Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Driver Test

Francis Noel Duffy

111. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the disparity and inconsistency in national standards with regards to the pass rates in a driving test centre (details supplied); if this can be reviewed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8939/24]

Driver Test

Francis Noel Duffy

112. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware there is still a significant backlog in the scheduling of driving test appointments in a driving test centre (details supplied); the steps his Department is taking to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8940/24]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

231. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the impact the decision to eliminate the category of complex educational needs from consideration when allocating special education teacher hours on children with Down syndrome in mainstream schools; if this decision will be reviewed to ensure children with Down syndrome can receive the required supports in mainstream schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9221/24]

Housing Schemes

Francis Noel Duffy

275. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the updated acquisition cost guidelines (ACG) for the cost rental tenant in situ scheme. [8851/24]

Forestry Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

395. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why there is a delay in the Forest Service granting afforestation licences, which are required to meet our national afforestation targets in 2024 and beyond; what actions are being taken to ensure that the Forest Service has the resources to meets its targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9135/24]

Public Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

182. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that fully electric cars are unable to attain an SPSV licence; if he will resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7919/24]

School Enrolments

Francis Noel Duffy

307. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the plans to provide support to schools (details supplied) to increase capacity considering parents are unable to secure school places for their children in their local catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7922/24]

Schools Building Projects

Francis Noel Duffy

308. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education for an update on the emergency works application for a school (details provided) regarding school safety systems, and why it remains unresolved and awaiting assessment since March 2023. [7923/24]

Childcare Services

Francis Noel Duffy

503. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that, to date, three crèches have withdrawn from core funding due to the funding not covering operational costs in an area (details supplied), resulting in fees increasing by up to 28%; if he will increase the core funding or provide top-ups for crèche operators experiencing difficulties; the other measures he is taking to support crèche operators experiencing financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7920/24]

Childcare Services

Francis Noel Duffy

504. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many crèches have withdrawn from the core funding scheme nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/24]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

70. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes acquired to date under the new cost-rental tenant in situ scheme; the number that have been served a notice to quit under the extended tenant in situ scheme for tenants in receipt of housing supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6724/24]

Public Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

59. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in relation to reducing public transport fares for pensioners who have not yet reached the State pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/24]

Public Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

60. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport the reason for increased public transport bus fares from Dublin to Cavan by 21%; if he will review this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5020/24]

Housing Provision

Francis Noel Duffy

253. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 14 December 2023, for an update on the Department's examination of the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, which was meant to be concluded in Q3 of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5078/24]

Planning Issues

Francis Noel Duffy

278. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of possible instances where the Sustainable Residential and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities policy may be in conflict for local authority development plans; if there are such conflicts, how can they be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5491/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Francis Noel Duffy

365. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 978 of 17 January 2024, the definition of qualified children; the definition of dependant children eligible for the fuel allowance; if there is an age limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3731/24]

Housing Policy

Francis Noel Duffy

330. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how a developer (details supplied) was able to bulk buy homes, despite Section 28 of Guidelines for Planning Authorities “Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing” which prevents bulk buying homes; the steps he will take to prevent the same from happening again in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2880/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Francis Noel Duffy

10. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Taoiseach the members of the public inquiry committee investigating the State's response to the Covid pandemic; and if it will include scientists. [1298/24]

Road Safety

Francis Noel Duffy

220. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if there will be any requirements for lighting on personally powered transporters in the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57160/23]

Commemorative Events

Francis Noel Duffy

702. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the two locations for the National Famine Commemoration Day have been set that is, the Leinster location and twinning location in May 2024; if so, the exact date of these occasions; if, in future, it is possible to give a year’s notice to allow the Irish people home and abroad, the community and schools and ambassadors from many countries, time to plan for such an important day in the national calendar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56981/23]