Parliamentary questions

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

29. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent telephone discussion with Prime Minister Sunak. [16769/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussions with the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. [16770/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. [18292/24]

Middle East

Brendan Smith

113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the details of his recent visit to the Middle East; the outcome of discussions with the different groups he met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20100/24]

School Admissions

Brendan Smith

167. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if additional places will be available for the 2024/2025 school year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20054/24]

School Admissions

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if additional places will be available for the 2024/2025 school year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20054/24]

Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell

Brendan Smith

213. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when she will establish a public inquiry into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20051/24]

Official Engagements

Brendan Smith

214. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice what additional measures will be introduced to deal with persons, domiciled in Britian, illegally entering this State through transiting Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20052/24]

Official Engagements

Brendan Smith

216. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice what direct contact she has had with her counterparts in Britain and in Northern Ireland in relation to illegal migration from Britain through Northern Ireland into this State, which she referenced recently at the Oireachtas Justice Committee; the outcome of such discussions, if any; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20080/24]

Agriculture Industry

Brendan Smith

229. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the preparatory work being undertaken and the measures being implemented to ensure retention of the nitrates derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20087/24]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

304. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided directly from his Department or through the HSE to an association which provides important services for persons who have suffered ill health (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20093/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding will be provided to an association delivering services to persons with a disability (details supplied) to enable it to increase remuneration for employees to assist with recruitment and retention issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19213/24]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Brendan Smith

126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being implemented by his Department to ensure pay parity for Section 38 and Section 39 organisations’ employees that are providing services on behalf of agencies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19212/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Brendan Smith

265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the funding allocated on an annual basis for flood relief schemes to Cavan County Council from 2019 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19456/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Brendan Smith

266. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the funding allocated on an annual basis for flood relief schemes to Monaghan County Council from 2019 to 2024 inclusive and if he will; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19457/24]

Septic Tanks

Brendan Smith

397. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the grant scheme including additional designated areas to assist more householders to upgrade and-or replace septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/24]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

596. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19455/24]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be implemented to deal with difficulties that have emerged from ash dieback and the concerns about spruce bark beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position regarding the inclusion of hedgerows in the assessment of carbon sequestration for the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18426/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

292. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional support will be provided as a matter of urgency to an association to enable the resumption of essential services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18680/24]

Pension Provisions

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that detailed consideration is given to the issues outlined by an association (details supplied) and to have same resolved without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18236/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

27. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated to local authorities in 2023 to carry out essential road and bridge improvement works due to flooding problems; the funding provided for such works in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17845/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council in 2023 to carry out essential road and bridge improvement works due to difficulties caused by flooding; the funding that will be allocated to these local authorities for such works in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17846/24]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will give further consideration to an increase in capitation grants for smaller primary schools, in view of the particular financial pressures facing some schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18248/24]

Property Registration

Brendan Smith

94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that will be implemented to reduce considerable delays in processing applications through Tailte Éireann such as dealings in the former Property Registration Authority which may at times delay the provision of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18415/24]

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Brendan Smith

127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when a health impact assessment will be carried out in respect of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18239/24]

Youth Work Supports

Brendan Smith

153. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the request of a group (details supplied) in relation to the need to improve services throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18282/24]

Regulatory Bodies

Brendan Smith

203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware of the long delays in dealings with the Charities Regulator in instances where updating title to properties is under the remit of that office, such as properties being disposed of through diocesan trusts, which can result in ordinate delays in the sale and purchase of properties which are needed for domestic or commercial use; what measures will be taken to ensure that such applications are processed and finalised in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18414/24]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

18. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are adequate legislative measures to deal with the scourge of drugs, with particular need to counteract effectively the activities of large-scale drug dealers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17828/24]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

22. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the additional measures, if any, she will introduce to deal with the scourge of illegal drugs throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17829/24]

Sports Funding

Brendan Smith

13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress to date in rolling out the most recently announced sports capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16979/24]

Tourism Policy

Brendan Smith

47. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures that will be implemented to assist the tourism sector meet additional business costs through initiatives of her own Department or through the agencies under the remit of her Department and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16978/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in implementing the measures to assist businesses to meet additional costs, as announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16981/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that will be implemented to assist businesses, particularly in the hospitality and retail sectors, and also small-scale manufacturing, to meet additional costs and protect employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16980/24]

Cabinet Committees

Brendan Smith

16. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy and investment will next meet. [14157/24]

Schools Building Projects

Brendan Smith

353. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if any grant-aid is available towards improvement works at primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16617/24]

Development Contributions

Brendan Smith

37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the current temporary waiver of development contributions and the refund scheme for Uisce Éireann water and wastewater connection charges will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15719/24]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

57. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15718/24]

School Meals Programme

Brendan Smith

154. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a school will be included in a programme (details supplied) with effect from September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15805/24]

State Pensions

Brendan Smith

97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will bring forward amending legislation to address the anomaly whereby retrospective payment to pension claimants is limited to six months, even though her Department has been in possession of all the facts relating to the claimants' eligibility from the date of pension application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15712/24]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

974. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schemes available at present to compensate farmers who have suffered substantial losses due to ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14254/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

31. 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, if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, as an Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill Barracks, Cavan, as a forward operating base as that region has a long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction, and taking into account that in the past the presence locally of Army personnel played a very important role in the security of this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13122/24]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

75. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that additional funding will be provided to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council for much-needed improvement works to the non-national road network in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/24]

Road Network

Brendan Smith

90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport 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 additional funding will be provided to local authorities for the non-national road network in 2024, taking in to account the urgent requirement for additional investment due to the very substantial increase in costs that have arisen over recent years in road maintenance products and construction work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13261/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the interim report of Operation Kenova with particular reference to the actions of the British agent in the IRA which caused so many tragedies and loss of life; if he has expressed concern about the failure to pursue prosecutions for deplorable actions detailed in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13540/24]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that will be implemented to grow even further and strengthen the all-Ireland economy following the very welcome growth in cross-Border trade since 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13541/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the numbers enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces at present; the proposals, if any, to have substantial recruitment and the timescale for increasing personnel in the Army; Air Corps and Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13501/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

150. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the Report of the Commission on Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13502/24]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

151. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the programme of improvement works that will be undertaken this year at Army barracks throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13503/24]