Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Ruairí Ó Murchú

25. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the current number of personnel in all branches of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22141/24]

Defence Forces

Ruairí Ó Murchú

39. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the arrangements in place when retired Defence Forces' personnel who are fully trained in paramedical and advanced paramedical skills while in the Defence Forces can easily move to work in the HSE or National Ambulance Service; if he is aware of any issues with the recognition of service carried out while they were serving members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22142/24]

Rail Network

Ruairí Ó Murchú

84. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the progress of the implementation of hourly cross-Border train services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22144/24]

Road Projects

Ruairí Ó Murchú

90. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the progress of the N53 project in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22143/24]

European Council

Ruairí Ó Murchú

7. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the recent special meeting of the European Council. [21523/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ruairí Ó Murchú

13. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his recent engagement with the Spanish Prime Minister, with specific regard to the recognition of a Palestinian state. [21524/24]

Climate Action Plan

Ruairí Ó Murchú

71. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress being made in local authorities to establishing climate action plans; what additional funding will be provided to councils for the implementation of these plans over their lifespan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21526/24]

Energy Conservation

Ruairí Ó Murchú

79. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress being made in the installation and promotion of communal and district heating schemes in the State; if there are targets for the number that could be installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21525/24]

Grant Payments

Ruairí Ó Murchú

363. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to increase the funds to local authorities this year or to provide additional funding this year for housing grants such as housing adaptation grants, housing grants for older people and mobility aid grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/24]

Departmental Programmes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

10. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the assessment of applications under the community services programme, administered by Pobal, to include the numbers of applications received, the numbers that were successful and whether there will be additional funding provided this year, given the volume of applications received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20864/24]

Rural Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

38. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on any engagement her Department has had with the Department of Transport and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to enhancement of the LIS allocations for counties affected by flooding, particularly Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20865/24]

British-Irish Co-operation

Ruairí Ó Murchú

57. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on his Department's interaction with the British Government on the 30 April implementation of new Brexit-related customs checks on EU goods using Britain as a land bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20538/24]

Middle East

Ruairí Ó Murchú

83. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the progress being made to recognise the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20537/24]

Departmental Programmes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

19. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach for an update on the child poverty and well-being unit. [17708/24]

Departmental Programmes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

27. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the new unit in his Department to tackle child poverty. [20535/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ruairí Ó Murchú

37. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent discussions with the First Minister and deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive. [20536/24]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Ruairí Ó Murchú

126. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of a recent High Court judgement in relation to CIÉ pensions; if he will take steps to ensure that the benefits of the 1951 scheme active members will be protected and maintained and that pension increases will now be paid to these former workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20447/24]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Ruairí Ó Murchú

127. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if he will communicate with CIÉ regarding the recent High Court judgement in relation to CIÉ pensions about the obligation to appoint CIÉ board-nominated members to the statutory CIÉ 1951 scheme pensions committee, pursuant to rule 12 of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20448/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Ruairí Ó Murchú

11. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review under way into the funding and provision of post-mastectomy products; when the review will be completed; if stakeholders, including cancer survivors and post-mastectomy product fitters, will be consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19294/24]

Departmental Funding

Ruairí Ó Murchú

19. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will consider funding an organisation (details supplied) for patient services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19293/24]

Climate Change Policy

Ruairí Ó Murchú

78. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline the targets for 2024 for the climate division of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19814/24]

Flood Risk Management

Ruairí Ó Murchú

96. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what engagement there has been between his Department and other Government departments this year in relation to the delivery of necessary flood protection schemes in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19815/24]

Third Level Education

Ruairí Ó Murchú

320. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the numbers of students expelled from courses at each technological university and institute of technology from 2020 to date; the reasons for the expulsions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19945/24]

Cabinet Committees

Ruairí Ó Murchú

12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will meet next. [17707/24]

An Garda Síochána

Ruairí Ó Murchú

11. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [15166/24]

