published in February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15941/24]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

308. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will expand the dental tax relief med 2 scheme so increase the tax band from 20% to 40% as per 2009 levels and to specifically include dentures in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14872/24]

School Facilities

Colm Burke

464. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if funding will be made available for a school (details supplied) to demolish an existing structure and build a new facility to accommodate ASD classes. [14347/24]

Development Contributions

Colm Burke

659. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a scheme (details supplied) will be extended beyond 24 April 2024 to all permitted residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

741. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13980/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

743. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer’s allowance appeal (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13988/24]

Maternity Leave

Colm Burke

756. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the duration of paid maternity leave to facilitate more women to continue breastfeeding for longer than they otherwise would have had they returned to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14235/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

793. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection is she will give due consideration to raising the full rate of the State pension (contributory) in order to restore it to its 2020 spending power, as a further step towards benchmarking the rate at 34% of average earnings, which should be achieved by 2026 as a 'living pension' alongside the introduction of the new national living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14862/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

794. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to raising the income thresholds for the State pension (non-contributory) to take account of inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14863/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

795. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the maximum rate of the State pension (non-contributory) to bring it to the same level as the State pension (contributory) and benchmark both the contributory and non-contributory State pension against 34% of average earnings, to reduce gender pension inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14864/24]