Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

154. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of sniffers dogs being used to detect illicit trade and smuggling at ports and airports; the number of dates on which they were deployed and used at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the number of sniffers dogs in use at ports and airports. [17173/24]

Illicit Trade

John Paul Phelan

155. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff and other resources being deployed and used at ports and airports to detect non-compliance by individuals with duty-free travel allowances; the number of inspections carried out at individual named ports and airports in the State in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if it is planned to increase the resources in use at ports and airports for this purpose. [17174/24]

Probate Applications

Robert Troy

156. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the reason a spouse can only access €27,000 of a deceased spouse’s credit union savings and any remainder must go to probate; his views on whether this rule is fair when the spouse is clearly the next-of-kin and automatic beneficiary; and if he plans to review such rules in the short term. [17177/24]

Tax Reliefs

Brendan Griffin

157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he has been approached by the Department of Transport to consider expanding the bike-to-school provision; if so, if an anticipated cost figure has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17194/24]

Tax Exemptions

Violet-Anne Wynne

158. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered a proposal by an organisation (details supplied) for a pre-registration VAT exemption status for qualified and accredited members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17227/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Pa Daly

159. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the additional current costs he anticipates will be involved in revising the Garda retirement age upward from 60 to 62 years. [17243/24]

State Properties

Jackie Cahill

160. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to consider and support the recommencement of children’s swimming lessons in Templemore Garda College’s swimming pool on Friday evenings, organised and managed by the community for the community, on a not-for-profit basis, following results of a survey conducted locally of parents in Templemore (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17102/24]

Coastal Erosion

Brendan Howlin

161. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if funding will be allocated in 2024 to address the ongoing serious coast erosion in Rosslare, County Wexford, and other coastal areas of the county; his plans to protect the coastline in these areas and the total funding allocated to this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17154/24]

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Griffin

162. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on a river flooding risk (details supplied); what solutions the local authority has proposed; if his Department will provide funding for the solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17235/24]

Trade Agreements

Pauline Tully

163. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on reported recent talks between the EU and the Mercosur group on a trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8380/24]

Work Permits

Michael Healy-Rae

164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when two work permits will be granted (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17091/24]

Business Supports

Bernard Durkan

165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he is aware of difficulties experienced by various sectors in the economy to obtain the necessary levels of staff; whether he has in mind specific action to address this issue, sector by sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17283/24]

Work Permits

Bernard Durkan

166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which he has received communications from employers throughout the country who are experiencing difficulty in recruiting staff; if he is aware of the need for the expeditious process of work permit applications or the use of other methods in order to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17284/24]

Construction Industry

Bernard Durkan

167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he expects to meet any staff shortages in the construction sector, with particular reference to the need to meet such deficiencies in full in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17285/24]

Work Permits

Bernard Durkan

168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit-related visa applications currently awaiting process, with particular reference to various aspects of the economy particularly affected by staff shortages; the means by which he expects to address this issue in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17286/24]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor each trade and industry, with a view to addressing any issues arising; whether he remains satisfied that adequate steps can be taken to address such issues in the short and medium term in a meaningful way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17288/24]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which investment in employment-creating sectors continues; if he is satisfied that industry can look to the future with optimism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17289/24]

Diaspora Issues

Bernard Durkan

171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which Irish people overseas can be encouraged to return in order to meet staff vacancies throughout industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17290/24]

Business Supports

Bernard Durkan

172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which particular efforts are being made to assist employers particularly hit by staff shortages; whether specific measures are being taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17291/24]

Job Creation

Bernard Durkan

173. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which employment has fluctuated in this jurisdiction over the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17292/24]

School Enrolments

Patricia Ryan

174. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the measures, if any, in place to deal with the fact that a school (details supplied) is already at maximum pupil capacity now and cannot accept any pupil from even its main feeder primary school, even considering the other two schools in the area. [17084/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

175. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify, with regard to the new school premises built in Kildare town to house a school (details supplied) whose building is being reclaimed for Army use, whether the school will be accepting pupils from the Kildare town area at its new location, not just pupils from the Suncroft and Curragh areas. [17085/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

176. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify, with regard to claims being made that a new building for a school (details supplied) in Kildare is a new school for Kildare town, whether it is a new school or just the old school being accommodated in new premises. [17086/24]

