Parliamentary questions

Electric Vehicles

Mattie McGrath

21. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he agrees with detailed scientific analysis on metal mining requirements for EVs carried out by scientists at the UK National History Museum (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52683/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52276/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a comprehensive list of energy-generating stations in Ireland that are scheduled for closure; their closure timeline; including stations, if any, that have already closed or decommissioned; the fuel source serving each respective station; their respective energy-generating capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52277/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the mapped locations and acreage around power stations scheduled for closure, decommissioned, and active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52278/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Mattie McGrath

126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a detailed breakdown of the entire infrastructure present at energy stations that are current, decommissioned and scheduled for closure; the types of facilities, equipment, and technologies employed in energy generation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52279/23]

Personal Debt

Mattie McGrath

196. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance how a person who fell into personal difficulty and fell behind on their loan repayments due to personal circumstances can have their credit report amended (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52131/23]

Hospital Staff

Mattie McGrath

601. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of a Parkinson’s nurse specialist for Waterford and Tipperary University Hospitals, following a funding allocation under Budget 2023 for the provision of 22 neurologist speciality nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52110/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

89. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50730/23]

Ukraine War

Mattie McGrath

120. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide details of the total military aid given by the EU to Ukraine since the beginning of the Ukrainian war; the amount promised but not yet given; if he will provide information on the contribution given by Ireland to date; how it is spent; the contribution promised in the future by Ireland; whether Ireland supported the giving of such aid in the EU Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50784/23]

European Union

Mattie McGrath

169. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the annual contribution to the EU by the Exchequer in each of the past ten years; the estimated contribution forecast for the whole of 2023; the income from the EU to the Exchequer in each of these years; the estimate for this year; Ireland's expected net contribution to the EU over the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50783/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

297. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of grant applications and the number issued, by county, under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the croí cónaithe (towns) for 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50780/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that the two-year vacancy condition attached to the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the Croí Cónaithe (towns) is having a negative impact on uptake, deterring many people from availing of the grant aid; if this condition will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50781/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

299. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an overview of the total capital allocation announced for investment in housing in 2024; the amount of this funding allocated to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50782/23]

Citizenship Applications

Mattie McGrath

368. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50729/23]

Health Services Staff

Mattie McGrath

461. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently commence a recruitment drive to fill the six vacancies within the south Tipperary service which remain unfilled, in view of the 45km rule, and that national recruitment drives have not resulted in recruitment within the south Tipperary service; when the vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50593/23]

Disability Services

Mattie McGrath

509. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline all conditions related to the HSE recruitment embargo; whether speech and language, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other therapists associated with disability services both adult and children’s services will be impacted by the embargo given the severe shortage of such therapists operating within the system; if persons who have been going through the recruitment process but whose contracts have not been signed will be impacted by the embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50668/23]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

585. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health where a person (details supplied) presents as homeless but is suffering from mental health difficulties, what supports are immediately available in south Tipperary to avoid possible harm to oneself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51122/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

51. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to explain the reasons for delays in transposing EU Directive 2167 of 2021 into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50174/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

52. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will accept that each day he delays signing the EU Directive 2167 of 2021 into Irish law, it results in family homes and farms which could otherwise remain with borrowers under forbearance arrangements being lost to banks and vulture funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50175/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

53. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to provide a specific date by which he expects to have EU Directive 2167 of 2021 transposed into Irish law; whether this will be done by ministerial order or primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50176/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

54. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate or instruct the Central Bank to investigate the interest rate gouging undertaken by vulture funds, which contradicts the objectives of EU Directive 2167 of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50177/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the submission made by the Central Bank for the public consultation on the Credit Servicers Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50179/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

56. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number and specific details (including the name of the institution, date, and topics discussed) of any meeting or discussion he has had with a bank, credit service firm, vulture fund or their representatives in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50180/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mattie McGrath

85. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to review the application for DEIS status for a school (details supplied) that was unsuccessful in 2022, if the reasons for the refusal could be outlined in detail regarding the data sets used; what information may be required to satisfy a future application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50141/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mattie McGrath

86. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when the next review or opportunity for schools will be to apply for DEIS status given that the data used in the 2022 review was based on the 2016 Census and that new data is now available to use from the 2022 Census; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50142/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mattie McGrath

87. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if it is accurate to rely on PPOD data relating to Traveller or Roma ethnic background indicators as outlined in circular 0019/2022 when adjudicating DEIS status applications, as schools are unable to ask students about their ethnic status or background when enrolling, and therefore this may not be a true reflection of the diverse ethnic backgrounds of students in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50143/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

138. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline the waiting times for DEXA bone scans in Tipperary University Hospital and across all hospitals in the country; the numbers waiting for such scans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50050/23]

