Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

10. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán i dtaca le Ceist Uimh. 7 den 15 Feabhra 2024, soiléiriú a thabhairt ar an bplean a d’eascair as an obair athbhreithnithe a rinne Údarás na Gaeltachta faoin bpunann iomlán maoine atá aige agus faoi na féidearthachtaí forbartha atá ann; soiléiriú a thabhairt ar na hacmhainní airgeadais a bheidh ag teastáil chun an plean a chur i gcrích; an dtabharfaidh sí an t-eolas is déanaí ar aon teagmháil idir a Roinn agus Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le tithíocht a chur ar fáil ar thalamh agus réadmhaoin atá faoi úinéireacht an údaráis; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [16854/24]

Limistéir Pleanála Teanga

Catherine Connolly

21. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán soiléiriú a thabhairt ar aon teagmháil idir a Roinn, an Roinn Tithíochta agus brúghrúpa (sonraí tugtha) maidir leis na ceithre bhunéileamh atá acu faoin easpa tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [16855/24]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Connolly

35. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 9 of 15 February 2024, the status of the drawdown of the €1 million in Galway 2020 legacy funding; the amount drawn down to date; the breakdown of where any funds drawn down to date have been allocated; the amount allocated to date via open calls for funding applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16852/24]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 15 February 2024, the status of the Údarás na Gaeltachta housing initiative approved in December 2023 to develop a model of affordable housing for Irish speakers on Údarás lands in three Gaeltacht areas; the details of her Department’s role in this housing initiative; the expected timeline for delivery of the affordable housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16853/24]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

51. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 62 den 15 Feabhra 2024, maidir leis an obair athbhreithnithe atá déanta ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis na córais agus leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna client-chuideachtaí agus i ndáil leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh; soiléiriú a thabhairt ar stádas na scéime píolótaí; cé mhéad client-chuideachta atá ag glacadh páirt sa scéim; soiléiriú a thabhairt ar na téarmaí tagartha don scéim; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [16856/24]

Departmental Priorities

Catherine Connolly

60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 8 February 2024, for an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new business and human rights action plan and implementation body; the number of meetings held to date by the stakeholder forum; the dates of same; the terms of reference of the stakeholder forum; the expected timeline for the new national plan on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16851/24]

Regional Development

Catherine Connolly

69. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 8 February 2024, the status of the implementation of the West regional enterprise plan, REP, to 2024; the date of all meetings to date of the steering group; for an update on the most recent meeting of the steering group; if the West REP progress report, which was expected in quarter 1 of 2024, has been published to date; how many of the nine REP progress reports expected in quarter 1 of 2024 have been published to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16850/24]

Export Controls

Catherine Connolly

76. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 8 February 2024, the number of dual-use export licence applications in respect of end-users in Israel approved by his Department since 7 October 2023; the value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16847/24]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

81. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 341 of 20 March 2024, for an update on plans to remove dental nurses from the ineligible occupation list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16846/24]

Trade Data

Catherine Connolly

100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total value of Ireland’s imports from Israel since 7 October 2023; the total value of Ireland’s exports to Israel since 7 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16848/24]

Business Supports

Catherine Connolly

102. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken by his Department to assist businesses in Ireland to decarbonise, particularly in light of the findings of a report (details supplied) which found that 86% of businesses reported that they had no set commitments or targets in relation to carbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16849/24]

White Papers

Catherine Connolly

27. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 7 February 2024, to provide an update on the implementation of the White Paper on enterprise; the status of the second update report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16897/24]

Acht na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

64. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 17 den 15 Feabhra 2024, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an obair athbhreithnithe ar na chéad deich bplean teanga a ceadaíodh faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012; cathain a chríochnófar an tuarascáil; cathain a fhoilseofar an tuarascáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [16895/24]

Naturalisation Applications

Catherine Connolly

99. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of an application for a naturalisation certificate in respect of a person (details supplied); if the certificate has issued to date; if not, the expected timeline for it to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16922/24]

Pleananna Oideachais

Catherine Connolly

102. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 6460/24, soiléiriú a thabhairt ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an bplean chun beartas cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, idir leibhéal an oideachais réamhscoile agus leibhéal an oideachais do mhúinteoirí, a fhorbairt agus a fhoilsiú; cathain a fhoilseofar an beartas nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [16315/24]

School Enrolments

Catherine Connolly

122. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 13 February 2024, the status of the analysis underway by her Department into the number of additional first-year secondary school places required in Galway city and county in the academic year starting in September 2024; the steps her Department is taking to reduce the current enrolment pressures; the details of the engagement her Department has had to date in 2024 with affected schools in Galway city and county in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16314/24]

Military Aircraft

Catherine Connolly

132. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what steps, if any, were taken to ensure that US Air Force C17 Globemaster aircraft number 08-8201 was not carrying weapons or munitions when it travelled through Shannon Airport on 10 April 2024, coming from Mac Dill US Air Force base in Tampa, Florida, and which then travelled on to Tel Aviv, Israel on 11 April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16760/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

176. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community-led projects successful under RESS 1 which have energised to-date; the number that remain in the process but are still due to energise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16511/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community-led projects that remain in RESS 2; for a breakdown of the number of these which are wind projects and the number which are solar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16512/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

178. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of the community-led projects in RESS 1 that have to-date received the enabling grant and the amount of grant funding received by each project, in tabular form; the details of the community-led projects in RESS 2 that have to-date received the enabling grant and the amount of grant funding received by each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16513/24]

Tax Exemptions

Catherine Connolly

238. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to grant VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16704/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

306. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 20 March 2024, her plans to develop a new policy on Gaeltacht education, to follow on from the 2017 – 2022 policy that was extended to the end of the 2023/2024 school year; the status of the research and evaluation study currently being carried out by the educational research centre to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the scheme; the terms of reference of the study; the timeline for the publication of the final report of the study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16307/24]