School Staff

Patricia Ryan

177. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education to outline any measures she or her Department are considering to offer incentives to teachers to fill the many vacant teaching posts in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17087/24]

School Enrolments

Fergus O'Dowd

178. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No.119 of 11 April 2024, if she will arrange for a further response to issue to follow-up queries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17090/24]

Special Educational Needs

Cian O'Callaghan

179. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the implementation of Circular 0002/2024, given the serious concerns around the reduction in SET hours for students and the removal of children with complex needs as a criterion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17096/24]

Special Educational Needs

Paul McAuliffe

180. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the new ASD classes for a school (details supplied). [17100/24]

Special Educational Needs

Brendan Howlin

181. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education the reasons the application of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford for an increase in special education teaching hours has been denied; if the needs of pupils in this school, contained in a 34-page document submitted to the National Council for Special Education, were fully considered; the reasons the case made failed to meet the criteria for additional SET hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17104/24]

School Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

182. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application for additional accommodation for an ASD class (details supplied) in south Tipperary; the reason for the delays in progressing this project, which has been ongoing since 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17114/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

183. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the present status of the project to redevelop a school (details supplied), where many strains are being experienced in the existing facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17115/24]

Irish Language

Aindrias Moynihan

184. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education her consideration of and response to an individual (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17120/24]

School Accommodation

John McGuinness

185. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will approve the construction of two classrooms for a school (details supplied) as they are urgently required and given the tender provided to her Department, which is less than what was predicted, expires on 3 June 2024; if she will expedite the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17127/24]

School Textbooks

Brian Stanley

186. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if her Department will review the tendering arrangements for secondary school books; and if consideration can be given to tendering in smaller lots, such as by school year or subject, to allow local bookshops to be able to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17135/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

187. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17166/24]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

188. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the reason an application for ASD classes in a school (details supplied) was refused; and if she will reconsider this. [17182/24]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

189. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education whether the NCSE refused an application by a school (details supplied) for ASD classes or if this decision was made by her Department. [17183/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

190. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated first and full-year cost of increasing capitation rates for primary and post-primary school pupils, respectively, by an additional €10 per pupil in the 2024-25 academic year compared with the baseline capitation rates allocated in the academic year 2023-24 academic year, in tabular form. [17187/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

191. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated first and full-year cost of increasing capitation rates for primary and post-primary school pupils, respectively, by 10% in the 2024-25 academic year compared with the baseline capitation rates allocated in the 2023-24 academic year, in tabular form. [17188/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17191/24]

Schools Building Projects

Paul Kehoe

193. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building application (details supplied); when the school might expect to be given permission to move to the next stage of the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17254/24]

Tourism Funding

Matt Shanahan

194. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding her Department is making available in Waterford and the south east for festival supports in 2024. [17015/24]

Coláistí Samhraidh

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

195. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil aon anailís déanta aici ar an tionchar atá ann ar cheantair Gaeltachta agus coláistí samhraidh Gaeltachta toisc tithíocht agus lóistín a bheith dírithe ar thurasóireacht, go háirithe mar lóistín de chuid cuideachta áirithe (sonraí tugtha). [17258/24]

Sports Funding

Brendan Griffin

196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is any grant aid available for a club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17080/24]

Sports Events

Johnny Mythen

197. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider approving and supporting the proposal for funding for hosting a tournament (details supplied) over a three-year period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17105/24]

Sports Funding

Robert Troy

198. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on a sports capital application (details supplied). [17176/24]

Tourism Industry

Bernard Durkan

199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which the tourism industry is likely to grow over the next 12 months; whether she proposes to take any further initiatives to stimulate the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17273/24]

Tourism Industry

Bernard Durkan

200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department have examined the most important features of the tourism industry to which she can offer assistance or encouragement over the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17274/24]

Tourism Industry

Bernard Durkan

201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department propose to take specific initiatives to assist with the further expansion of the tourism industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17275/24]

Sports Funding

Bernard Durkan

202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if and-or when sport capital sports grants are likely to be awarded or granted in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17276/24]

Sports Funding

Bernard Durkan

203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department proposes to put special emphasis on local sporting and community organisations when considering the allocation of grants in the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17277/24]