Parliamentary questions

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

89. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to announce further details of the proposed equal participation model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19261/24]

Parental Leave

Cathal Crowe

90. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has taken since the Government came to office to ensure family leave entitlements have been expanded, to ensure new parents have been supported and to build new entitlements to work-life balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19136/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his plans to increase childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19265/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Minister for Health on the provision of additional medical supports for communities where Ukrainians and international protection persons have arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/24]

Disability Services

Thomas Gould

94. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the return of therapists to schools in CDNT8 in Cork. [19229/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

95. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is responsible for introducing and setting the attendance-based rules for ECEC/ SAC funding schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19199/24]

Child Protection

Darren O'Rourke

96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the number of children deemed at risk who have not been allocated a social worker in County Meath in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19188/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

97. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of an increase in providers leaving the core funding model; the steps his Department is taking on this issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18852/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Cathal Crowe

98. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to reform the national childcare scheme and examine ways it can support lower-income families better; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19135/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

99. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received to the mother and baby homes institutional redress scheme; the number of applications that have been processed and payments received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19203/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Peadar Tóibín

100. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children in special emergency accommodation at the end of each of the past 52 weeks. [18649/24]

Departmental Strategies

Pauline Tully

101. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what progress has been made on compiling a register of DPOs in Ireland; when he envisages that this process will be completed; what measures will be taken to ensure all Government Departments and public bodies engage DPOs in consultation prior to the commencement of projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19214/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Aindrias Moynihan

102. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the common practice of childcare facilities charging non-refundable deposits; the engagement he has had with childcare providers to cease this practice, given the financial hardship on families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will abolish childcare fees in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19267/24]

National Cultural Institutions

Steven Matthews

104. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the advancement of the proposed National Centre for Research and Remembrance; when physical works will be carried out; what services will be provided there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19221/24]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

105. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists that have been employed in the past 24 months in Carlow and Kilkenny, respectively, for children with additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19201/24]

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]

Youth Services

David Stanton

107. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he is supporting the work of youth organisations in rural and remote communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19134/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Kathleen Funchion

108. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has taken to remove children in care in special emergency arrangements out of unsuitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19200/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

109. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in receipt of early learning and childcare subsidies under the national childcare scheme; the number of children missing out on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18952/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

110. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form that the intended 'DEIS-model' for early years services is intended to take; the progress to date there has there been on these efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18953/24]

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]

Child and Family Agency

Peadar Tóibín

112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will list the occasions upon which he has met with or corresponded with the CEO of Tusla since he took office. [18650/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

113. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his accommodation plans for international protection applicant refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19263/24]

Parental Leave

Brian Leddin

114. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a plan to expand to all employees the entitlements to flexible working and remote working contained in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19218/24]

Adoption Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

115. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on how many applications for information have been lodged with both Tusla and the Adoption Authority under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022; how many applications are outstanding beyond the statutory maximum response time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19262/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Willie O'Dea

116. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on plans to establish Childcare Ireland; what form the agency will take; the progress to date on changes to the operating model for childcare in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19138/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

117. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the review into the ECCE programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19217/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his Department's progress on achieving a 50% reduction in childcare fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/24]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

119. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on his Department's response to the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme; the status of the review by his Department, as referenced in an article (details supplied), of the findings and recommendations of the report; the progress to-date on the implementation of the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18993/24]

Departmental Strategies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

120. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the funding required to implement the Disability Action Plan; if he will outline the level of engagement his Department has had with disability advocacy groups regarding the implementation of the Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19222/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig O'Sullivan

121. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide an update on when a special school in Cork (details supplied) will receive access to therapies considering there are still no therapists in place at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19223/24]

Library Services

Willie O'Dea

122. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little book bag initiative; the number of books distributed since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19137/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Steven Matthews

123. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he will take to assist early years providers to expand their services, both in terms of capacity but also the type of service offered; what assistance he intends to provide to new services becoming established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19220/24]

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]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

125. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the community-based supports that are available to people who have acquired a disability due to stroke, heart attack or accident; the measures he is taking to increase these community-based supports for people with an acquired disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19215/24]

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]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

127. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions he is taking in the short term to deal with the significant shortfall in places for infants under the age of two; if he is aware that some early years and childcare services have very high wait lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19202/24]

