Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

464. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, and his reply, in stating that he wants to ensure that the farmer deferential benefits farmers directly and exclusively, if other landowners recognised and registered as carrying out a farming activity in other sections of his Department are not actually recognised as farmers by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42157/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

465. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, to provide necessary documentation to show that considerations were made regarding the implications of the farmer definition as it appears in the scheme document, considering the clarifications sought by stakeholders; to confirm that his Department has not changed any of the rules on farmer definition since the launch of the scheme document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42158/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

282. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied) who has no other means of getting to school, and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41505/23]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

336. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify which functions have been delegated under legislation (details supplied); if an order is still in place; if not, when it expired and what has replaced it; if he or named persons consulted with the Commission for Public Service Appointments prior to issuing said order; if so, if there is any documentation evidencing of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41181/23]

Rights of Way

Michael Fitzmaurice

442. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the legal division within his Department will make a decision in respect of a request by a person (details supplied) in December 2021 seeking its consent and-or agreement to discharge a right of way from their folio in order to facilitate the sale of said person's lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41361/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

451. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment under the fodder scheme for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41493/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Fitzmaurice

585. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 658 of 7 March 2023, when staff from a nursing home (details supplied), which has since closed down will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41484/23]

Hospital Facilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

256. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon can now return to the admission of new patients in view of the closure of the church in the facility which has been the reason for no intake of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40814/23]

Hospital Facilities

Michael Fitzmaurice

257. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when will works commence on the upgrading of facilities at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40815/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

307. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue for two siblings (details supplied) who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40014/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

310. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied) who has no other means of getting to school, and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40029/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

311. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue for two siblings, (details supplied), who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets and have no other means of getting to school, with the bus passing their gate twice daily; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40030/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

313. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child (details supplied) who is now entering 5th year in secondary school, has always had a ticket and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40051/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

315. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education whether two siblings (details supplied) can travel together on wheelchair-accessible transport, where one child has been approved this service and the other gets the regular Bus Éireann school bus and cannot be at the bus stop at the allocated time due to their parent assisting with the other child being put into the wheelchair-accessible transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

316. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a bus will be made available for students on route F661, who have already been allocated tickets and are attending a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40058/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

318. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to a child, (details supplied) who has no other means of getting to school, and who applied and paid for their annual school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40064/23]

School Transport

Michael Fitzmaurice

353. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when tickets for school transport will issue to four families (details supplied) who have no other means of getting to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40317/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

761. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total hectares of high nature value grassland now excluded from the forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39996/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

762. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who was the qualified authority who decided the definition and area of high nature value grasslands to be removed form afforestation activity in the forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39997/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

763. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine If he will provide actual details of European forestry legislation relating to planting on peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39998/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

764. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualified authority that advised his Department on peat definition, which will be used to exclude land from commercial afforestation activity in the forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40000/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

765. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will carry out in-person training to prepare foresters for the new programme specifically regarding organo-mineral soil with a peat depth or equal to 30cm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40001/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

766. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will carry out in-person training to prepare foresters for the new programme specifically on how to identify modified fen of modified cutaway raised bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40002/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

1253. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if information technology issues are preventing the targeted agriculture modernisation schemes (TAMS) 3 applications from being processed in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1284. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to publish his licensing plan for Autumn 2023 and for the full year 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael Fitzmaurice

1285. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of people in the Forest Service of his Department employed to deliver just 52 licences during the second week of August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/23]

Hospital Equipment

Michael Fitzmaurice

1152. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he will advise which hospital has a MRI machine that is compatible with a pace-maker in order for a patient who has this fitted to have a MRI completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35899/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Fitzmaurice

1154. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 663 of 7 March 2023 and 610 of 9 May 2023, when staff from an agency (details supplied), who worked as clerical staff at Mullingar Regional Hospital, will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35901/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael Fitzmaurice

1165. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 662 of 7 March 2023, when staff from an agency (details supplied) will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35913/23]

