Parliamentary questions

Human Rights

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

92. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the Iraqi authorities regarding the illegal detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied) and anti-corruption advocate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10383/24]

School Curriculum

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

258. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will instigate a full review of the school's wellbeing curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9936/24]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

331. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she could ensure that a school (details supplied) which is losing an SET teacher is included in the review process, and if she will restore complex needs as a requirement in allocating teachers. [10715/24]

Brexit Supports

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

376. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will work with the FAI to apply for Brexit adjustment funding from the EU in view of the radical effect Brexit has had on the development path for Irish football. [10790/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

2. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the introduction of mandatory 51-week leases by private student accommodation providers; the actions he intends to take on these leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9077/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

11. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on his Department's work on the borrowing framework for technological universities; the proposed timeline for when such a framework will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9079/24]

Education and Training Provision

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

16. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on the Departmental subgroup on education in prisons that was proposed to be established; if it has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8220/24]

Departmental Reviews

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

22. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the review of the status of PhD researchers, that is, their classification as either students or employees, will be published. [9078/24]

Third Level Costs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

28. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the increases to the PhD stipend that he announced as part of budget 2024 will be operational; and when PhD researchers will see this change take place. [9080/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

582. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place a scheme for healthcare professionals suffering from ongoing complications from Covid-19 contracted in the course of their work during the pandemic to replace the special leave with pay scheme that is due to end on 31 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9134/24]

Prison Service

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

10. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if there are figures on prison capacity and overcrowding over the past 12 months. [8221/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

15. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if the opening of the new divisional headquarters at Northern Cross will result in the closure of Coolock Garda station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8219/24]

Drug Dealing

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

16. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown by age of people who have been given a ten-year mandatory sentence for drugs issues over the past decade. [8222/24]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

282. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will review Circular 0041/2014 to allow SNAs such as a person (details supplied) who are qualified to teach as substitute teachers and are working part-time or job sharing, to work as substitute teachers and bring them in line with the treatment of teachers under Info Note TC 0017/2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7646/24]

Housing Schemes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

235. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that a single person earning €57,000 gross , or €41,500 net, does not qualify for a one bed unit in a Land Development Agency cost rental scheme and yet is also excluded from social tenancy given the €40,000 income threshold; and the action he will take to remediate the situation. [7210/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

224. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps his Department has taken to prevent the practice of full year compulsory lease lengths being imposed on students by private student accommodation providers in Dublin and Cork, such as a company (details supplied) that owns 11 properties nationally and is offering students leases that are 52 weeks long. [7061/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

225. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) is reporting that students in private accommodation fear availing of their rights under the legislation for student specific accommodation as they fear the risk of not having their lease renewed at the beginning of the subsequent academic year; and what measures his Department can take to address those concerns. [7062/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

334. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science hat steps his Department has taken to prevent the practice of full year compulsory lease lengths being imposed on students by private student accommodation providers in Dublin and Cork, such as a company (details supplied) that owns 11 properties nationally and is offering students leases that are 52 weeks long. [7149/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

335. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) is reporting that students in private accommodation fear availing of their rights under the legislation for student specific accommodation as they fear the risk of not having their lease renewed at the beginning of the subsequent academic year; and what measures his Department can take to address those concerns [7150/24]

Student Accommodation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

336. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how his Department will ensure the enforceability of the definition for ‘student accommodation’, as provided for in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended by the Residential Tenancies Act 2019 (details supplied). [7151/24]

Irish Language

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

69. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will conduct an investigation into the steep rise in exemptions from the study of Irish at primary and post-primary level to assess the learning necessity for those exemptions and develop strategies to minimise the number of and necessity for exemptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6266/24]

State Examinations

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

103. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that leaving certificate results will be available in time to allow first year third level students start college at the same time as others and if she can provide a date now. [6263/24]

School Transport

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

112. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will pilot a school transport for all policy for 12 months in the south east ward of Cork city that would provide pupils with access to a bus service or bicycles in an effort to encourage the over 5,900 children currently travelling by car to change mode of transport and if she will report on the success of the pilot. [6264/24]

School Enrolments

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

127. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of children in the greater Dublin area are currently without a second level place or are on long lists for admission to a second level schools place; what measures are being taken to address the issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6262/24]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

128. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if schools planning to open a special class in September 2024 can be provided access to training for staff before the classes open in September, in order to prevent classes having to lose teachers on those training days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6265/24]

Environmental Schemes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

166. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for the SEAI warmer homes scheme on foot of the issuance of the energy efficiency guidance to support upgrading of older traditional buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6203/24]

School Meals Programme

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

442. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a school (details supplied) will be assessed for a late application and included in the hot school meals programme in April which would rectify an administrative error due to extenuating circumstances. [6267/24]

School Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

197. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to set out the number of substitutable primary teacher absences overall, and on a county by county basis, which were not covered by a substitute teacher and those that were covered by an unregistered person, between 1 September 2023 and 31 January 2024. [5281/24]

Residency Permits

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

330. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to increase the 12 month extension period to the residence permission for graduates with a level 8 qualification under the third level graduate scheme; if he has considered increasing it to 18 months and to 24 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5103/24]

Residency Permits

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

331. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the reason graduates outside of Dublin cannot apply online for the 12-month extension period to their residence permission while graduates in Dublin can do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5104/24]

Residency Permits

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

332. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if there are plans to increase the maximum limit of seven years for permission to remain in Ireland under the third-level graduate scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5105/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

446. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the final additional information for preschools regarding the submission of core funding finance requirements and programme income which needs to be submitted will be available from his Department to allow preschools to file in accordance with the guidelines issued on 22 December 2023 and in time for the filing deadline of the 22 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/24]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

578. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what efforts are being made by his Department to increase the number of professionals providing services for autism and special needs children; and how many college places have been made available in each of the past five years for students wishing to qualify as speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and specialist child psychologists in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4989/24]

Citizens' Assembly

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

122. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Taoiseach when the Government will bring a resolution to Dáil Éireann on the terms of reference for the Citizens' Assembly on the Future of Education. [4139/24]

School Staff

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

252. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans to reintroduce the teaching through Irish allowance for teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3647/24]

Education Policy

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

290. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what the appeals process is for an administrative error resulting in the incorrect categorisation of a teacher's fee fund application resulting in a significant financial loss as happened in a case of a teacher (details supplied); and if her Department could make inquiries to help rectify the issue. [4231/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

422. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by division in each of the years 2018 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [4135/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

423. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the number of new recruits to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2018 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of retirements from An Garda Síochána in the corresponding timeframe; and the number of resignations from An Garda Síochána. [4136/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

424. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the overall allocation to drugs units in each county in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [4137/24]

Disability Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

503. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health what if any transport support schemes are available to disabled patients such as a person (details supplied) who attend the National Rehabilitation centre in Dun Laoghaire for rehabilitation. [3729/24]

Technological Universities

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

576. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on his Department's work on the borrowing framework for technological universities; if there is a proposed timeline for when such a framework would be published; if he recognises the disadvantage that the inability to borrow places on technological universities compared with traditional universities in respect of borrowing for the provision of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3651/24]

Peace Commissioners

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

158. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if applications to become a justice of the peace can be accepted by email or if there is an online mechanism for application; and if her Department will consider one if not already in place. [3103/24]

An Garda Síochána

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

258. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the final numbers for recruitment, resignations and retirements in An Garda Síochána for 2023. [2283/24]

Departmental Schemes

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

104. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are any protections for deposits placed by customers with participants in schemes supported by the SEAI for solar energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

377. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the concerns expressed by an organisation (details supplied) of a threat to a discontinuation of a pay/pension parity between retired members and serving gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56393/23]

Energy Usage

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

482. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and second level schools that are dependent on fossil fuels for their heating requirements; and his Department’s plans to make the Irish school system fossil fuel free. [56531/23]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

483. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD and special school spaces at primary school level and at secondary school level, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56532/23]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

484. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD and special school spaces by primary school level and by secondary school level in Dublin, by post code, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56533/23]

Special Educational Needs

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

529. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education what mechanism can be used to ensure that pupils such as a pupil (details supplied) moving from a junior national school to a senior national school can be assured of maintaining the same level of SNA support after the move. [57124/23]

Building Energy Rating

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

595. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the BER ratings of publicly funded primary and secondary schools in Ireland respectively; when the last audit of the energy efficiency of school buildings was taken; how much funding has been allocated in each year since 2016 for specific retrofitting of existing schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1114/24]