Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Immigration Policy

Frankie Feighan

254. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Justice if she has the power and discretion under statute to grant citizenship to a person in circumstances (details supplied); and the extent of her discretionary powers in this and other cases to grant citizenship. [17201/24]

Special Educational Needs

Frankie Feighan

129. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education the reasons an ASD class funding that was approved by her Department for a school (details supplied) is not progressing, as it would seem that her Department has stopped providing a modular building or cabin as temporary accommodation whilst the school gets the extra space built; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15942/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

272. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline each individual project awarded funding in County Leitrim since January 2020 under funds and schemes (details supplied); the amount of funding allocated to each project and the purpose of the grant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15944/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

273. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline each individual project awarded funding in County Donegal since January 2020 under funds and schemes (details supplied); the amount of funding allocated to each project and the purpose of the grant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15945/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

274. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline each individual project awarded funding in County Sligo since January 2020 under funds and schemes (details supplied); the amount of funding allocated to each project and the purpose of the grant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15946/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

275. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline each individual project awarded funding in County Monaghan since January 2020 under funds and schemes (details supplied); the amount of funding allocated to each project and the purpose of the grant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15947/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

276. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline each individual project awarded funding in County Cavan since January 2020 under funds and schemes (details supplied); the amount of funding allocated to each project and the purpose of the grant, in tabular form;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15948/24]

Vaccination Programme

Frankie Feighan

1328. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health for a progress update on the Programme for Government commitment to examine the possibility of introducing a national immunisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14185/24]

Hospital Services

Frankie Feighan

1431. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if he will approve funding for the upgrade of audiology services at Sligo University Hospital which are in urgent need of funding for new equipment and the upgrade of clinic rooms (details supplied). [14549/24]

Energy Conservation

Frankie Feighan

113. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline any further details regarding the new low interest retrofit loans for homeowners scheme which was announced in October 2023 and due to be in place by February 2024 (details supplied); can he confirm these details and make a further statement on the timing and details of this initiative. [12593/24]

Greenways Provision

Frankie Feighan

181. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider requesting that the TII designate the 53km Shannon Erne Connectivity route as a proposed national strategic greenway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12679/24]

School Transport

Frankie Feighan

416. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if her Department and Bus Éireann will consider establishing a special communications unit to deal with specific queries around school transport (details supplied) that liaises with the local inspectors and management to provide clear and expedient replies to parents and school management. [11948/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Frankie Feighan

769. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing parents with children the right to claim domiciliary care allowance while living outside the State for the purpose of availing of specialist care for their children in that particular country, that is not currently available in Ireland; and if she will consider a mechanism where a special application could be made whereby the designated care and treatment programme for the child in the other state was sanctioned by an approved Government agency in Ireland before the parents could then apply for the domiciliary care allowance while living and caring for them abroad. [12861/24]

Health Services Staff

Frankie Feighan

1265. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health when a medical officer will be appointed to the Plunkett Home, Boyle, County Roscommon, given this position was advertised and approved at the end of 2023. [11754/24]

Departmental Projects

Frankie Feighan

135. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when funding applications under the global Irish festival series will be made available to local authorities and other relevant bodies (details supplied). [11242/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

259. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 29 February 2024, if he will provide an update on the conservation advice pilot grant scheme (details supplied). [11372/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Frankie Feighan

436. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a Leitrim based apprentice (details supplied) who trained under SOLAS are not recognising the time he spent working at an accredited company from July 2020 to May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11373/24]

Departmental Schemes

Frankie Feighan

218. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the conservation advice pilot grant scheme (details supplied). [9766/24]

Planning Issues

Frankie Feighan

68. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the exemption for local authorities from the part 8 own development approval process and from planning, for the provision of specified forms of housing developments on designated State lands, beyond the current deadline of 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9485/24]

Social Welfare Code

Frankie Feighan

107. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would consider reviewing the means test for non-contributory and part-contributory pensioners who may rent their home and live with relations or friends, within the framework of the next budget, to incentivise older people who have options around moving in with relatives and may have sizeable homes to consider the rental market without a serious implication for their income. [8148/24]

Coastal Erosion

Frankie Feighan

240. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason the publication of an OPW funded study into coastal erosion in Strandhill, County Sligo has not been released publicly to date; the reason it has taken almost two years to complete and release this report findings; when the draft report is set to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8011/24]

Tax Reliefs

Frankie Feighan

112. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider as part of his planning for Budget 2025 re-introducing the tax relief at €2,000 for persons paying tax in the State who have private health insurance and have experienced the dramatic price rises in their premiums in recent months. [5441/24]

Site Acquisitions

Frankie Feighan

249. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if any further consideration has been given to the proposal to sanction a new primary school for Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; if the Board of Management has identified a potential site for a new school; and whether communication has been received by her Department seeking approval to negotiate with any potential site owner. [4691/24]

Industrial Development

Frankie Feighan

33. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what action he is taking to safeguard the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, and future investment in manufacturing and research and development into Ireland, from any unintended consequences as a result of the European Commission pharmaceutical review, currently under way; if he can update on any meetings his Department has had on the subject in Ireland and at an EU level since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/24]

Medicinal Products

Frankie Feighan

161. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of Ireland's national position on the revision of the EU general pharmaceuticals legislation as proposed by the European Commission; when Ireland will be making its official response to the European Commission on the pharmaceutical review known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/24]

Waste Management

Frankie Feighan

405. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered providing a reduction or payment assistance in relation to domestic waste charges for disabled people particularly to persons who have excess charges because they suffer from incontinence or other similar issues that incur extra waste disposal charges. [2954/24]

