Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Defence Forces

Robert Troy

6. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when a decision will be taken on the location of the new Army headquarters; if Athlone will be considered given its central location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22145/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Robert Troy

26. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the steps being taken to resolve issues in the integrated pension system for those who joined the Civil Service after 1995, where currently in such cases persons who are retired from the Civil Service will have a State pension amount deducted from their Civil Service pension before they reach pension age, and therefore before they are in receipt of a State pension; and whether the Minister agrees this measure is completely unfair and should not apply until a recipient is actually in receipt of a State pension. [21981/24]

European Council

Robert Troy

1. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach for a report on his attendance at the special European Council on 17 and 18 April 2024. [18052/24]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Robert Troy

173. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline when CIÉ pensions for retired staff, or surviving partners of retired staff will increase in line with inflation (details supplied). [21335/24]

Bus Services

Robert Troy

214. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure an additional bus stop is provided on the old N6 at Temple Spa to allow for additional transport links for residents (details supplied). [21633/24]

Citizenship Applications

Robert Troy

426. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice whether there are specific arrangements in place for British nationals who have been married and working in Ireland for many years to apply for Irish citizenship; and if he will clarify the cost in applying for citizenship in such a case. [21221/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Robert Troy

482. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will urgently review an application for payment under the young farmer capital investment scheme (details supplied). [21395/24]

Community Care

Robert Troy

499. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that community respite hours are commenced for a child (details supplied). [21233/24]

International Protection

Robert Troy

524. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review of transport services for residents at a location (details supplied). [21634/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Robert Troy

564. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if there is any financial assistance towards the cost of oxygen cylinders for people dependent on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21306/24]

Departmental Properties

Robert Troy

634. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to clarify plans for a disused HSE clinic (details supplied). [21756/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

5. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department is taking any action regarding obstacles that can arise in carrying out projects under the local improvements scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20905/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

13. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail the funding that remains to be allocated in 2024 under the various schemes managed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20906/24]

Middle East

Robert Troy

70. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on plans to recognise a Palestinian state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20903/24]

Middle East

Robert Troy

102. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on his recent visit to the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20904/24]

Business Supports

Robert Troy

165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received for the cost of business support grant on a county-by-county basis and the corresponding amount of grant awarded. [21101/24]

School Transport

Robert Troy

166. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if he will review the upper age limit of 70 years for persons driving a school bus, with a view to extending the age limit pending a clear annual medical; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21117/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Robert Troy

219. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate the reason a couple, who are separated but forced to live together due to financial constraints, must be assessed jointly for a working family payment application. [21009/24]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Robert Troy

211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the reason years spent teaching A levels in the UK cannot be recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland (details supplied). [20569/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

319. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will investigate why a person (details supplied), who now qualifies for a higher rate non-contributory pension, did not qualify for a similarly high rate when she first applied, and if this can be rectified. [20610/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Robert Troy

534. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for a hernia operation in Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [20338/24]

Pharmacy Services

Robert Troy

568. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether there is currently an issue regarding delivery drivers delivering medication and prescriptions to patients in cases where prescriptions have been filled by a qualified pharmacist; and to clarify the efforts being made to resolve this issue. [20487/24]

Mental Health Services

Robert Troy

591. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to explain how to establish a Jigsaw individual service in County Westmeath. [20634/24]

Disability Services

Robert Troy

607. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health what State support for speech and language are available to a child with Down's Syndrome (details supplied). [20709/24]

Mental Health Services

Robert Troy

636. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be called for an ADHD assessment through CAMHS in the primary care centre, Mullingar. [20845/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

667. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an updated timeline on the new Leader fund; and when information on the various funding streams and criteria will be issued to local authorities and development companies. [20562/24]

Hospital Staff

Robert Troy

23. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will approve the appointment of staff to operate the MRI scanner at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [19837/24]

Health Strategies

Robert Troy

35. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the National Palliative Care Strategy will be published. [19838/24]

Angling Sector

Robert Troy

92. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a full update on legislation banning eel fishing. [19628/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

117. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the review into the ECCE programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19217/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his Department's progress on achieving a 50% reduction in childcare fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/24]

Public Transport

Robert Troy

191. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with Irish Rail/Bus Éireann to see how additional car spaces could be provided at Athlone bus and train station to incentivise people to use public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18798/24]

School Transport

Robert Troy

293. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to facilitate a new school transport bus route from Delvin to Mullingar, County Westmeath, under the revised guideline, as per School Transport 2030 - Review of the School Transport Scheme - Phase 3 Report (details supplied). [18931/24]

Development Contributions

Robert Troy

429. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that the development levy waiver also covers the cost of ESB connections and Uisce Éireann connection costs. [19500/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

447. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a contributory pension investigation (details supplied). [18979/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

448. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a contributory pension investigation (details supplied). [18980/24]

Nursing Homes

Robert Troy

626. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a nursing home place is made available for a person (details supplied). [18760/24]

Ukraine War

Robert Troy

755. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports in place to assist Ukrainian refugees with the cost of third-level education (details supplied). [18975/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

775. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will urgently examine making amendments to cater for situations where one landowner on a road is refusing to sign up to the local improvement scheme, either as a contributor or has no objection to the scheme, thus depriving other landowners of the opportunity to avail of the scheme. [18982/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Robert Troy

7. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider abolishing the punitive means test for the carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18203/24]

Pension Provisions

Robert Troy

21. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection her assessment of the impact of the Supreme Court's recent decision to award a pension to a widower who was not married but had children with his former partner; if this will have an impact on other retrospective and future cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18202/24]

Home Help Service

Robert Troy

295. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours have been allocated to a person (details supplied). [18430/24]

Nursing Homes

Robert Troy

308. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently address a situation whereby elderly patients of nursing homes are faced with exorbitant fees to avail of private ambulance services to attend medical/hospital appointments; and if he will review this issue and put in place a more sustainable system of medical transport in such cases. [18529/24]

Tidy Towns

Robert Troy

358. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the outdoor recreation application by a group (details supplied). [18603/24]

Road Safety

Robert Troy

22. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be referred to the Road Safety Authority for review. [18157/24]

Tax Exemptions

Robert Troy

33. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if a favourable response will be given to extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists. [18160/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

97. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to bring forward proposals to amend pension entitlements in order that women who had to leave work due to marriage could qualify for a pension in their own right regardless of their husband’s means. [18158/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Robert Troy

161. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the resources available to people suffering from long-Covid. [18159/24]

Departmental Contracts

Robert Troy

188. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18371/24]

Hospital Services

Robert Troy

189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite blood test results for a person (details supplied). [18371/24]

Crime Prevention

Robert Troy

17. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if she will implement the recommendation of the Hamilton report to introduce a standard of recklessness into fraud offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17792/24]

Visa Agreements

Robert Troy

28. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if she will reconsider joining the EU's Visa Information System in a bid to tackle migration and security challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17793/24]

Public Sector Pay

Robert Troy

63. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the efficiencies to be achieved under the new public sector pay deal; how these are to be measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17794/24]

Flood Risk Management

Robert Troy

83. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the action being taken to strengthen flood defences in Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17795/24]

Passport Services

Robert Troy

99. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that a recently naturalised applicant’s birth certificate (details supplied) cannot be accepted by his Department as part of their passport application when it was accepted by the Department of Justice as part of their approved naturalisation application. [17488/24]

National Educational Psychological Service

Robert Troy

316. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education how a school requests a NEPS assessment for a student. [17949/24]

Commercial Rates

Robert Troy

376. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a reduction or waiver regarding the cost and payments of commercial rates for businesses that are impacted by disruption of construction works affecting their business; and the likelihood of a waiver of property rates during these periods of disruption to local businesses. [17881/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

416. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a domiciliary care allowance review for a person (details supplied). [17933/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Robert Troy

417. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an invalidity appeal will be urgently expedited for a person (details supplied). [17935/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Robert Troy

579. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for surgery (details supplied). [17333/24]

Patient Transport

Robert Troy

611. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if measures can be put in place to assist nursing home patients to attend hospital appointments where they can only be transported by ambulance as currently families are being faced with costs of up to €1,000 to engage an ambulance in such cases. [17578/24]

Medicinal Products

Robert Troy

673. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the approval of fenfluramine for the treatment of dravet syndrome (details supplied). [17972/24]

Medicinal Products

Robert Troy

680. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the funding of a fenfluramine for a child (details supplied) on compassionate grounds. [17985/24]

Health Service Executive

Robert Troy

689. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to arrange for a proper boundary wall to be erected between Lakepoint housing estate and the HSE building in Lakepoint, Mullingar, as there is currently a timber fence at this location but a proper wall needs to be built to discourage people climbing over the timber fence. [18047/24]

Business Supports

Robert Troy

68. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to support those SMEs that are currently struggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16996/24]

Industrial Development

Robert Troy

125. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a update on the construction of an advanced manufacturing facility at Marlinstown, Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17001/24]

Probate Applications

Robert Troy

156. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the reason a spouse can only access €27,000 of a deceased spouse’s credit union savings and any remainder must go to probate; his views on whether this rule is fair when the spouse is clearly the next-of-kin and automatic beneficiary; and if he plans to review such rules in the short term. [17177/24]

Sports Funding

Robert Troy

198. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on a sports capital application (details supplied). [17176/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Robert Troy

130. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an outpatient physiotherapy appointment at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [16781/24]

State Properties

Robert Troy

139. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the future plans the HSE has for the old GP building on the Galway Road, Kinnegad (details supplied). [16818/24]

Departmental Schemes

Robert Troy

158. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on a community climate action programme application (details supplied). [16025/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Robert Troy

180. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property owner (details supplied) will be able to avail of high-speed broadband; and the company that will provide same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16555/24]

Housing Schemes

Robert Troy

227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if the eligibility for help to buy in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed. [16519/24]

Special Educational Needs

Robert Troy

321. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the reason that in the most recent meetings in relation to special education, the removal of complex needs was included. [16431/24]

Special Educational Needs

Robert Troy

322. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to list the exemptions for which schools can apply to the National Council for Special Education. [16432/24]

Special Educational Needs

Robert Troy

323. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if a school will be able to enrol a child with special educational needs if there are no SET hours. [16433/24]

Special Educational Needs

Robert Troy

324. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the reason Down’s syndrome specifically is not recognised as complex needs under the definition of complex needs. [16434/24]

Special Educational Needs

Robert Troy

325. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to quantify the numbers which determine the significant intake of additional needs. [16435/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Robert Troy

465. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the case of a person (details supplied). [16311/24]

Departmental Data

Robert Troy

500. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the amounts paid to private practitioners in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; the amount paid to each of the top-ten recipients of fees under the international protection private practitioners scheme, by the practitioner's name and fees in those years. [16154/24]

Health Services Staff

Robert Troy

570. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a child psychologist vacancy in an area intervention team (details supplied). [16437/24]

Childcare Services

Robert Troy

591. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider insuring that the capitation rate paid per child in the early years setting is allocated for the full calendar year or the full school year to enable the school to forward plan. [16441/24]

Community Development Projects

Robert Troy

592. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider introducing a grants scheme in order that community facilities can apply for the grant aid to upgrade their community facilities. [16442/24]

Childcare Services

Robert Troy

593. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to help the early years sector retain staff as currently many staff are being recruited into the SNA roles in primary schools. [16443/24]

Departmental Schemes

Robert Troy

594. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason access to the AIMS scheme is only available from the age of three years when it is known that the most critical time for a child's brain development is 0 to 6 months. [16444/24]

Childcare Services

Robert Troy

595. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason, in relation to the inspection regime, child care providers subject to multiple agency checks; and if he would explore the possibility of one agency carrying out all checks to improve efficiency for child care providers. [16445/24]

Childcare Services

Robert Troy

596. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how he intends to support child care settings with the additional cost of infrastructure by Government, the auto-enrolment for pensions, sick pays, and also from his own Department in relation to preparation of accounts in duplicate is leading to additional professional fees. [16446/24]

Health Services Staff

Robert Troy

601. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff that are working in the speech and language therapy in the HSE in Springfield, Mullingar; the number of vacancies that currently exist in that service; the number of people waiting to access that service; and his plans to address this concern. [16529/24]

Home Help Service

Robert Troy

730. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the home help hours of a person (details supplied) will be increased. [16518/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

768. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will review the eligibility criteria for men's/women's sheds grants ahead of future rounds of funding (details supplied). [16530/24]

Heritage Sites

Robert Troy

12. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support the establishment of a consultation forum for the future development of Columb Barracks, Mullingar by the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15700/24]

Housing Provision

Robert Troy

23. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline plans to utilise State owned land and modular homes to address the homeless crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15701/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Robert Troy

175. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an application for the 2024 horticulture grant scheme (details supplied). [15753/24]

State Properties

Robert Troy

202. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline plans within his Department for the future use of the St. Vincent's Hospital site in Athlone. [15813/24]

Ambulance Service

Robert Troy

203. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline plans by his Department for an ambulance base in Athlone. [15814/24]

State Pensions

Robert Troy

94. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was never advised to apply for a pension (non-contributory) when awarded a reduced rate contributory pension on turning 66 years. [15576/24]

Inland Fisheries

Robert Troy

108. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current situation regarding the bye law banning the fishing of eels in the country which has not been renewed by the Minister since 2018; if the ban on eel fishing remains in place; and if not, if it is currently subject to review. [14617/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Robert Troy

129. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what actions are being taken by his Department to ensure An Post complies fully with the terms of section 46 of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs Act 1983 in providing the correct pension entitlements to retired employees (details supplied). [15137/24]

Bus Services

Robert Troy

193. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the National Transport Authority following the decision by Aircoach to withdraw the Athlone service, to ensure connectivity is maintained in this growth centre. [14006/24]

Rail Network

Robert Troy

198. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport when the additional capacity will be in service on the Sligo to Dublin rail line. [14065/24]