Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Diaspora Issues

Brendan Howlin

53. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide the details of the various programmes for supporting the diaspora; the funding committed to each in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36438/23]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

54. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure the urgent processing of a passport card for a person (details supplied) by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36439/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the capital allocations in 2023 for the Defence Forces; the breakdown, by project, of expenditure that has been or will be incurred in 2023; the projected capital budget in 2024; when the Equipment Development Plan was last updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36260/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

158. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline what progress has been made on the procurement of ground-based air defence radar; when he expects a tender to be made; the projected cost of the project; if this project will be separated to the requirement for primary radar capability; to outline specifically what progress has been made in 2023 in exploring how to develop same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36261/23]

Naval Service

Brendan Howlin

159. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline what progress has been made on the procurement of multi-beam sonar-echo sounder for the P60 class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36262/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

160. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the lance corporal rank will be introduced in the Army and Air Corps; the projected cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36263/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

161. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what progress has been made on the introduction of new long service increments to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel; the projected cost of introducing a new long service increment to each rank in the Defence Forces including enlisted ranks and private 3 star or able seamen; the current number of LSIs available, by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36264/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

162. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount allocated in budget 2023 for the provision of private medical care for Defence Forces personnel; what progress has been made in delivering on the commitment made in May 2023; when personnel will be able to avail of the scheme; what additional allocation will be required in 2024; the full-year projected cost of the scheme; if additional medical personnel are required in the Defence Forces to deliver on this commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36265/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

163. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the progress made on implementing the working time directive in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36266/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

164. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what progress has been to address mandatory retirement ages for post-1994 personnel in the interdepartmental working group; the projected cost of increasing the retirement age to 55 years for privates, corporals and sergeants and 60 years for NCO ranks above that, if they meet all other required criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36267/23]

Naval Service

Brendan Howlin

165. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the additional projected cost of providing a Naval Service patrol duty allowance of €100 per day that merges the current allowances and tax credit into one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36268/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

166. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when Defence Forces regulation C.S.4 was last updated; when he next expects to update it; what progress has been made to ensure this is more flexible and subject to regular revision to reflect changes and reforms within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36269/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

167. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what progress has been made on implementing the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces' recommendation for the introduction of a mechanism to provide for ongoing review of the application of existing specialist pay rates and allowances to groups and categories of military personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36270/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

168. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure members of the Defence Forces can more easily obtain specialist techpay in recognition of their qualifications and roles; his plans to ensure this is addressed to improve retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36272/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Howlin

169. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if backdated payments have now commenced to the members of the Army Ranger Wing; how much in total remains to be paid arising out of pay reviews in 2010 back dated to 2006 and 2014, and to how many personnel serving or retired; the current rate of special allowance; when this was awarded; if the backdated payment to October 2021 has now commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36273/23]

Military Exports

Brendan Howlin

209. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the measures he has taken to ensure that Ireland does not facilitate the transit of cluster munitions through Irish airports, ports or airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35999/23]

School Transport

Brendan Howlin

467. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that siblings (details supplied) will be provided with school transport, which is now their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36335/23]

School Transport

Brendan Howlin

472. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that siblings (details supplied) will be provided with school transport, who availed of the service in the last school term; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36512/23]

Tourism Promotion

Brendan Howlin

547. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of the threat to the future of the Celtic Routes Project, a unique tourism initiative linking counties in south east Ireland with counterparts in Wales; if she will ensure that sufficient funding is provided to continue this important project; if she has had any contact with her Welsh government colleague to discuss this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36354/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Howlin

698. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will personally intervene in a case of an overpayment of carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) whose overpayment arose because they were required to work additional hours as a nurse in the early stages of the Covid pandemic; if, in these circumstances, she will ensure that this person's appeal is allowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36140/23]