Bus Éireann

Mattie McGrath

100. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if he will request Bus Éireann to change their 355 route from Waterford at 5:40pm to continue their journey to Cahir (details supplied); the reason the 5:40pm bus only travels as far as Carrick-on-Suir, whereas at all other times the 355 route continues to Cahir; the fact that the 5:40pm route includes Waterford SETU (departing at 5:20pm) but does not travel as far as Clonmel or Cahir means that students in Clonmel and Cahir cannot avail of direct public transport to and from both towns to the South East Technological Institute, and a very slight change to continue the route would allow a large number of students to avail of this route without encountering significant delays in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49476/23]

Employment Rights

Mattie McGrath

209. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when the circular relating to the management of sick leave will issue for the education sector, similar to the one that issued for the civil service (circular 12/2023 issued on 4 September 2023); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49520/23]

Employment Rights

Mattie McGrath

612. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the circular relating to the management of sick leave will issue for the higher education sector, similar to the one that issued for the civil service (circular 12/2023 issued on 4 September 2023); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49520/23]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

300. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to release the full record of communication between his Department and the owner of an accommodation provider (details supplied); to outline who made the initial contract; the value of the 12-month contract for this property; to release all communication between his Department and Tipperary County Council, particularly in terms of the current use of the building as an emergency accommodation facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49183/23]

Business Supports

Mattie McGrath

36. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make funding available to businesses in County Tipperary that have been damaged by flooding following recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48919/23]

Sports Funding

Mattie McGrath

48. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the provisional timelines of announcements for the sports capital and sports capital equipment programme 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48920/23]

Weather Events

Mattie McGrath

72. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make funding available to homes in County Tipperary that have been damaged by flooding following recent storms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48919/23]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

34. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline, in light of recent statements by members of Government in relation to the pressures currently being faced in terms of the level of people seeking refuge and asylum in this country, the plans his Department has to urgently address these high levels; to address the concerns in relation to the “pull factors” which may be leading to the high levels; his plans to impose further restrictions to reduce pressures on capacity; if he will outline the full level of expenditure by his Department on housing asylum seekers and refugees in this country from 1 January to 31 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48842/23]

National Development Plan

Mattie McGrath

154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the performance in relation to timely and value-for-money delivery of the national development plan to date against the revised NDP adopted when the Government came to power; the overspend or underspend involved to date; the steps being taken to expedite the delivery of the plan in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47086/23]

National Development Plan

Mattie McGrath

155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the discussions he has had with Ministers in relation to the non-delivery of NDP projects to date; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47087/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Mattie McGrath

227. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of the number of farmers in each county impacted by the reduction from 250 kg of N to 220 kg of N based on the land as declared for the 2023 basic income support for sustainability scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47085/23]

School Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

96. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education where a preschool facility is currently being operated within a school and where her Department is seeking an ASD unit within the school that will result in the closure of the preschool facility, if her Department can force the closure of the preschool facility to take over the space within which it is operating; if her Department will provide funding in circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46888/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

165. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline, where a preschool facility is currently being operated within a school and where his Department is seeking an ASD unit within the school that will result in the closure of the preschool facility, what supports or funding options may be available to the school to construct an additional space on the school grounds to maintain the preschool and to avoid its closure; the funding available to rural communities to build a childcare-preschool facility within their community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46895/23]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason behind the removal of funding for the 'getting citizens online fund'; if it will be restored going forward to assist vulnerable and isolated members of the community in accessing services online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46605/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

283. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the status of an appeal under the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2023-2024 school year; if she will consider this appeal given the exceptional accommodation difficulties being faced by the school and the disruption that will be caused if the school loses a teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46346/23]

Schools Building Projects

Mattie McGrath

213. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the current status of a construction project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44663/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

214. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 708 of 11 September 2023, the current status of an application to build an extension to a school (details supplied) for the provision of two permanent ASD class units and classroom; if there is a role for Cavan Monaghan ETB in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44664/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

451. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that assessment of needs hubs in all CHO areas are now fully operational and providing assessment of needs; the number of assessment of needs carried out by such hubs to date; to confirm where hubs are not yet fully operational if she will repurpose that money to ensure that families can privately access assessments themselves as committed to in Dáil Éireann on 23 May (details supplied); if she has included such measures as part of Budget 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44777/23]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

67. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting time for the driver theory test in all centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44315/23]

Emigrant Support Services

Mattie McGrath

9. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a detailed breakdown of the organisations in Canada that have made applications under the emigrant support programme since January 2021, including the names and funding amount approved to each respective applicant, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/23]

Emigrant Support Services

Mattie McGrath

10. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an overview of the status of an application made under the emigrant support programme by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43729/23]

Domestic Violence

Mattie McGrath

257. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing supports available to women who have suffered domestic abuse and have had to flee the marital home (details supplied); if such persons will be approved for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43495/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Mattie McGrath

468. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if private autism assessments can be funded under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if so, the steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43489/23]