Parliamentary questions

Wildlife Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

51. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to initiate a national oiled wildlife response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22064/24]

Wildlife Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

52. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the support he is providing to volunteer groups to help with the effects of the recently found oiled seabirds along the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22065/24]

Corporate Governance

Jennifer Whitmore

52. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the process for the establishment of Re-Turn Ireland; the governance structures of that entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21899/24]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Jennifer Whitmore

218. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport in respect of the High Court judgement in relation to the 1951 CIÉ superannuation scheme, what measures are now in place to ensure that the benefits of the 1951 scheme for active members will be protected and maintained; when the 1951 scheme pensioners will be awarded their long-awaited pension increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21680/24]

Public Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

141. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for details of the contractual obligations of public transport companies in Ireland to provide alternative transport /replacement services during periods of planned disruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20913/24]

Dublin Bus

Jennifer Whitmore

142. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the recruitment numbers to Dublin Bus following a lengthy recruitment drive in recent years;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20914/24]

Bus Éireann

Jennifer Whitmore

143. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the recruitment numbers to Bus Éireann following a lengthy recruitment drive in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20915/24]

Bus Services

Jennifer Whitmore

144. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown of spending on bus services from 2020 to 2024, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20916/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

145. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown of spending on rail services from 2020 to 2024, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20917/24]

Cycling Facilities

Jennifer Whitmore

146. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown of spending on cycling infrastructure from 2020 to 2024, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20918/24]

Public Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

147. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of contracts tendered to private transport companies to cover routes previously covered by public transport companies from 2010 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20919/24]

Bus Services

Jennifer Whitmore

148. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the withdrawal of the 863 direct bus service between Blessington and Dublin city centre by a private operator in April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20920/24]

Public Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

149. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the NTA on providing a coastal local link bus serving towns between Arklow to Greystones in the last six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20921/24]

Departmental Policies

Jennifer Whitmore

255. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what progress his Department has made in drafting and adopting of a statutory code of conduct for preventing the wilful and deliberate harassment of basking sharks in Irish territorial waters where they are now legally protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/24]

Direct Provision System

Jennifer Whitmore

476. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will extend the exemption for those people with status and-or leave to remain in direct provision centres who have been issued transfer letters to lone parents and their children, like has been done for those who are over the age of 65 or with significant medical or welfare needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/24]

Mental Health Services

Jennifer Whitmore

644. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of long waiting list times for an initial assessment with National Counselling Services; what he is doing to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20922/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

157. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the timeline of the permanent building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19919/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

158. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the timeline of the permanent building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19919/24]

Citizenship Applications

Jennifer Whitmore

190. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the delay in issuing minor citizenship certificates; when the minor citizenship certification will be issued for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19681/24]

General Practitioner Services

Jennifer Whitmore

299. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the translation supports, if any, that are available to GP practices that do not qualify for assistance from HSE primary care or HSE social inclusion but provide service to a large cohort of Ukrainian patients. [19701/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Jennifer Whitmore

129. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the option of allowing renewable energy companies two opportunities per annum to apply for grid connection; if so, the outcomes of such a scoping exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18618/24]

Business Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide details of support offered by his Department for companies operating in the circular economy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Jennifer Whitmore

128. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the connection of high-speed broadband to Glendalough (details supplied) is facing an additional delay to July 2025; the reason for this additional delay; whether the connection of the Glendalough area can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17634/24]

Traffic Management

Jennifer Whitmore

151. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to deal with increased capacity for traffic at Bray train station in light of BusConnects proposals for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17306/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

152. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the progress of the assessment for the reopening of Avoca train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17307/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

153. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he has been informed of the allocation of new carriages coming on stream in 2024; if carriages will be allocated to Wicklow line services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17308/24]

Bus Services

Jennifer Whitmore

171. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the proposed coastal local link bus service serving towns and villages between Arklow and Greystones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17653/24]

Traffic Management

Jennifer Whitmore

183. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has any statistics on the impact that school traffic has on commuting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17973/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

285. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education what happens to parents who are unable to apply for a school transport ticket before the closing date of 26 April 2024 as their child has yet to be allocated a school place for secondary school for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17493/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

134. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Ireland accepts the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Swiss climate case; if so, whether any policy changes will arise from that determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17137/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

135. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the rationale for Ireland intervening in the recently decided European Court of Human Rights Swiss climate case; the size of the legal team involved; the associated costs of that case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17138/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

137. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what interaction he had with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in relation to Ireland's intervention in the European Court of Human Rights Swiss climate case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17139/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

138. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review the climate action plan to take into account the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Swiss climate case; his views on whether any policy changes will arise from that determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17140/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

143. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport to detail which intercity rail services will be allocated the new railcar carriages; when they will be deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17141/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

144. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport when the first 95 electric and battery-electric carriages will be deployed; what services they will be deployed to; how decisions on deployment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

145. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the electric DART service for Wicklow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17143/24]

Fire Service

Jennifer Whitmore

215. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to increase the retirement age for retained firefighters; if so, when this will be in place; what will happen to those firefighters who reach the earlier retirement age in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17136/24]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

272. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded or confirmed dates of fireblight erwinia amylovora infections detections by his Department to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17170/24]

Legislative Process

Jennifer Whitmore

6. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether the delay in publishing the marine protected areas Bill will have consequences for the State’s ability to identify potential offshore energy locations; whether that, in turn, will undermine the State’s efforts to meet its renewable targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16794/24]

Transport Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

12. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the barriers to student bodies establishing a carpooling scheme for travel to a university campus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16797/24]

Legislative Process

Jennifer Whitmore

68. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can confirm that the marine protected areas Bill will be brought forward in April; whether the delay to date in publishing the Bill has been a technical issue; if so, if he will provide details on what that issue is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16795/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Whitmore

115. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether those with a disability from birth have the same qualifying criteria for access to speech and language therapies as those with an acquired disability; if not, if he will outline the different criteria for such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16793/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Jennifer Whitmore

116. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Inquiry has called on the Government to grant redress to residents (details supplied); if these calls are to be addressed by his Department, either through the current redress schemes or by another means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16799/24]

General Practitioner Services

Jennifer Whitmore

132. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if his Department has any responsibility for the monitoring of medical card patients' access to appointments in private GP facilities; specifically, if there is a practice of longer waiting times for patients in primary care on medical cards as opposed to for those paying full fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16796/24]

Departmental Reports

Jennifer Whitmore

172. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the timeline for completion of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16798/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

63. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on delivery of the new school build for a school (details supplied), and the planned building extensions for other schools in Greystones. [16426/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Jennifer Whitmore

81. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to endorse the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action for a referendum that would acknowledge the rights of nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11150/24]

National Broadband Plan

Jennifer Whitmore

120. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the immediate measures that are in place to ensure that the residents of Ardee, and similar communities who are awaiting fibre broadband, are not left behind in our national effort towards digital inclusivity; how he plans to hold accountable those responsible for the delivery of these services; what measures are being implemented to prevent such discrepancies in broadband access in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14760/24]

Energy Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

121. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the low-interest loans for retrofitting; when an interest rate will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14762/24]

Educational Reform

Jennifer Whitmore

511. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the reason the use of assistive technology for students is only tested for in third year for the purposes of State exams; the reason it is not granted to first years in need of the technology to learn and prepare on the three-year cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14784/24]