Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Road Network

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure a substantial increase in funding for the non-national road network for counties Cavan and Monaghan for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4616/24]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if funding for the non-national road network will be increased for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4617/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

102. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to amend the VAT refund regulations as applicable to farmers to ensure the continuation of the system that existed up to recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4624/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

147. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that the concerns of farmers in relation to changes to VAT refunds are given urgent and detailed consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/24]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

288. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the criteria pertaining to the assessment of means for eligibility for social housing and exclude payments under the working family payment which is available for some low paid workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/24]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available for the Voids Programme for 2024 and when allocations will be made to local authorities for this year's programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4896/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

340. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all eligible applicants under tranche 2 of ACRES will be accepted on to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4903/24]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

194. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will approve a funding application made to his Department in respect of essential improvement works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3910/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed with the political parties in Stormont the potential of the Shared Island initiative to fund cross border projects to benefit communities North and South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3329/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the range of projects that can be funded under his Department's Reconciliation Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3330/24]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Brendan Smith

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied that an adequate programme of upgrading and enabling smaller telephone exchanges which are particularly important to rural communities is being undertaken in view of the importance of this infrastructure in enhancing broadband coverage; if he has had communication with the relevant provider(s) concerning this important issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3338/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brendan Smith

139. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that an adequate broadband service is provided to an area (details supplied) as households and businesses in that community are concerned about the lack of such coverage at present and the difficulties in conducting day to day business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3337/24]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

245. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a building project will proceed to the next stage as this additional accommodation is needed for next September (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3600/24]

Tourism Funding

Brendan Smith

248. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current status of a project (details supplied); when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3444/24]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

262. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next review of income eligibility limits for social housing will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3559/24]

International Protection

Brendan Smith

341. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals, if any, there are to accommodate more international protection applicants or others seeking refuge at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3594/24]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

349. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a five day per week health care service will be restored (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3455/24]

Primary Care Centres

Brendan Smith

361. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there are to provide an additional healthcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3558/24]

Community Development Projects

Brendan Smith

377. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next call for projects under the Community Recognition Fund will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3597/24]

Departmental Bodies

Brendan Smith

10. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report his attendance at the recent shared island youth forum. [57118/23]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that urgent consideration is given to a request of a healthcare facility and ensure that this ongoing issue is resolved satisfactorily without delay, which will be beneficial to patients in that catchment area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3304/24]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

500. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of respite services available in Cavan and Monaghan for children and for adults; the proposals to extend and improve the range of such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2895/24]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to reduce the unacceptable divergence in the rates of subvention made to private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2051/24]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when grant aid will be approved for smaller scale nursing homes to carry out upgrading work following the recommendations of HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2050/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proposals if any there are to increase capacity and availability of courses in digital forensics, in view of the threats to society posed by the proliferation of misinformation through social media platforms and the need to tackle such abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2089/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the proposed building project for Cavan Institute will proceed to the next stage in 2024; the expected timescale for delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total funding provided in 2023 for the non-national road network; the specific allocations made to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council; if he will ensure that increased funding will be provided for this road network in 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the widespread concern of farmers to recent changes in VAT refunds on dairy equipment and mobile farm equipment which will prevent in many instances necessary investment in farm facilities and cause additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2290/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Brendan Smith

178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give detailed consideration to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) concerning increased costs for small businesses; the measures that will be implemented to ease such pressures on small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2300/24]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

222. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the schemes under the remit of his Department to assist in restoring vacant and derelict buildings to habitable use for housing purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2301/24]

Public Transport

Brendan Smith

286. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if further consideration will be given to the provision of support for hackney services in rural communities in counties Cavan and Monaghan where it is not feasible to have a bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1583/24]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

692. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, there are to award funding to more primary schools under the STEM grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2094/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

1296. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up to date position regarding the issue of payments under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2095/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval will issue in respect of TAMS applications relating to animal welfare-related investments and the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55733/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue in respect of TAMS applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55732/23]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

87. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale preschool accommodation and the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation, as there is a need to increase substantially the level of grant aid to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55734/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brendan Smith

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is proposed to increase capital investment in the early learning and childcare sector for 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55735/23]

Telecommunications Services

Brendan Smith

179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the widespread concerns in relation to inadequate mobile phone coverage in parts of County Cavan and County Monaghan; if there is an obligation on mobile telephony providers to ensure proper and adequate coverage in all areas; if this issue will be addressed by his Department or by agencies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56174/23]

Local Authorities

Brendan Smith

201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will give further consideration to the issues raised in a motion passed by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56079/23]

Local Authorities

Brendan Smith

202. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will have further consideration given to the issues raised in a motion passed by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56082/23]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 9 November 2023, if he will ensure that submissions by local authorities to his Department (details supplied) will be approved at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56136/23]

Rental Sector

Brendan Smith

227. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the unfair decision to exclude parents of students studying outside this jurisdiction from the rental tax credit, as this and other measures were introduced to ease the cost-of-living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56188/23]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

291. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the expected timeline for the completion of the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56157/23]

Social Media

Brendan Smith

305. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional measures that will be introduced to deal with the spread of misinformation on social media platforms; if she is satisfied that legislation enacted both at national and EU level is adequate to ban the incitement of hatred on such platforms and ensure proper protection of the public, and particularly children, from harm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56125/23]

Grant Payments

Brendan Smith

444. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the widespread concerns of farmers regarding delays in the issue of some ACRES payments; if a partial payment can be issued for those applicants pending processing and finalising of all applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56096/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Smith

526. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will introduce to improve cross-Border mobility for students in further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56158/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

527. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the unfair decision to exclude students studying outside this State from the €1,000 reduction in student contribution fees which was introduced to support households to ease the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56201/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Smith

528. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in view of the need to promote more cross-Border mobility for further and higher education students, he will ensure that students studying outside this State are entitled to the same State assistance as students in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56206/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly, Executive and North-South Ministerial Council restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55785/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Brendan Smith

68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to make much-needed amendments to the primary medical certificate eligibility criteria as many persons whom this scheme was intended to benefit are unable at present to get approval to avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55651/23]