Departmental Strategies

Ruairí Ó Murchú

106. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the recent engagement his Department has had with other Government Departments and Ministers to progress the full rollout of the autism protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19132/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Ruairí Ó Murchú

124. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken by his Department to review and improve the waiting times and outcomes for assessment of needs, the provision of therapies for children with disabilities through the CDNTs, primary care and adult services for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19131/24]

Social Welfare Offices

Ruairí Ó Murchú

17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the creation of processing hubs for community welfare and other services; whether she is aware of any administrative difficulties caused by the creation of the hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18405/24]

Disability Services

Ruairí Ó Murchú

46. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an expected launch date of the reformed reasonable accommodation fund, following the recommendations from the review of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18406/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

65. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent report completed by Teagasc and submitted to his Department about the impact on farmers following damage to their farmland as a result of recent flooding on the Cooley Peninsula in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18433/24]

Animal Diseases

Ruairí Ó Murchú

69. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any intention of revisiting the foot and mouth compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18432/24]

Health Services

Ruairí Ó Murchú

180. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the progress of the work done by the Newborn Screening Programme Advisory Committee; the number of new tests for newborns that have been approved since 2019; when further additional screening tests are planned to be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18259/24]

An Garda Síochána

Ruairí Ó Murchú

37. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí currently detailed for community policing in Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee stations, respectively, following the implementation of the new policing model in Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17703/24]

Fire Service

Ruairí Ó Murchú

61. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the necessary legislative amendments to facilitate an extension of the mandatory age of retirement for uniformed services up to the age of 62 years to include full-time and retained fire service personnel will be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17788/24]

Flood Risk Management

Ruairí Ó Murchú

68. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made to date in 2024 in relation to the CFRAM scheme for County Louth; the current timelines for the delivery of the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17789/24]

Sports Funding

Ruairí Ó Murchú

24. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on this year's sports capital grants and a timeline on when decisions will be made; if she will outline future funding plans for large-scale sports infrastructure funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16984/24]

Film Industry

Ruairí Ó Murchú

41. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the work of the stakeholders' forum, one of the recommendations of the recent report on section 481 produced by the Oireachtas budget scrutiny committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16983/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Ruairí Ó Murchú

64. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the work that is being carried out by his Department to provide supports for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16985/24]

Export Controls

Ruairí Ó Murchú

66. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the process his Department uses to assess the granting of export licences for dual-use goods to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16986/24]

Cabinet Committees

Ruairí Ó Murchú

5. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will meet next. [13013/24]

Cabinet Committees

Ruairí Ó Murchú

10. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will meet next. [16355/24]

Cabinet Committees

Ruairí Ó Murchú

12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy and investment will next meet. [13014/24]

Cabinet Committees

Ruairí Ó Murchú

17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy and investment will next meet. [15165/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ruairí Ó Murchú

27. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the 60th annual Munich Security Conference. [16356/24]

Special Educational Needs

Ruairí Ó Murchú

112. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the progress being made to open additional autism units for children for September 2024 at primary and second level in County Louth; the number of places she expects to be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16357/24]

Special Educational Needs

Ruairí Ó Murchú

115. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of the review process that is underway for any school that is not happy with its SET hours allocation; the number of reviews received and the outcome of those reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16358/24]

Grant Payments

Ruairí Ó Murchú

27. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the results and plans for implementation of the review completed by his Department on local authority adaptation grants and when the new measures contained in the review will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15164/24]

Public Sector Staff

Ruairí Ó Murchú

41. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the impending mandatory retirement of a retained firefighter in Louth (details supplied); if plans to raise the mandatory retirement age will be finalised in time to allow him to remain on working; if he will consider issuing a circular to local authorities about the raising of the retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15163/24]

Public Sector Staff

Ruairí Ó Murchú

93. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what is the timeline for raising the mandatory retirement age for retained firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15161/24]

Public Sector Staff

Ruairí Ó Murchú

94. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the impending mandatory retirement of a retained firefighter in County Louth (details supplied); if plans to raise the mandatory retirement age will be finalised in time to allow him to remain on working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15162/24]