Disability Services

Catherine Connolly

566. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any analysis carried out by his Department regarding the adequacy of the current lower age limit for school leaver referrals for HSE funded adult day services, which can only be made once the student turns 16 years; his plans to reduce the lower age limit to 13 years to allow for a longer planning period for the transition of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/24]

Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments

Catherine Connolly

604. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 499 of 26 September 2023. if the information requested can now be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16597/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

44. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 15 February 2024, the timeline for the publication of the draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14384/24]

Departmental Communications

Catherine Connolly

46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his and his Department’s engagement with the Galway Social Housing Task Force to-date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14383/24]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Connolly

111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions of a bank (details supplied) with reference to its intentions to lay off more than 168 workers in its Dublin headquarters; if he has met with the bank to ensure that they are fully compliant with all relevant redundancy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15887/24]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance for a status update on his Department's work to develop a new scheme to replace the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme with a modern, fit-for-purpose vehicle adaptation scheme as recommended by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Transport Working Group; the number of meetings held by the senior officials group to date, and the dates of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14380/24]

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

42. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 1 February 2024, his plans for the phasing out of the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14379/24]

Legislative Process

Catherine Connolly

150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects to bring forward the legislation he has stated that he is preparing with regard to the Defence Act 1960 and changes to the Triple Lock arrangements; if he plans to bring this before the Houses of the Oireachtas prior to the summer 2024 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14409/24]

Tax Reliefs

Catherine Connolly

297. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 1 February 2024, the status of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; the number of appeal hearings that have taken place since the Board recommenced its work; the number of outstanding appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14355/24]

National Development Plan

Catherine Connolly

346. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected timeline for the publication of the revised National Development Plan allocations out to 2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14350/24]

Ethics in Public Office

Catherine Connolly

347. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to the review of the statutory framework for ethics in public office, the status of the development of the scheme for legislative reform in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14353/24]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Connolly

348. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the review of the freedom of information regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14354/24]

Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge

Catherine Connolly

484. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais an é an tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta atá ag stiúradh an bheartais don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge atá le foilsiú in 2024, ar beartas é a bhaineann le taighde agus taithí agus le comhairle ar phróiseas oifigiúil a bheidh ag an Roinn Oideachais chun scoil a iompú ina scoil lán-Ghaeilge, nó chun soláthar lán-Ghaeilge nua a bhunú laistigh de scoil reatha; an dáta a fhoilseofar an taighde sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [14589/24]

Housing Policy

Catherine Connolly

645. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 14 February 2024, the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14356/24]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

646. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 14 February 2024, the status of the steering group which will agree and guide the implementation of the Ministerial Action Plan to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector; the timeline for the publication of the Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14357/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Catherine Connolly

762. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to widen eligibility to the long-term caring contribution scheme, to allow for caring periods under 20 years to be eligible for long-term caring contributions for the purposes of the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14281/24]

Nitrates Usage

Catherine Connolly

930. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail, in tabular form, the number, type and outcome of Nitrate Action Plan derogation inspections for each year since 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13572/24]

Horticulture Sector

Catherine Connolly

932. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of times and the specific dates on which he or his Department has formally requested the European Commission to allow for a derogation or temporary derogation to facilitate the import of seed potatoes from the UK, in particular from Scotland, since the introduction of a post-Brexit ban on the import of UK seed potatoes after 1 January 2021; if he or his Department has further sought a derogation in light of the Windsor Framework in March 2023 which enabled the resumption of trade in seed potatoes into Northern Ireland; if he is aware that the Canary Islands currently imports UK and in particular Scottish seed potatoes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13675/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

1100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify how much of the estimated €800 million earmarked for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme will be allocated to an organisation (details supplied) for the administration of the scheme; to clarify the estimated total amount that will be allocated under the scheme to former residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14129/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

1101. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an organisation (details supplied) was the sole bidder in the procurement process for the administration of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if not, to clarify the total number of bidders. [14130/24]

Hospital Services

Catherine Connolly

1353. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1397 of 18 April 2023, his plans to allocate additional funding and resources to genetics services in Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin, in light of the ongoing delays in waiting times for diagnosis; the details of his plans to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14284/24]

Tribunals of Inquiry

Catherine Connolly

6. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 23 January 2024, the status of the tribunal of inquiry to examine the effectiveness of the complaints process in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12835/24]

Ukraine War

Catherine Connolly

19. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 23 January 2024, the total military aid given by the EU to Ukraine since February 2022; the details of the contribution given by Ireland to-date; the details of the contribution given by Ireland towards common costs of the EU military assistance mission in support of Ukraine; the details of any contributions or donations made by the Defence Forces to Ukraine to-date since February 2022, and any contributions or donations planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12834/24]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2024, the status of the feasibility study for light rail in Galway, which is being undertaken as part of the development of the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; the details of the strategic roads feasibility study referenced in the NTA's reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12836/24]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2024, the terms of reference of the strategic roads feasibility study; who is carrying out the study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12837/24]

Public Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach his plans for long-Covid to be included in the terms of reference for the upcoming Covid inquiry. [12139/24]

Defence Forces

Catherine Connolly

142. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the details of the new working group to develop a complaints process for civilian employees and civil servants who work with the Defence Forces; the membership of the working group; the number of meetings held to-date by the working group, and the dates of same; if minutes are taken in respect of the meetings of the working group, and if any minutes taken will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12832/24]

Defence Forces

Catherine Connolly

143. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the details of Ireland's contribution to the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025; the total number of personnel posts to be filled by members of the Defence Forces; the number of posts filled to-date by members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12833/24]