Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

1570. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments of the basic income support for sustainability will be made to applicants in 2023; if these payments will be made in the same timeframe as its predecessor the basic payment scheme in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13393/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

78. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification as to the reason farmers who have previously invested in robotic milking parlour equipment under TAMS 2 are now ineligible to apply for the support under the new TAMS 3, in view that it places these farmers at a significant disadvantage compared to their counterparts in herringbone systems who can avail of support under TAMS 3 for up to ten milking units in a herringbone milking parlour, taking into account the pressures on labour availability in the agriculture sector and the benefits of new technology on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11238/23]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

92. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing adaption grants awarded in 2022 in Cork; the total value in euros; the number of families that benefitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11787/23]

Housing Provision

Colm Burke

113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase homes that were delivered in 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of planned units for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11786/23]

National Minimum Wage

Colm Burke

42. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to granting the full minimum wage to workers from the age of 16 years, rather than an incremental approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11773/23]

Third Level Fees

Colm Burke

489. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will confirm whether a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee will be put in place for undergraduate students eligible for the free-fee scheme in the academic year 2023/2024, similar to what was introduced for these students in the academic year 2022/2023 as per Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11147/23]

Third Level Fees

Colm Burke

490. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will confirm whether consideration would be given to reducing the student contribution fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11148/23]

Road Projects

Colm Burke

49. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the level of funding allocated for roads in Cork, in particular rural roads, in light of the 2023 grant allocations from his Department for national roads, active travel and greenways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10470/23]

Road Safety

Colm Burke

63. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action his Department is taking to improve safety standards on the N20 national road from Cork to Limerick, in view of the high level of accidents on this road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10471/23]

Teacher Training

Colm Burke

229. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm if funding will be made available for student teachers in a course (details supplied) to cover the cost of their Gaeltacht fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10693/23]

School Textbooks

Colm Burke

240. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm the details of the assessment processes in place for approving children’s books to be made available in public libraries and school curriculums; if there is a forum where parents can make submissions on books already approved or to be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10694/23]

Nursing Homes

Colm Burke

293. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to a further extension of the temporary inflation payment scheme into 2023 to support private and voluntary nursing homes with energy cost increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10656/23]

Nursing Homes

Colm Burke

294. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to a further extension of the temporary assistance payment scheme into 2023 to support private and voluntary nursing homes with additional costs due to Covid-19 outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10657/23]

Vaccination Programme

Colm Burke

305. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the terms of reference given to HIQA to carry out health technology assessments related to influenza vaccines; if he will detail the proposed timelines for these assessments to be commenced and completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10751/23]

Vaccination Programme

Colm Burke

306. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps he and his officials are taking to ensure vulnerable groups including those aged over 65 years of age have the greatest level of protection for the 2023-2024 winter flu season; if he has considered NIAC’s advice to offer an enhanced influenza vaccine for this age cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10752/23]

EU Directives

Colm Burke

312. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps the Government has taken to implement the Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100 on the withdrawal of certain exemptions in respect of heated tobacco products, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 3 November 2022 and entered into force on 23 November 2022 ahead of the deadline of 23 July for the transposition of the directive into the national framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10804/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

209. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment (details supplied), approved under the basic payment scheme will be issued; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10403/23]

Environmental Schemes

Colm Burke

87. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action his Department is taking to assist SMEs to reduce carbon emissions in 2023; if further financial supports to assist SMEs is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/23]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

103. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a progress report on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in Cork from 1 January 2022 to 31 January 2023; the number of premises connected during this timeframe, including schools and broadband connection points in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9777/23]

School Enrolments

Colm Burke

351. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm that where a school (details supplied), that currently has 162 pupils on its roll, had 160 at the beginning of the school year, and where it is estimated that it will have 174 pupils in the school year commencing September 2023, it will not now lose a teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9806/23]