Parliamentary questions

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

30. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if, in the interest of transparency, he will refer any desired or proposed changes to the triple lock to the people in a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22149/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

31. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department will increase financial support to the charities supporting veterans and former members of the Defence Forces; if the State, through the forces themselves, will develop its own outreach, care and liaison services for former members who have served the State proudly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22150/24]

Disability Services

Réada Cronin

237. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the policy and procedures extant to guarantee continuity of service and care in the time when a child leaves primary care services and moves to within the remit of the children's disability network team, in order that this is as seamless as possible without closure of discharge involving services; if there is no such policy, if he will introduce one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/24]

Health Services

Réada Cronin

128. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he can examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21980/24]

Middle East

Réada Cronin

53. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the latest worrying statements by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Israel Defense Forces, IDF, action in Rafah will speed up Ireland’s recognition of the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20882/24]

Middle East

Réada Cronin

113. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the distinct actions his Department is taking to ensure the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill 2018, given the all-out slaughter taking place in Gaza, the harassment and assassination of Palestinians by settlers, the raids by security forces on communities across the occupied West Bank and the blocking of medical services for critically-injured people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20883/24]

Defective Building Materials

Réada Cronin

207. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes will be operational, given the scheme was announced in 2023 to be implemented by the Housing Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21032/24]

Middle East

Réada Cronin

136. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Transport if he will allow the use of Ireland's flag for the freedom flotilla carrying aid to Gaza; an urgent and practical measure which would have an immediate humanitarian impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20675/24]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Réada Cronin

281. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue a compulsory purchase order for the lands at Castletown House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/24]

Primary Care Centres

Réada Cronin

627. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health to outline any future plans for Maynooth Health Centre in Leinster Street; what plans are in place for a primary care/health centre unit in Maynooth suitable for the needs and expectations of the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20808/24]

Primary Care Services

Réada Cronin

628. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to amalgamate the Maynooth and Leixlip health services; and if so, if these services will be located in Leixlip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20809/24]

Recycling Policy

Réada Cronin

115. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider attaching 'donor' or 'gift rings' to current public waste bins in order that people can leave their can or bottle for somebody else in the community to recycle and so claim the deposit (as is operational in parts of the Netherlands in the Doneerringen scheme); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19937/24]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Réada Cronin

162. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19989/24]

Health Services

Réada Cronin

260. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if a test for neurofibromatosis specifically can be added to the newborn screening system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19932/24]

Vaccination Programme

Réada Cronin

261. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if the BCG vaccine is part of the current vaccination programme for infants; if it is not, if he will re-introduce it, given the rise in TB globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19933/24]

Vaccination Programme

Réada Cronin

262. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department will begin a public information campaign to advise people on how best to protect themselves from airborne infection with SARSCoV2 given the impact of long-Covid on those who develop it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Réada Cronin

263. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will, or is already, liaising with the Ministers for Finance, Social Protection and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, in examining the impact of long-Covid on public health quality and services, on the public finances, the labour force and therefore the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19935/24]

Disease Management

Réada Cronin

264. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will, or is already, liaising with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on current/future surveillance and preparation for a possible bird flu outbreak in livestock and for physical protections and testing for workers and produce in the dairy and related industries in the event of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19936/24]

Health Services

Réada Cronin

294. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health when families and service users in North Kildare will have access to details of the SIA report in the matter of delivery of services and arrangements re HSE/St. John of God; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20034/24]

Third Level Education

Réada Cronin

319. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will financially assist each Erasmus student to travel to their mainland European destination university by ferry and train (as opposed to by air which is often cheaper and incentivised); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19938/24]

Further and Higher Education

Réada Cronin

322. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19990/24]

Banking Sector

Réada Cronin

152. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Finance if he will instruct the banks, and in particular banks previously bailed out by the citizens, to make it their policy - not ‘an exception’ - that cash be accepted at teller desks for lodgement to personal accounts, without customers being requested to do so by machine and card, this being critical for people who are not tech-savvy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18574/24]

Schools Building Projects

Réada Cronin

208. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education when construction of a permanent building will begin for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18670/24]

Animal Welfare

Réada Cronin

264. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the State will instigate/increase funding for animal refuges and rescues that are facing spiralling admissions due to a serious increase in the surrender of pets because of the housing crisis and emigration, the abandonment of companion animals due to the cost of living, the extreme and ongoing neglect of horses and the huge costs to those same refuges in facilities, vet services, pet food and hay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18613/24]

Health Services

Réada Cronin

669. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that, currently, Ireland screens newborn babies for fewer diseases than 75% of EU countries; if he is also aware that since the establishment of the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee in 2019, only one new test has been delivered in the intervening years; if he will agree to a comprehensive newborn screening programme that is adequately resourced and ensures that babies born here are screened for the EU average of 18 conditions at a minimum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17952/24]

