Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Schemes

Jackie Cahill

477. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on her efforts to extend the free travel pass to people with epilepsy who cannot drive due to their condition; when she hopes to bring this into action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54771/23]

General Practitioner Services

Jackie Cahill

760. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if it is possible for a person on a GP visit card to be assigned to another GP practice locally, in circumstances where they wish to change GPs but other GPs in the area are stating that they do not have spare capacity to take a patient on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54550/23]

Third Level Costs

Jackie Cahill

874. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the recently announced reduction in student fees for the 2023-2024 academic year applies to a student who is paying full fees while undertaking a second level 8 degree, having already attained a level 8 degree; if this fee reduction applies to an individual undertaking a level 9 Masters Degree who is not in receipt of SUSI supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54932/23]

Septic Tanks

Jackie Cahill

51. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the increase in septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53930/23]

Local Authorities

Jackie Cahill

70. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals for strategic ten-year development plans for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53931/23]

Road Safety

Jackie Cahill

169. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to introduce legislation to make it mandatory for the users of e-scooters to wear helmets and protective gear while operating the vehicles on public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54335/23]

Tax Reliefs

Jackie Cahill

182. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance if an individual who has agreed to purchase farm land, and who has the contracts signed in December 2023, but with a sale that will close in January 2024, still qualifies for 2023 agricultural relief based on the fact that they have an agreement in place in December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54338/23]

Industrial Disputes

Jackie Cahill

243. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on her efforts to close the 15% pay gap between Tús and CE supervisors (details supplied); the reason the Principal Officer in her Department working on this did not recently meet with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as planned; if Tús supervisors will receive the update promised to them on 8 December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54294/23]

Animal Culls

Jackie Cahill

300. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to introduce a nationwide cull of American mink as part of the recently announced alien species management plan; if local conservation and angling groups will be asked for submissions on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53254/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

324. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 9 November 2023, the reason the bounty on mink to protect ground nesting birds between 2012 and 2015 is no longer in operation; the reason it was not extended beyond 2015; what findings informed the decision to cease this policy and scheme; the proof he has that this scheme was successful or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53677/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

325. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many mink are currently in the wild in Ireland; if action is not taken to cull mink numbers, how many mink will be wild in Ireland in 2030, 2035 and 2040, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53678/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

326. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the number of mink in Ireland is growing exponentially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53679/23]

An Garda Síochána

Jackie Cahill

409. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if all operational gardaí are currently recertified or qualified to use batons, handcuffs and incapacitant spray, if they meet a public order situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53746/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

427. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what bio-security measures are currently in place to appropriately assess imported timber given the current risk posed by the great spruce bark beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53285/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

428. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of the current threat posed by the great spruce bark beetle, if his Department is of the view that the facilities and biosecurity measures are currently in place for the assessment and quality control of timber when imported are sufficient; if the Department has any plans to re-assess or change these measures to appropriately address this threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53286/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

429. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if every timber shipment imported is examined to ensure it is of the highest quality and it does not pose a biosecurity risk; how timber imports are examined - by visual assessment or by x-ray; if shipments are actively being checked for the great spruce bark beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53287/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

430. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has any plans to liaise with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland to co-ordinate an all-island approach with regard to measures taken to prevent the importation of the great spruce bark beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53288/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

431. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the discovery of the great spruce bark beetle in Scotland, if there is any co-ordination between the Department and the relevant Scottish authorities to ensure the great spruce bark beetle is not present in timber shipments coming to Ireland; if there is any certification or authentication process verifying that the beetle is not present in timber shipments coming from Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53289/23]

Flood Risk Management

Jackie Cahill

448. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) was excluded from the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53772/23]

Nursing Homes

Jackie Cahill

607. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health how the fair deal scheme applies in the case of joint tenancy of a farm of land; if the annual cap can be applied to the land when it is owned in joint tenancy and where the surviving joint tenant cannot be considered as a ‘successor’ when they will not strictly be inheriting the land, but rather assuming full ownership through the principles of joint tenancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53773/23]

EU Meetings

Jackie Cahill

154. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on his attendance at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50241/23]

Trade Sanctions

Jackie Cahill

180. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what action Ireland is taking with European partners in relation to further strengthening sanctions on Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50240/23]

Childcare Services

Jackie Cahill

454. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the major bureaucratic hurdles facing childcare providers in Ireland, particularly in relation to the need to produce two separate sets of accounts for both TUSLA and POBAL in order to avail of core funding (details supplied); if he is aware that many accountants are refusing to complete these accounts for childcare providers due to their unnecessary complexities; how he intends to reduce the bureaucratic burden on childcare providers so that they can focus on the job they are trained to do and are exceptionally good at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52934/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

109. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many staff are employed at Irish ports to examine imported timber for bark beetles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52593/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

110. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what percentage of timber being imported into Ireland is being examined for bark beetles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52594/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

111. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of timber imported into Ireland to date in 2023, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52595/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

112. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if timber being imported into Northern Ireland is being checked for bark beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52596/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Jackie Cahill

115. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if slurry bags are eligible for TAMS grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52687/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Jackie Cahill

86. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when an application for a foreign birth registration will be processed; when the applicant can expect a decision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51868/23]

Work Permits

Jackie Cahill

245. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 28 September 2023, if the review into occupation lists for employment permits for non-Irish/EEA nationals has been completed; if he can provide a breakdown of the occupations on the list; how many permits are being allocated to each occupation; if there will be an increase in the number of work rider permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52044/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Jackie Cahill

290. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if an individual who sat their Leaving Certificate in 2014 and received a C3 in Gaeilge would be permitted to undertake the primary school teaching degree with a college (details supplied) considering that in 2014, a C3 in Gaeilge was the requirement to study primary teaching, but that grade has now increased to a minimum C2; if the fact the individual received the necessary grade at the time of their Leaving Certificate will still qualify them to proceed with their training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52524/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Jackie Cahill

291. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if the Teaching Council recognises the International Postgraduate Certificate in Education with International Qualified Teacher Status through Coventry University, England to allow an individual to obtain primary teaching status in Ireland; whether the Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge or An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge would be required to receive primary teaching status in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52526/23]

Departmental Funding

Jackie Cahill

365. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection when the 27 Ability Programmes nationwide will be informed of their funding allocations for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52108/23]

Nitrates Usage

Jackie Cahill

452. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is no tiered system in relation to the spreading of nitrates on land (details supplied); if he will address this matter in order that farmers stocked at 125kg/hectare do not face such a cliff edge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52261/23]

Departmental Policies

Jackie Cahill

465. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the exception to fencing upland hill land is still the same in 2023 considering the guide to land eligibility 2015 states that uplands are exempted, provided they are farmed in the traditional manner, but the 2023 guide does not state this as clearly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52540/23]

Industrial Development

Jackie Cahill

28. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what additional funding is being provided in 2024 to the IDA regional property programme development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51400/23]

Regional Development

Jackie Cahill

39. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how Budget 2024 is supporting regional enterprise development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51399/23]

Civil Service

Jackie Cahill

192. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 17 October 2023, if the new civil service arbitration board has yet been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51707/23]

Office of Public Works

Jackie Cahill

187. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the modular unit developments for Ukrainian accommodation in Charleville, Mahon and Thurles, were tendered for by the OPW; if so, how many tenders were received for each development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51022/23]

Departmental Policies

Jackie Cahill

206. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the requirements for dormant clubs when filing their annual returns to the Companies Registration Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50743/23]

Departmental Policies

Jackie Cahill

373. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the circumstances in which a person's name will be removed from the bankruptcy register; if a process is being considered by which a person could apply to have their name removed from the register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50875/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Jackie Cahill

395. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an applicant must have filed BPS for 2022 in order to qualify for ACRES (details supplied); if he will consider amending this condition for ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50679/23]

Health Services Staff

Jackie Cahill

565. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if re-consideration will be given to PSRP eligibility to include day service Section 39 staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51021/23]

Septic Tanks

Jackie Cahill

161. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in relation to grants for septic tank improvements, he plans to increase the numbers of inspections available nationwide, in order that those who need an inspection can get one to avail of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50357/23]

Septic Tanks

Jackie Cahill

162. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the areas in Tipperary that are covered for grants for septic tanks; if he intends to increase the areas mapped to allow a larger geographical area to avail of the grants in order to ensure the grants have a full impact in terms of environmental protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50358/23]

Waste Management

Jackie Cahill

29. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an allocation of funding has been made to Waterford County Council for the clean-up of plastic on a property (details supplied); how much funding was allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50108/23]

Road Projects

Jackie Cahill

38. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if the failure to allocate funds in Budget 2024 for the next phase of the N24 means the route selection will not now proceed as planned this year, as the next phase is not funded; if an interview given by him on 22 October 2023 where he prioritised town by-passes over new roads means the project is now scrapped; the implications of this "by-passes policy" for Clonmel and route selection there; if, given the N24 Preferred Transport Solution was scheduled to be put on public display in Q4 of 2023, that is now deferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50041/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Jackie Cahill

147. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if persons (details supplied) can be provided with an assessment for a primary medical certificate on a certain date; when the next round of assessments are taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50133/23]

State Assets

Jackie Cahill

132. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance if he would consider extending the duration of loans from the SBCI to ten years for certain categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49925/23]

International Protection

Jackie Cahill

334. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice how many international protection applicants were received and how many were approved during all of 2022; how many were processed and how many were approved from the beginning of 2023 to 7 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49483/23]