Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Strategies

Brendan Smith

6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the current situation in regard to the development of a national security strategy. [19256/23]

Care Services

Brendan Smith

481. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the allowance paid in respect of children taken into care is different for a relative and a non-relative of the child; if he will agree that the preference is to keep a child within the family unit if at all possible; if he accepts that the costs for providing care by a family member or non-family member will be similar and in low-income families these costs could be a barrier to such care being provided by a family relative; if he proposes to change the present arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19355/23]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Smith

142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being implemented to eliminate the unacceptable delays experienced by persons who qualified in Northern Ireland or in Britain in having their qualifications recognised in Ireland in areas such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the President of the United States. [15168/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brendan Smith

37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is proposed to introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale pre-school accommodation and the upgrading of existing accommodation, as existing grant levels will not be sufficient to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15755/23]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of capital funding available to his Department this year for the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new childcare accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15754/23]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

87. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional places in further education will be provided in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15760/23]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of capital funding available to his Department in 2023; the general areas which will benefit from such investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15759/23]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

114. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the up-to-date position concerning the proposed North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15921/23]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

115. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the recent review on the proposed North-South interconnector following his announcement that the Cabinet had noted this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15922/23]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the total opposition of communities in Monaghan, Cavan and Meath to the present proposals regarding the proposed North-South interconnector, with particular reference to the concerns about transmission cables being put overground; if he will ensure that if the project proceeds, the transmission cables are put underground, as proposed for other major energy projects in this country and throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15923/23]

North-South Interconnector

Brendan Smith

117. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the inadequacy of the review of the proposed North-South interconnector carried out in 2018, given it did not take into account the concerns of householders, farmers and communities in respect of a number of aspects of this proposed project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15924/23]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brendan Smith

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to date in the roll-out of the national broadband programme in counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he will outline the further progress that will be made throughout 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15976/23]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the operation of the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan that have applied; the number of businesses in each county that were successful in their applications; the estimated value or worth of the support to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15951/23]

EU Programmes

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the details of the PEACEPLUS programme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15968/23]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

173. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the 2023 allocation will be made to local authorities for the voids programme, given the importance of this scheme in bringing vacant local authority homes back to habitable use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16010/23]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Smith

217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date in enhancing the role of therapy assistants to provide treatment for children, particularly in disciplines where there are unacceptable delays in children accessing services, such as in counties Cavan and Monaghan, due to a lack of therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15934/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

249. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the provision of respite services for children and adults with a disability by approved private providers where this is an inadequate public service at present, such as in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16001/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

250. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when additional respite places for children and adults with a disability will be provided in Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16002/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

251. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when additional places will be provided for trainees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16003/23]