Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Tax Exemptions

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

36. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he has received the submission from a body (details supplied) regarding a VAT exemption for counsellors and psychotherapists; if a VAT exemption will be forthcoming; the measures put in place by his Department to support counsellors and psychotherapists and to improve access to mental health supports for the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18294/24]

School Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

62. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education when her Department's ICT grant monies will be paid to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18200/24]

School Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

63. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education when her Department minor works grant monies will be paid to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18201/24]

School Meals Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

99. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that children with coeliac disease, which has an incidence rate of 1 in 100 people in Ireland, are unable to avail of the hot school meals programme; the steps her Department can take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18163/24]

Harbours and Piers

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

491. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered approaches to resolving the ongoing issues at Helvick Pier in An Rinn, where the silting up of the harbour prevents the launch of the RNLI boat at periods of very low tide, with obvious consequent safety concerns; if the small fisheries harbour scheme could be amended in order to include works of this kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17755/24]

Allotments Provision

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

221. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position of the publication date for a best-practice guide for the provision of allotments and community gardens by local authorities, as agreed in a meeting with an organisation (details supplied) in June 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17197/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

271. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, with regard to the TAMS scheme, he will consider allowing farmhouse and farm bills to be linked in one bill, allow unused electricity sold to the grid to be offset at full price to electricity purchased from the grid or any other measure which would make the scheme more viable for farmers of all types regardless of the amount of electricity they use as part of their farming activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17157/24]

School Transport

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

548. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education following on from the debate at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications (details supplied), if the age limit for school bus drivers can be raised; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15304/24]

Greyhound Industry

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

999. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an individual (details supplied) is currently listed with Rásaíocht Con Éireann as the registered owner or part-owner of any non-coursing greyhound(s); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14772/24]

Public Sector Pay

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1695. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the funding bodies of SOLAS and Education and Training Boards ensure that funding is made available for employers to make agreed backdated payments to their staff under the Section 39 WRC Pay Agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14406/24]

Rail Network

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

83. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on the extension of the daily evening train service from Dublin which terminates at Carlow in order that it can service both Kilkenny and Waterford, enabling better regional connectivity particularly for those studying and working along the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12845/24]

Greenways Provision

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

89. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on optimal alignment of the proposed Waterford to Tramore greenway with a view to maximising its potential for the purposes of utility, local amenity and tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/24]

Overseas Development Aid

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

66. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will consider signing up to an organisation (details supplied) which aims to scale up school meal programmes around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12556/24]

Disability Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1175. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s plans in relation to the recommendation within the Joint Oireachtas Report on Autism on the establishment of a one stop shop for the autism community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12644/24]

Energy Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

87. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the latest meeting of the Interdepartmental Steering Group on Energy Poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7855/24]

Cabinet Committees

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

3. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services will next meet. [8696/24]

National Economic and Social Council

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

10. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [8697/24]

Environmental Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

403. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage recalling the 2019 Dáil declaration of a biodiversity crisis, and acknowledging specifically the negative impact of light pollution on biodiversity, his plans to mitigate this increasingly pervasive problem, including, but not limited to, whether is intended to amend the Building Regulations to this end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10209/24]

Education Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

9. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking in 2024, the European Year of Skills, to increase the uptake of lifelong learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9084/24]

Public Private Partnerships

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

49. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding progress on the public private partnership, bundle 2, specifically with reference to the funding of the engineering building in the Waterford Campus SETU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9083/24]

Hospital Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

476. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health for the steps his Department is taking regarding the provision of a dedicated diabetes care unit in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8661/24]

Hospital Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

477. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated whole-time equivalent consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses, podiatrists and administrative support posts currently dedicated to the outpatient adult diabetes clinic in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/24]

Hospital Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

478. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking regarding the recruitment of a dedicated diabetes physiologist for all with type 1 diabetes in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8663/24]

Hospital Staff^

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

479. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to ensure the HSE has the necessary funding and support for recruitment to ensure that University Hospital Waterford has the minimum members of staff required to manage the diabetes unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8664/24]

Hospital Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

480. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if contingency plans are in place for staffing of the diabetes unit in University Hospital Waterford, as a model 4 hospital, to ensure adequate cover in the event of staff illness or leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8665/24]

Hospital Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

481. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of adults attending University Hospital Waterford with type 1 diabetes who have requested insulin pump therapy and when those patients can expect to avail of said diabetes technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8666/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

482. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who are awaiting an appointment to see an endocrinologist over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8667/24]

Hospital Procedures

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

483. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of new insulin pump starts done in all hospitals within the RCSI Hospitals Group in people aged between zero to 17 years and those aged 18 years or more for 2019, 2020, 2021 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8668/24]

Healthcare Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

484. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health when the Sláintecare project on the development of a national diabetes register will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8669/24]

Hospital Admissions

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

485. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions that occurred through the University Hospital Waterford accident and emergency or the acute medical assessment units due to diabetic ketoacidosis in people aged between zero to 17 years and those aged 18 years or more in each of the years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8670/24]

National Security

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

3. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach if he will develop a national security strategy and functioning security agency to deal with future security events. [6207/24]

Cabinet Committees

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

10. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [6208/24]

Legislative Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

47. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [6209/24]

Departmental Bodies

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

101. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection to report on the latest meeting of the Smart Energy Steering Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7856/24]

Residency Permits

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

438. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice for an update on a residence permit renewal application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8079/24]

Naturalisation Applications

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

439. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice for an update on a naturalisation certificate application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8080/24]

Animal Welfare

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

464. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a review of the allocation of government funding to animal charities in tabular form over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8081/24]

Departmental Policies

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

52. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has considered the potential inclusion of a standalone indicator on language and culture in our Well-being Framework, using either the Welsh or the New Zealand model as an exemplar; if she has discussed same with the Department of the Taoiseach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6747/24]

Sports Funding

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

56. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the latest round of the sports capital and equipment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6735/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

8. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach to report on his engagements at the World Economic Forum. [6210/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

14. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagement with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. [6211/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

20. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the western Balkans. [6212/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

82. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if she has considered designating any further universities, including technological universities, as centres of excellence for the purposes of teacher training education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6340/24]

School Staff

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

117. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if she has considered the reintroduction of the qualifications allowance for teachers at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6341/24]

Public Sector Pay

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

428. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 889 of 17 January 2024, if her Department has taken steps to engage with all stakeholders including the Citizens Information Board (CIS), the employer and staff CIS representatives and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan and Reform in relation to the WRC pay claim recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6097/24]

School Meals Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

433. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of schools and students enrolled in the free hot school lunches primary schools programme, broken down by county; anticipated additional schools and students to be added with the expansion of the scheme in April 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6172/24]

School Meals Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

434. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection whether there is an evaluation of the packaging and food waste impacts of the free hot school lunches programme; the percentage of packaging that can be and is recycled; the percentage of full lunches left over each day; if there is a Departmental plan to reduce the amount of waste generated as the scheme expands to provide packaged meals for more students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6173/24]

School Meals Programme

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

435. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection whether delivery miles and transport emissions involved in distribution of the free hot school lunches programme is being assessed and evaluated; if there is a Departmental plan to address this for the long-term implementation of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6174/24]

Mental Health Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

573. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the regulation of CAMHS under the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6184/24]

Third Level Fees

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

614. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the scenario in which a college student changes course or repeats a year due to adverse personal circumstances and subsequently has to pay higher fees, and is doubly disadvantaged by not being able to avail of the €1,000 Government credit as announced by Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6096/24]