Postal Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

135. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will approve the increase for pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33883/23]

Visa Applications

Michael Fitzmaurice

461. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice when decisions will be made in the applications for atypical visas by a nursing home (details supplied), which has applied for 35 atypical visas since 15 March 2023, and has yet to receive a decision on any of these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29708/23]

Medicinal Products

Michael Fitzmaurice

701. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the drug, sativex, will be made available for people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29595/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Fitzmaurice

168. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made in the application for foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied), who applied in February 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28454/23]

Workplace Relations Commission

Michael Fitzmaurice

441. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the WRC is no longer fit for purpose in the Government's eyes; the implication for all employees across all sectors, public and private, especially if they see Government bodies belatedly disrespecting the WRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/23]

School Curriculum

Michael Fitzmaurice

530. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the plans her Department has in place to accommodate students with learning difficulties to have the option of having two or three different levels in the Leaving Certificate examinations, having already had the option and ability to complete the Junior Certificate examinations at three different levels, in order that all students, regardless of abilities, are no longer discriminated against and can attain a Leaving Certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27570/23]

Water Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

697. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is honouring the brokered Management Transformation Framework Document delivered in June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27464/23]

Water Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

698. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the implementation of the outcome of industrial relations mechanisms through the WRC for the purposes of ensuring the smooth transition of water services to Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27465/23]

Water Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

699. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will intervene and instruct the local authorities to commit in writing that all earnings will be paid to workers who remain in their local authority after 2026, as no loss of earnings was agreed at the time by CCMA and the LGMA (local authority representatives); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27467/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Fitzmaurice

1191. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied ) who is a retiree of the HSE will receive their arrears of payment under the recent pay agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27746/23]

Departmental Funding

Michael Fitzmaurice

1354. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the technological university development fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the technological university transformation fund (TUTF) on 31 August 2023; what level funding is going to be made available under the new TUT fund; if the Technological University (TUS) who merged more recently will be treated equally with the TUS which merged earlier; if he is open to keeping in place funding for existing supports which are in place at this very important juncture in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27601/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

212. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether the recently announced croí cónaithe grant is only payable on houses that are accessible by a public road, and that it is not payable for houses not accessible onto a public road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26783/23]

Medicinal Products

Michael Fitzmaurice

192. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the drug, fenfluramine, will be funded and be made available in Ireland to a child (details supplied) for the treatment of a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26615/23]

Housing Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

187. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 757 of 18 April 2023, which to date remains unanswered, the reason for this; if he will confirm whether a person who owns a derelict house and who wishes to avail of the vacant property refurbishment grant, and as a result of the structure being damaged beyond repair, demolishes the house, is eligible to apply for the vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25537/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

173. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of recent developments pertaining to the withdrawal of several racecourses from an organisation's (details supplied) proposed media rights deal with two companies, he will review the applicability of section 10 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, due to the infringement on the exclusive property rights of racecourse owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25200/23]

Legislative Measures

Michael Fitzmaurice

174. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will amend the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 to introduce an appeals mechanism, in order to provide for independent recourse for complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25201/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Michael Fitzmaurice

522. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1061 of 21 March 2023 and 163 of 9 March 2022, when a decision will be made in the application for naturalisation for an Indian national (details supplied), married to an Irish citizen since 14 February 2010, who submitted a naturalisation application in 2020 and has, to date, not received a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24049/23]

Flood Risk Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

289. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if there are plans to reduce the water levels at Termonbarry Harbour, County Roscommon, to previous levels and have the gates re-opened for the release of water to prevent further flooding of adjacent farmlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22724/23]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Fitzmaurice

321. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when the two proposed additional classrooms and two special needs units are scheduled to commence construction at a school (details supplied) in light of the increasing number of students and, in particular, students with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22588/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Michael Fitzmaurice

495. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications awaiting decision on naturalisation whereby the application is with his Department for 3, 4, 5 and over 5 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22732/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Michael Fitzmaurice

496. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice the timescale for issuing decisions on naturalisation applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22733/23]