Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Smith

47. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proposals to intensify co-operation with the relevant departments and agencies in Northern Ireland to deal with flooding problems, such as those caused by the River Erne system in counties Cavan and Fermanagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46986/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Brendan Smith

72. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to date in finalising data on the sequestration of carbon by hedgerows to ensure the inclusion of hedgerows in the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46950/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

107. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue in respect of tranche 1 of TAMS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46951/23]

Fuel Poverty

Brendan Smith

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 28 March 2023 and the issues raised by this Deputy in the debate relating to the need to ensure all householders benefit from the forthcoming energy credits, if he will ensure the issues highlighted in that debate are addressed; that customers of certain energy suppliers should not have to seek support from community welfare officers towards energy costs and should be able to avail of the energy credit schemes announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46421/23]

School Facilities

Brendan Smith

179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if financial support is available from her Department to improve educational services at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47104/23]

Energy Prices

Brendan Smith

142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied that all household energy consumers including people availing of prepay systems will benefit from the energy credits announced in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46422/23]

Sports Funding

Brendan Smith

13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if additional funding will be provided towards the development of sports facilities in view of the increasing financial costs incurred by clubs of all sporting disciplines in providing much needed new and upgraded facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45523/23]

Sports Funding

Brendan Smith

33. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications received under the recent sports capital grant scheme; the likely timescale for processing and approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45522/23]

Education Costs

Brendan Smith

125. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that will be introduced for the 2023/2024 academic year to reduce costs for students in further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45538/23]

Education Costs

Brendan Smith

160. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fees for higher education students as announced in Budget 2024 is applied to students studying outside this State, such as Northern Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45537/23]

Departmental Data

Brendan Smith

204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education her estimate of the number of secondary students in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal that will benefit from the introduction of free school books next year; the number of primary students that are currently benefiting from free school books in each of the counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46042/23]

Departmental Data

Brendan Smith

205. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education how much the increased capitation announced in budget 2024 will be worth to schools in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46043/23]

Third Level Costs

Brendan Smith

378. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports that are available to assist apprentices through their courses of study in view of the substantial costs incurred by many apprentices in travelling and/or accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45987/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with President Biden. [43824/23]

Pharmacy Services

Brendan Smith

257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he will introduce to address the issues outlined by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45444/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if relevant data from the National Census 2022 is yet available to her Department, with particular reference to the HP Deprivation Index, to assist in determining resource allocations by her Department to tackle educational disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45052/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, there are to include more schools in the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45051/23]

Driver Test

Brendan Smith

147. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport when additional personnel will be assigned on a permanent basis to the Cavan test centre in view of ongoing delays for applicants awaiting tests at this centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45242/23]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Smith

16. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when specific additional financial supports will be introduced to assist local authorities and community development organisations in the development of enterprise centres, in view of their importance in providing workspace for start-up businesses and small enterprises and the lack of such accommodation at present in areas such as County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44465/23]

Regional Development

Brendan Smith

65. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 25 July 2023, if he will outline the details of the smart regional enterprise innovation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44466/23]

Childcare Services

Brendan Smith

200. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the difficulties facing parents in trying to access childcare for children aged 1-3; if measures will be introduced to support the recruitment and retention of staff as it is the lack of staff numbers in many facilities, with surplus accommodation, that is reducing considerably the number of children aged 1-3 that can be cared for in childcare services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44438/23]

Customs and Excise

Brendan Smith

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his views on the current effectiveness of the minimum excise duty trigger price applicable to tobacco products; the proposals, if any, there are to change this price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43915/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Brendan Smith

540. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the present rate of the minimum excise duty on cigarettes, with particular reference to public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43914/23]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

18. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on the commitment in the programme for Government to maintain the existing road network to a high standard and fund safety improvements; if he will ensure that much-needed additional funding will be provided for the non-national road network, taking into account the urgent requirement for additional investment due to the very substantial increase in costs that have arisen over the past two years in road maintenance products and construction work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43113/23]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

75. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided to Cavan and Monaghan local authorities for the non-national roadworks programme, taking into account the importance of this particular road network for both counties and the substantial increase in costs for road maintenance and construction over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43114/23]

Financial Services

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance for an update on the review of national payments strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43131/23]

Financial Services

Brendan Smith

153. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the action he is taking to ensure that cash payments continue to be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43132/23]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

310. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being implemented to address the delays in the provision of therapies for children with additional needs in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43397/23]

Mental Health Services

Brendan Smith

350. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to improve the mental health services in areas like counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43403/23]

Further and Higher Education

Brendan Smith

357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will implement to address the issues identified in the Funding The Future policy document of May 2022; if he will have the correspondence from an association (details supplied) given detailed consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43396/23]

Departmental Programmes

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach for a report on the shared island youth forum. [37572/23]

National Risk Assessment

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach for a report on the National Risk Assessment 2023, and the top strategic risks facing Ireland. [37573/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

12. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach for a report on his recent discussions with the political parties in Northern Ireland. [37714/23]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the issues raised by a national organisation concerning taxation matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42961/23]

Teacher Training

Brendan Smith

122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, to reduce the current duration of the postgraduate ITE programmes to one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43111/23]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Brendan Smith

238. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will have issues of concern to a number of organisations given detailed consideration (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42936/23]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

108. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if, in view of the lack of an Army barracks in the central border area, further consideration will be given at an early date to the reopening of Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, as an Army barracks and, in the interim, as a forward operating base as that area has a long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction, and taking into account that the presence locally of Army personnel played a very important role in the security of the State at a very difficult time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42550/23]

White Papers

Brendan Smith

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the security environment analysis arising from the White Paper on Defence will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42551/23]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

327. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when the next IT grant will be issued to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42674/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

43. 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 the Foreign Secretary concerning legacy issues, with particular reference to the totally unacceptable legacy Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41854/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next meeting of the British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/23]

Litter Pollution

Brendan Smith

99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the additional measures, if any, that will be introduced to deal with littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/23]

Litter Pollution

Brendan Smith

110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposals, if any, there are to have additional publicity programmes regarding the need to deal with the proliferation of littering problems throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41858/23]

Industrial Relations

Brendan Smith

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the concerns of a trade union in relation to the retention of jobs and terms and conditions are given detailed and urgent consideration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41951/23]

Mental Health Services

Brendan Smith

48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in recruiting additional personnel for CAMHS teams in areas such as Cavan/Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40707/23]

Addiction Treatment Services

Brendan Smith

55. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to increase the level of funding for the North-East Drug Task Force, in view of the increased demand for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40708/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

95. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in view of the particular cost-of-living pressures at present, he will ensure that additional financial support will be provided to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40698/23]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if measures are to be introduced to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees this academic year; if he will ensure that students studying outside of the State will receive such supports, as requested previously by this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/23]

International Protection

Brendan Smith

247. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the widespread concerns in relation to the proposed provision of services and the concerns of the local community, as outlined in representations to his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40886/23]

Election Monitoring Missions

Brendan Smith

54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of members of the current roster of election monitors, which is due to end in December 2023; the number of short-term observers monitoring requests sent by his Department to roster members since this roster came into effect; the number of first-time members of this roster; the number of first-time members of this roster who were accepted to serve as short-term observers on monitoring missions; the number of first-time roster members who have not been invited to serve as short-term observers, or other missions so far during this roster; the number of roster members who have served as short-term observers on two or more missions during this roster; the number of roster members who have quit the roster during its term; if he accepts that the length of this roster should have been extended by at least one year to allow for the impact of Covid-19; and his plans to amend, improve and reform the future operation of the Irish election monitoring panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38752/23]