Schools Building Projects

Réada Cronin

84. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education to provide a detailed update on the situation in relation to the new schools (details supplied). [16268/24]

School Enrolments

Réada Cronin

110. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education her Department’s precise plans to guarantee a secondary school place for each child in the north Kildare area, not only in first year in September 2024, but in second year given the forced reliance of some children on home tuition and of boarding on others in the current school year (first year), with a negative impact on the child and family in all such cases due to oversubscription locally. [16267/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

183. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will undertake an audit of each year in the past ten years in the matter of the reported training of Libyan militia by serving and/or former Irish Defence Forces personnel; if he will publish the results of such an audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16056/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Réada Cronin

114. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she can clarify the situation and operation of the professional masters in education incentive scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15891/24]

Middle East

Réada Cronin

54. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times he has summoned the Israeli ambassador since 7 October 2023; the dates of each request and attendance at same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15360/24]

Middle East

Réada Cronin

55. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he summoned the Israeli ambassador in the matter of the IDF killing of international aid workers last week; if so, if she attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15361/24]

Middle East

Réada Cronin

137. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether the RTI unit has examined, and is satisfied, that member-based organisations and/or companies, either Irish or multi-national Irish based, with which it confers, consults or liaises on matters of defence and security, have no financial or other material interest in Israeli companies, companies in the OPT, or engage in activities beneficial to or related to the IDF or any other Israeli military or security operations, given Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza that fit the definition of Torture, War Crimes and Ethnic Cleansing, with ‘Plausible Genocide’ under active consideration by the ICJ. [13852/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

138. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether the self-styled Irish Defence and Security Association is receiving State funding, either directly as an organisation or through its membership companies; whether his Department and/or the Defence Forces themselves are satisfied that it is appropriate for any organisation or association that is not under the strict aegis of Ireland’s Minister for Defence and the Defence Forces themselves, to operate under a title and logo that could be mistaken for an official Irish authority in the critical and sensitive matters of the State’s security and defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13853/24]

Naval Service

Réada Cronin

139. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether a feasibility study has been done on using the LÉ Eithne for cultural and educational purposes; if so, if he will publish the findings of that study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13854/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

140. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women currently serving in the Defence Forces and have served in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13855/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Réada Cronin

141. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many members of the Defence Forces are currently on sick leave due to long-Covid; the number in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13856/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

142. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the Fire Station at the Curragh Camp [13857/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

143. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether foreign-language learning is available and/or prioritised in the Defence Forces across all ranks and disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13858/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

144. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how the increase in the raising of the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces to 60 years is expected to impact on retention of personnel in the coming five years; if he will publish any research undertaken on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13859/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

145. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether he will support the desire of the Oversight Group to exercise maximum independence and authority in all its business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/24]

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

168. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department is investigating media reports that former members of the Defence Forces, including those of the ranger elite corps, have been undertaking training of personnel belonging to the so-called "Libyan National Army" under General Haftar, such group being opposed to the UN-recognised leadership; if he will publish the findings of that investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15357/24]

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

169. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what actions he is taking to assess whether the reported training in Libya by former members of the Irish Defence Forces of a military group opposed to the UN-recognised leadership of the country, is in breach of the UN arms embargo and EU restrictions on Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15358/24]

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

170. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will ban private or commercial organisations involved in, or associated with, international security advice, weaponry or military training using the words Irish or Ireland in their business or company titles, such use being open to misinterpretation as pertaining to some official role in, or connection with the State and its offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15359/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

337. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether he is satisfied that the organisation is moving with all necessary alacrity on the unification of the lands at Castletown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13880/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

353. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the rationale behind denial of access to Castletown Demesne for 17 out of 24 hours extended gate closures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14610/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

354. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if it is the case that staff have not remained at the gate Castletown Demesne to allow people to exit past 16.30, therefore denying them safe exit, with public forced to lift buggies, bikes, scooters, mobility aids, dogs over fences, this having a serious impact on people with mobility issues and additional physical needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14611/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

355. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the local emergency services were informed in advance of the changed opening hours to the Castletown Demesne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14612/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

356. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if all efforts are being made by the OPW to respond to the community in a way that reflects the particular sensitivity, emotion and psychological value to and within that community of all matters involving and pertaining to Castletown Demesne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14613/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

357. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline any new decisions or approaches to the summertime opening of and access to the Castletown Demesne; whether any new decisions or arrangements will be notified appropriately, widely and with optimum timing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14614/24]

Departmental Properties

Réada Cronin

358. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the speed limit on Lime Avenue on 30 September 2023 on the approach through Castletown housing estate and through the historic famine gates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14623/24]