Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if we will outline the actions taken to date to procure a primary radar capability for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29774/23]

Cybersecurity Policy

Brendan Howlin

181. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out the progress made to date in establishing a Joint Cyber Defence Command; the number of additional cyber specialists recruited to date to manage cyber defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29775/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

182. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the progress made since the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces on the development of anti-drone or counter UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29776/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

164. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28209/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

165. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application for a person (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28211/23]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Howlin

475. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if her Department has considered the urgent need to secure additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) who have been informed that they must use their school library and GP hall to accommodate classes for the next academic year; if she is aware that this school will have 12 children in their ASD classes from September who need a space to interact; if she will ensure that the additional accommodation is provided immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27066/23]

School Funding

Brendan Howlin

591. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a clear calendar of timelines in relation to the provision of ICT grants to national schools, that set out in advance the dates in which payments will issue to schools to cover the cost of ICT equipment purchased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28162/23]

Housing Schemes

Brendan Howlin

648. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will re-examine the rates of HAP payment in the light of the experience of a person (details supplied) who is struggling to pay rent of €1,150 per month and has been offered a HAP payment of €13.76 a month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27074/23]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

927. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1064 of 18 April 2023, if he will ensure that an original passport is returned to a person (details supplied) who submitted it as part of a visa application in respect of their father and which they now require urgently in order to travel for medical treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28302/23]

Home Care Packages

Brendan Howlin

1155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the refusal of a home care package for a person (details supplied) who has a variety of obvious and serious needs but is under the age of 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27472/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Howlin

1371. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the SUSI grant application case of a person (details supplied) on the basis of fairness and justice where the special rate maintenance grant payable heretofore to family members whose father was in receipt of the working family payment and who last year, through illness, was out of work and in receipt of illness benefit, which is not characterised as a long-term social welfare payment and therefore does not qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant; if he accepts that this is totally unjust; if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27933/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Brendan Howlin

134. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that a child (details supplied) will be given an assessment appointment at an early date, following commitments made in Dáil Éireann in relation to the provision of publicly funded autism assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26478/23]

Social Welfare Offices

Brendan Howlin

480. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the operation of her Department's central call centre when clients are seeking to make contact with individual social welfare offices; if she has reviewed the operation of this centre to ensure that all clients are speedily responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26366/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

383. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the two local authority housing units approved for construction at a location (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24051/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

384. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local authority housing unit approved for construction at a location (details supplied) has finished construction; if so, its completion date; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24052/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

385. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 26 local authority housing units approved for construction at a location (details supplied) have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24053/23]

State Bodies

Brendan Howlin

320. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing complement for the Marine Area Regulatory Authority, including the grade level of staff currently assigned there, the optimum number of staff expected to be recruited to the authority, and the timeline of reaching its optimum employment level; when the authority will be fully functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23721/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Howlin

438. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure an early appointment with the outpatient ENT Clinic in Waterford University Hospital for a child (details supplied) who has been told that the waiting time for an appointment is up to four years, and whose hearing is significantly disimproving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23700/23]

Care Services

Brendan Howlin

442. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the current situation concerning the new home care tender process; if he and Minister Butler have met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to address this issue; the matters that remain to be resolved in finalising the tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23737/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

444. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic payment will be paid to clerical staff who worked in the Enniscorthy vaccination centre during the pandemic who met with thousands of members of the general public as they received their vaccinations, and who were contracted by a private contractor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23740/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

424. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the nine local authority housing units approved for construction in Baile Eoghain, Gorey, County Wexford, in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22955/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

425. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ten local authority housing units approved for construction in Killeens, County Wexford, in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22956/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

426. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the eight local authority housing units approved for construction in Cherry Orchard, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22957/23]

International Protection

Brendan Howlin

483. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal on an application from a person (details supplied) who arrived in Ireland in July 2021, who is a Somali national and who has endured great hardship in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22400/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

114. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the targets set out in Appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Wexford County Council; if he will confirm whether the proposed 677 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, the number that were delivered; the final spend on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22071/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

115. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 14 AHB housing units under an association (details supplied) in July 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22072/23]

Housing Provision

Brendan Howlin

116. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 16 AHB housing units under an association (details supplied) in July 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reason for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22073/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will set out the supports available to former Defence Force personnel who find themselves in need of material support; if such supports also extend to funeral costs for family members of former Defence Force personnel; if he will set out the total amount paid out in such supports for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21046/23]

Health Services

Brendan Howlin

555. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health in relation to the representations he has received on behalf of a person (details supplied), if he or the HSE can provide assistance to this person to avail of treatment abroad which he believes would be beneficial to his health condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21057/23]

