Parliamentary questions

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Connolly

129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 14 December 2023, the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six-nautical-mile zone; the total amount of sprat caught in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/24]

Vaccination Programme

Catherine Connolly

157. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1797 of 18 April 2023, the progress of the vaccine injury compensation scheme for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8182/24]

Dental Services

Catherine Connolly

167. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 31 January 2024, for a breakdown of the number of dentists who left the dental treatment services scheme, by year of leaving the scheme and by geographical area in Galway, where they had been providing dental care to medical card patients in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8254/24]

Dental Services

Catherine Connolly

168. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of dentist vacancies in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8255/24]

Dental Services

Catherine Connolly

169. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of dental nurse vacancies in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/24]

Pension Provisions

Catherine Connolly

53. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the long-term carers contribution scheme; the number of applications received to date; the number approved; the number rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8028/24]

Departmental Data

Catherine Connolly

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received by her Department under the humanitarian assistance scheme in respect of Galway city and county since the flooding in Galway in November 2023; the amount paid out to-date under the scheme to the residents of Galway city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7854/24]

Industrial Disputes

Catherine Connolly

110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 7 December 2023, for a status update on his Department's engagement with representatives of community employment supervisors and Tús supervisors with a view to resolving the pay gap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7853/24]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

119. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given his statement of 26 January 2024 when he recalled the commitment by Dáil Éireann to "strongly consider intervention" in the South Africa case at the ICJ, and stated that he had asked his officials to prepare legal advice for his consideration on an "urgent basis"; if he will brief Dáil Éireann on the detailed particulars of the legal advice he has sought; if he will provide that legal advice to Dáil Éireann; if he will outline a deadline for the State's decision regarding an intervention in the ICJ case, in the context of the slaughter of 30,000 Palestinians by Israel, the almost total destruction of civilian infrastructure and, now, the spread of famine and disease among a weak and vulnerable population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7448/24]

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

351. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options available to a HAP recipient whose medical circumstances mean that they are permanently disabled and wheelchair bound, resulting in their present accommodation being unsuitable, in terms of both priority on the social housing list and availability of grants and schemes to the owner of the HAP property to make the property adaptable for their tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7687/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Catherine Connolly

390. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of submissions received to-date to the consultation on the Green Paper on Disability Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8032/24]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

7. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Uimh. 81 den 5 Nollaig 2023, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar an bplean a d’eascair as an obair athbhreithniúcháin a rinne Údarás na Gaeltachta faoin bpunann iomlán maoine atá aige agus faoi na féidearthachtaí forbartha atá ann; an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar na hacmhainní airgeadais a bheidh ag teastáil chun an plean a chur i gcrích; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6814/24]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Connolly

9. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 5 December 2023, the status of the drawdown of the €1 million in Galway 2020 legacy funding; the amount drawn down to date; the breakdown of where any funds drawn down to date have been allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6817/24]

Acht na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

17. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 284 den 5 Nollaig 2023; cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an obair athbhreithniúcháin ar na chéad 10 bplean teanga a ceadaíodh faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6815/24]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

24. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 97 den 5 Nollaig 2023, an dtabharfaidh sí an t-eolas is déanaí ar aon teagmháil idir a Roinn agus Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le tithíocht a chur ar fáil ar thalamh agus réadmhaoin atá faoi úinéireacht an Údaráis; an dtabharfaidh sí na sonraí a bhaineann leis an gcur chuige a d'ullmhaigh an tÚdarás agus a bhí le cur i láthair Bhord an Údaráis ag cruinniú na Nollag 2023; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6813/24]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

62. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 68 den 5 Nollaig 2023, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an obair athbhreithniúcháin a rinne Údarás na Gaeltachta i ndáil leis na córais agus leis an gcur chuige atá i ngníomh ag an Údarás chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliant-chuideachtaí agus i ndáil leis na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh; cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an scéim nua tacaíochta dá chliaint le tacú leo an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa ghnó; an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar an scéim nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6816/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Connolly

121. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 7 December 2023, what engagement he has had with the Galway Social Housing task force to-date in 2024 with regard to the availability of properties to rent in Galway within standard or discretionary HAP limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6789/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 7 December 2023, the timeline for the publication of the draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6788/24]

Fishing Industry

Catherine Connolly

298. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the programme that will be put in place for the fisheries local action groups under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, to replace the previous programme; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7197/24]

Medical Cards

Catherine Connolly

328. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the health services currently covered by medical cards and GP visit cards, with a view to ensuring the inclusion of blood tests; the details of any recent engagement he or his Department has had with GP representative bodies with a view to reaching an agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7185/24]

Business Supports

Catherine Connolly

117. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many businesses in County Galway are likely to qualify for the increased cost of business grant; what engagement his Department has had with Galway City and County Councils in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6740/24]

Gaeltacht Policy

Catherine Connolly

184. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 623 of 13 June 2023, the status of the preparation of language plans in respect of the 16 towns identified as possible Gaeltacht service towns following the consultation process in 2014; for a breakdown of the language plans completed to date, the language plans approved to-date, the towns in respect of which language plans are currently in preparation and the towns in respect of which the preparation of language plans is yet to begin; the timeline for the completion of all language plans in respect of Gaeltacht service towns; the reason for the delay in delivering the plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6793/24]