Bus Services

Aindrias Moynihan

128. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Transport to ensure that all services run by Local Link Cork are wheelchair-accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19060/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

129. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department is taking to increase the number of facilities that will take children under two years and eight months in childcare to assist parents returning to work; if he acknowledges the problem this is causing professionals who wish return to key roles in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18853/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Thomas Gould

130. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that the number of children overdue an assessment of need in Cork North Lee is at its highest rate since Q1 2019. [19228/24]

Child and Family Agency

Bernard Durkan

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which Tusla can intervene in all situations where concerns have been raised regarding the health and welfare of a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19211/24]

Child and Family Agency

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children’s welfare and wellbeing is protected by Tusla in all situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19210/24]

Youth Work Supports

David Stanton

133. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he is supporting youth workers; the measures taken by his Department to attract people to pursue a career as a youth worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19133/24]

Cabinet Committees

John Lahart

134. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Migration, Integration and Ukraine will meet next. [18585/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

135. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Taoiseach the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines [18845/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

136. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Taoiseach to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19174/24]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Paul Murphy

137. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he agrees with the need to appoint a dedicated Minister for Special Education (details supplied) who can fully commit their time and efforts to addressing the complex challenges and pressing needs within this vital area of education policy; if he will ensure that a person is available to dedicate all of their time appointed to this position. [19276/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

138. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19369/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mairéad Farrell

139. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay; when a decision will issue, given that a review was expected in March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18759/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

140. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18837/24]

Diaspora Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

141. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the 30 recommendations of a report (details supplied) provided to the Government on the plight and problems of returning Irish citizen immigrants to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18868/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Catherine Murphy

142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to open an Irish Embassy in Qatar. [18907/24]

Official Engagements

Catherine Murphy

143. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to invite his Finnish counterpart to Dublin for a bilateral meeting. [18908/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

144. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to examine a passport issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18932/24]

Human Rights

Bríd Smith

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the recent report that Irish protesters were told at a pro-Palestine protest camp in Berlin that they were not allowed to speak Irish by German police; if he agrees that this is an unacceptable development and infringes a person's right to speak a language of their choice and is a dangerous precedent to set; if he will clarify if this violates any article of the European Convention on Human Rights or any other legislation; if he intends to raise this matter with his German counterpart with a view to expressing his concerns that Irish citizens were instructed not to speak their national language and under which legislation was this ordered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18937/24]

Passport Services

Ged Nash

146. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify a policy matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18940/24]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

147. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to applicants who are siblings from County Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18973/24]

Trade Sanctions

Thomas Pringle

148. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what engagement his Department has had with the United States government regarding the need to lift the embargo on Cuba, in line with the recent United Nations General Assembly Resolution 12552; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18997/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

149. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite a passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19046/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

150. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite a passport application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/24]

Middle East

Matt Carthy

151. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he sought access to Gaza ahead of his recent visit to Egypt and Jordan; the reason his itinerary did not include engaging with Palestinian officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

152. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19166/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

153. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that two child passports will be processed on-time for two siblings (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19288/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

154. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19361/24]

Human Rights

Cian O'Callaghan

155. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of Irish protesters in Berlin being reprimanded for speaking Irish by German police; if he will contact the German Ambassador regarding this failure uphold EU citizens language rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19449/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

156. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19453/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Howlin

157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined legislation introduced in France to address the issue of fast fashion; his views on whether this issue should be addressed in Ireland; if he plans to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Violet-Anne Wynne

158. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the next round of the Designated Maritime Area Plan's preparation is expected to be completed; if he will consider expediting the next round with the view to include the waters off the Shannon estuary and County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18772/24]

Environmental Schemes

Ivana Bacik

159. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the new low cost home energy upgrade loan scheme, announced on 26 October 2023, will commence in April 2024; the reason for the delay; and when the scheme will commence. [18779/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

160. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18835/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

161. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has established an inter-departmental working group or taskforce to manage the process of copper broadband switch-off; if not, whether he plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18848/24]

Energy Conservation

John Lahart

162. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for householders to avail of energy saving interventions such as attic insulation, in their homes, particularly for those who are over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/24]