General Practitioner Services

Frankie Feighan

608. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if it is a requirement for a doctor who is seeking to be issued with a GMS registration that he/she must agree to an allocation of (public) patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2619/24]

Hospital Facilities

Frankie Feighan

660. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full update regarding the development of the 42 bed unit extension to Sligo University Hospital; the timelines around tender closing dates and expected construction commencement and competition; and if he will update regarding other capital developments in and around the hospital campus in Sligo. [2993/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

972. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of jobseekers allowance payments for 12 months or longer, for two years or longer, three years or longer, four years or longer and for five years or longer, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1679/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

973. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on jobseekers allowance who are long-term unemployed and who had penalties applied to their payments in 2023 due to failure to engage with her Department's labour activation services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1680/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

974. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on jobseekers allowance who are currently in receipt of a reduced jobseekers allowance payment due to a penalty imposed on their payment for failure to engage with her Department's activation services; if she will consider stepping up control work in this area in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1681/24]

Departmental Policies

Frankie Feighan

975. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department intends to take in 2024 to ensure that long-term unemployed persons are encouraged to take up employment given the labour shortages being experienced in many sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1682/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

976. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings achieved by her Department arising from control work in respect of jobseekers allowance payments for each year between 2013-2023; the savings she estimates her Department will achieve in 2024 from control measures in relation to long term jobseekers allowance payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1683/24]

School Funding

Frankie Feighan

346. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of the normal funding options for small DEIS schools; if her Department will introduce a small grants work (minor works) scheme and IT support grant; if the current ancillary (general) grant will be reviewed and increased in line with recent inflationary pressures on energy and other related increases that many small schools are experiencing; if information or opportunities for such funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim that finds itself under financial pressure due to the lack of grant funding opportunities. [55240/23]

Vacant Properties

Frankie Feighan

450. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is a prerequisite for local authorities to insist on applicants for the vacant home refurbishment grants to supply full details and professional and technical reports on the condition of the existing septic tank of the property before they consider processing the vacant homes grant application; if applicants can seek funding under this scheme to provide for an upgrade of the septic tank system; if not, if the funding opportunity comes solely under the septic tank renewal grant which is due to be increased in 2024; if all local authorities are ‘at one’ in how they interpret the vacant homes grant on the issue of funding of septic tanks across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55276/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Frankie Feighan

487. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive a decision regarding the review of their carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54926/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Frankie Feighan

373. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would provide clarification as to whether children who turned 18 this year but are still attending secondary school are entitled to have their child benefit reinstated after the recent budget 2024 announcement, noting that if this measure only came into effect from September 2024, this would put all leaving certificate students who turn 18 years of age before completing their secondary school education next year at a disadvantage; and if a student decides after their leaving certificate to continue with full-time education, if they would be entitled then to receive the extended child benefit. [53788/23]

Community Development Projects

Frankie Feighan

202. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education when her Department will proceed to give permission to MSLETB to proceed with a lease on a portion of derelict grounds at Drumshanbo, County Leitrim to the local community centre committee (details supplied) to develop a new sports facility and playing courts which may not proceed unless matters around the lease are progressed soon. [49491/23]

Community Development Projects

Frankie Feighan

203. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if her Department would grant the additional funding to a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim to pay for the use of the local community centre's facilities which over the years has meant that the said school did not have to invest in new capital buildings for assembly and sports uses. [49492/23]

Community Care

Frankie Feighan

18. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress made to date in expanding community-based care by increasing opening times for unscheduled care, radiology, and diagnostic services. [48867/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Frankie Feighan

23. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on his Department's latest work in tackling overcrowding in hospitals. [48866/23]

Hospital Admissions

Frankie Feighan

121. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric hospitalisations in Ireland associated with chickenpox in 2022 and to date in 2023; the percentage increase, if any, in hospitalisation between both years; the economic impact of such hospitalisations in terms of bed nights on our public paediatric system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48915/23]

Health Services

Frankie Feighan

122. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health what impact illnesses like, Strep A, RSV and chickenpox are expected to have on the public paediatric health system in Winter 2023; what preventative measures are been taken by his Department and the HSE in advance to limit such impacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48916/23]

Health Services

Frankie Feighan

123. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health when the 2024 HSE Service Plan is expected to be published; if it is anticipated to return the publication of this important plan to the year-end period of the preceding year, which was the norm prior to the impact of Covid-19, i.e., December 2023 for the year 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48917/23]

Vaccination Programme

Frankie Feighan

124. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated for the provision of the primary childhood immunisation programme in the years ranging from 2018-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48918/23]

School Accommodation

Frankie Feighan

485. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding an application by a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47777/23]

Schools Building Projects

Frankie Feighan

13. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education when her Department will review and sanction the application for a building extension at a school (details supplied) as the current situation around accommodation for students is not sustainable due to its enrolment at 663 (an increase of almost 50% since its original accommodation was granted in 2019) which includes a co-educational aonad stream. [45048/23]

State Pensions

Frankie Feighan

352. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department is expected to pay the pension arrears and the exact amount to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44721/23]

International Protection

Frankie Feighan

525. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that a number of hotels and other approved accommodation centres across Ireland, (details supplied) have quite a number of rooms/beds available and are not fully occupied, despite the best efforts of management and owners in highlighting the vacancies there seems to be no take up from IPAS and the Department to fill those vacancies; if the Minister provide an explanation for this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42304/23]

Water Services

Frankie Feighan

98. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify if a housing estate in County Roscommon (details supplied) can be included in the resolution programme under the National Development Plan for the period 2021-2025, to address legacy water services issues; if any of the existing allocated €68.5 million funding will be allocated to estates not viable to connect to the public water supply; and if it is not, if he can confirm whether any other funding can be considered or made available before 2025. [41863/23]