Home Care Packages

Brendan Howlin

587. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will personally intervene to ensure that a person (details supplied) is provided with home support on their discharge from hospital; if he is aware that essential surgery will not be carried out on this individual until such home support is put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21247/23]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Howlin

589. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his Department provides financial assistance to families who wish to create equipped sensory rooms in their homes for children with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Howlin

485. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the allocation made to each education and training board under the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20788/23]

School Accommodation

Brendan Howlin

266. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the severe pressure on secondary school places in Wexford town for the coming academic year; if she will set out a timeline for the construction of the new post-primary school in Wexford town (details supplied); if she will make contact with each of the post-primary schools in Wexford town to ensure the maximum possible first-year intake in September 2023 to reduce the pressure on students without a place this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20139/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

501. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1999 of 8 September 2022, if he will state clearly when those frontline staff who have to date not received a pandemic payment will receive the payment; the number of eligible staff still awaiting same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18914/23]

Health Services

Brendan Howlin

555. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that payments due under the PCRS to a medical practice (details supplied) will be paid; the reason for the long delay in making payments to this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19165/23]

Health Services

Brendan Howlin

557. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if, in light of the recent report of the Ombudsman in relation to the treatment of some applicants under the treatment abroad scheme, he will request the HSE to review a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19169/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

139. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review the passport issued to a person (details supplied) who wishes to have their full name on their Irish passport; if a new passport including their full name can be issued to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17999/23]

Fuel Sales

Brendan Howlin

270. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of a concern of the Irish biofuels sector at the implications for the industry of new regulations due to be brought into force by him; if he has had discussions with representatives of the biofuels sector, the farming sector and Irish meat processing sector in relation to these regulations; if these regulations mirror those being put in place in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16858/23]

Visa Applications

Brendan Howlin

1064. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice if he will ensure that an original passport is returned to a person (details supplied) who submitted it as part of a visa application in respect of their father and which they now require urgently in order to travel for medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16364/23]

Medical Cards

Brendan Howlin

1480. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if a HAA card has been provided to all survivors of Magdalene laundries as recommended by the report on Magdalene laundries; if survivors of the New Ross Magdalene laundry are included in this provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/23]

Education Policy

Brendan Howlin

1811. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will set out how he intends to differentiate between community education facilitators working directly in the area of community education, and other employees of education and training boards who have the title of community education facilitator but work in other areas of further education and training, having regard to Government strategy for higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/23]

Education Policy

Brendan Howlin

1812. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will set out in tabular form, the number of employees of education and training boards working directly in the area of community education; the number of employees of education and training boards with the title of community education facilitator; the number of employees of education and training boards with the title of community education facilitator who work in areas outside of community education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16735/23]

Education Policy

Brendan Howlin

1813. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the process he plans to undertake in the grade realignment of community education facilitators employed by education and training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16736/23]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Howlin

340. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the issue that has arisen in relation to healthcare assistants who came to Ireland from abroad to work in nursing homes and in hospitals who have nursing level 7 or level 8 qualifications and who are now being told that the HSE will require them to hold a level 5 qualification despite the fact that they already hold the higher level standard; if he will ensure that such persons, who are a valuable part of Ireland's healthcare support system, are not required to repeat a level of qualification below that which they already have obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16017/23]

School Accommodation

Brendan Howlin

374. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education when final sanction will be issued to a school (details supplied) to build an additional urgently needed classroom for which all documentation has been submitted to her Department, a builder on standby to commence work and full permissions from planners received; if she accepts that any delay in providing this vital classroom will have a significant impact on the school’s ability to function in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14681/23]

State Pensions

Brendan Howlin

456. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the State pension entitlement of a person (details supplied) on a total contribution approach, having regard to all their paid and credited contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15048/23]

Third Level Education

Brendan Howlin

543. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will confirm that funding under the mitigation against educational disadvantage fund will be made available this year for an important social project (details supplied); if he accepts that this project provides a valuable sports outlet and training for leaders and instructors to be self-sustaining over a period of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14702/23]

Naval Service

Brendan Howlin

12. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the recently purchased naval vessels from New Zealand will commence operation; the progress to date in obtaining a replacement flagship vessel for the L.E. Éithne; his view on the optimum number of naval vessels and naval personnel and his plans to achieve this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13682/23]

Air Corps

Brendan Howlin

21. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of functioning aircraft currently in service with the Air Corps; when additional aircraft will arrive and begin service here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

37. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total military provided accommodation available at present for Defence Forces personnel; the plans he has to extend this provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13683/23]