Irish Language

Catherine Connolly

185. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 624 of 13 June 2023, the status of plans for the designation of additional Irish language networks; the details of the proposed additional networks; the details of the engagement between her Department and Foras na Gaeilge in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6794/24]

Housing Policy

Catherine Connolly

197. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 6 December 2023, the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6790/24]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

198. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 6 December 2023, the status of the review by his Department of resources for the planning sector; the status of the development of the related Ministerial action plan; the timeline for the publication of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6791/24]

School Transport

Catherine Connolly

87. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 25 November 2023, the timeline for the publication of the final report of the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6394/24]

School Enrolments

Catherine Connolly

115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the steps that her Department is taking to ensure that all children starting secondary school in Galway city and county will have a school place in their local area for the academic year 2024-2025; the details of any engagement she has had with parent representative groups in this regard in the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6393/24]

Pleananna Oideachais

Catherine Connolly

312. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte No. 77 of 29 Samhain 2023, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an bplean chun beartas cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, idir leibhéal an oideachais réamhscoile agus leibhéal an oideachais do mhúinteoirí, a fhorbairt agus a fhoilsiú; cathain a fhoilseofar an beartas nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6460/24]

School Admissions

Catherine Connolly

313. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to develop school catchment areas that would be applicable nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6461/24]

Mental Health Services

Catherine Connolly

562. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the independent regulation of CAMHS under the Mental Health Act 2001, as recommended in a report (details supplied); the timeline for same; the reason for the delay in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6106/24]

Corporate Governance

Catherine Connolly

11. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been brought to a recently published report (details supplied) which outlined that over half of the 50 largest companies in the Irish economy scored 30% or less on corporate uptake of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5479/24]

Export Controls

Catherine Connolly

27. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of dual-use export licence applications in respect of end-users in Israel approved by his Department since 7 October 2023; the value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5477/24]

Regional Development

Catherine Connolly

30. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 23 November 2023, the status of the implementation of the west regional enterprise plan to 2024; the date of all meetings to-date of the steering group; to provide an update on the most recent meeting of the steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5481/24]

Departmental Priorities

Catherine Connolly

37. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 23 November 2023, for an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new business and human rights action plan and implementation body; the number of meetings held to-date by the stakeholder forum; the dates of same; the terms of reference of the stakeholder forum; the expected timeline for the new national plan on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5478/24]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

71. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 23 November 2023, for an update on plans to remove dental nurses from the ineligible occupation list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5480/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Catherine Connolly

105. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 27 of 28 November 2023, the status of the review by the Coirib go Cósta steering group of the draft revised programme incorporating the additional scope for the Coirib go Cósta flood relief scheme; the timeline for the publication of the revised project programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5487/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Catherine Connolly

110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected timeline for the next public consultation day for the Coirib go Cósta flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5488/24]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

134. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a US military aircraft (details supplied) was permitted to land and refuel at Shannon airport on 1 February 2024; to clarify the steps that were taken to ensure that this aircraft was not involved in US military operations in support of the Israeli attacks in Gaza; to clarify what steps were taken to check what this aircraft was delivering to Ramstein air base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5992/24]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

135. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a US military aircraft (details supplied) was permitted to land and refuel at Shannon airport on 1 February 2024; to clarify the steps that were taken to ensure that this aircraft was not involved in US military operations in support of the Israeli attacks in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5993/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Catherine Connolly

129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the projected cost of the revised Coirib go Cósta flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5474/24]

White Papers

Catherine Connolly

149. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the implementation of the white paper on enterprise; the status of the second update report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5471/24]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the publication of his Department’s report into the impact of recent policy changes on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5472/24]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

151. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 22 November 2023, the status of the report by the Implementation Group to address the recommendations of the March 2022 Department of Justice Report on the Review of the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet; the timeline for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5473/24]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

348. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for international protection who have been called for their personal interview under section 35 of the International Protection Act 2015 while awaiting accommodation from IPAS since the Government announced that it would no longer be able to guarantee accommodation for single male applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5216/24]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Catherine Connolly

350. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the board of the new Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency; the progress to-date on appointing members to the board; the timeline for when the board will be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5271/24]

Coroners Service

Catherine Connolly

368. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice when the report following the public consultation on reform of the Coroner’s Service in Ireland will be published; the number of submissions received to ‘consultation part 1’ and ‘consultation part 2'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5492/24]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Catherine Connolly

53. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 30 November 2023, the status of the roll-out of park and ride in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4380/24]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

61. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question 41 of 30 November 2023, the status of the feasibility study for light rail in Galway, which is being undertaken as part of the development of the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4381/24]

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 82 of 23 November 2023, his plans for the phasing out of the help-to-buy scheme; his plans in the interim to increase the minimum mortgage LTV to 80%, as recommended in a report (details supplied), and the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4282/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Catherine Connolly

142. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 23 November 2023, for an update on the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; to clarify if appeal hearings have recommenced to-date, and if not, the timeline for same; the number of people currently on the appeal hearing list; the expected timeline for the clearing of the backlog of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4382/24]