Energy Conservation

John Lahart

163. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for householders to avail of energy saving interventions in their homes, particularly for old-age pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19024/24]

Recycling Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

164. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, with respect to the deposit return scheme, he will provide an update on the meeting which was due to take place in March with a company (details supplied) and a number of disability organisations to assist in a review of the scheme’s infrastructure to make the scheme more accessible for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

David Stanton

165. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with respect to the Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the field of green hydrogen signed between his Department and the German Federal Research Ministry on 31 May 2023, to outline the actions that have been taken and progress made to date; his further plans for the Joint Declaration of Intent; the funding, if any, committed and expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19115/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

166. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19164/24]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

167. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the volte-face in relation to stock management operations on Lough Corrib (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19184/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the number of heat pumps installed broken down, by scheme, to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of overall number of heat pumps installed to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/24]

Electricity Grid

Paul Kehoe

170. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether there is any further recourse for availing of Government electricity credits for a homeowner with low usage on a second property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19204/24]

Ports Policy

Ged Nash

171. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will engage with the leadership of the Drogheda Port Company (details supplied) further to correspondence he received on 12 April 2024; his position on the points raised in that correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19255/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

172. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the National Broadband Plan and its roll-out; if there will be further works in the Ashbourne LEA areas of Kentstown and Skryne; what plans there are to improve broadband access to those households who have not yet been covered by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19278/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s preparations for the switch-off of copper based broad band services; the measures he is taking to ensure that all services have migrated to fibre based networks in advance of the switch off; the percentage of households currently still use copper based services; the percentage of businesses still use copper based services; the timeline for their migration to fibre based services; if he anticipates that all broadband service users will have access to fibre broadband services in advance of copper based switch off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19316/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Jackie Cahill

174. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the aids available to alleviate costs for a community hall providing broadband to members of the community
; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19359/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

176. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on connectivity blackspots in terms of Ireland’s broadband network; the breakdown of postcodes that are not included in the national roll-out nor commercially available; his plans to address these blackspots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19395/24]

Energy Conservation

Fergus O'Dowd

177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with regard to the launch of the home energy upgrade (low-cost) loan scheme, if applicants who wish to install solar panels to counter the extortionate energy costs in Ireland will be in a position to apply under this scheme without installing other additional retrofitting measures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19421/24]

Official Travel

Eoin Ó Broin

178. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the carbon emissions associated with all official air travel in tonnes; the value of these emissions; the amounts paid to the climate action fund by each Department, agency and body required to do so under the procedures for offsetting the emissions associated with official air travel for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19423/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

179. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he is planning to introduce to reduce the amount of renewable energy that is wasted; if he plans to introduce measures to redirect more surplus renewable energy to those living in energy poverty (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19458/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael Moynihan

180. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the provision of fibre broadband to the IDA Industrial Estate, Kilmallock Road, Charleville, County Cork; if he acknowledges the urgent need for fibre broadband at this location for the many businesses that require this infrastructure to support their growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19503/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

181. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18832/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

182. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19161/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

183. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19356/24]

Commissioners of Irish Lights

Brendan Griffin

184. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to dismantle the keepers' quarters roof at Tiaracht lighthouse, County Kerry, effectively allowing it to fall into disrepair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19070/24]

Commissioners of Irish Lights

Brendan Griffin

185. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the current condition of the Bull Rock lighthouse; if it is in a bad state of repair, with gannets flying in and out of the building through broken windows and a damaged roof; if there are plans to repair the lighthouse’s roof and windows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19071/24]

Commissioners of Irish Lights

Brendan Griffin

186. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the current condition of the offshore lighthouses; the most recent date of assessment of each and the findings; if there are plans to maintain, renovate or safeguard any of the lighthouses in 2024; the budget for any planned maintenance works in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19072/24]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

187. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of difficulties facing Dublin Bus and other transport providers in recruiting and retaining maintenance staff; the steps his Department is taking to ensure staff shortages do not hinder the roll out of BusConnects or plans to expand the bus transport system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18749/24]

Public Transport

Bríd Smith

188. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the staff numbers in maintenance and mechanics for Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and a company (details supplied); the details of any shortages of staff in these areas; the plans by these companies to ensure that staff numbers in these key areas are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18750/24]