277. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he can provide clarification on the role and focus of the independent review panel for senior public service recruitment and pay processes; if he can confirm what the terms of reference primarily pertain to in this process, including remuneration and recruitment; when the findings and recommendations from this panel are expected to be presented to the Cabinet for consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29487/23]
252. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has initiatives and plans to facilitate the adoption of alternative fuel source to transition to greener transportation options; if he can provide details on any financial incentives, grants, or assistance programmes currently in place or being considered to encourage the utilisation and production of hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel, biofuels, biomethane, green hydrogen or other greener fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29502/23]
232. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding provided to Ireland West Airport Knock under the various schemes and investment programmes for our regional airports since 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/23]
223. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport given the positive response to the alternatively fuelled heavy-duty vehicle purchase grant scheme, the details of the additional funding allocations for the scheme in 2023; the way these funds will be utilised to further support the purchase of alternatively-fuelled heavy-duty vehicles; the outcomes that are expected from this increased investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29507/23]
222. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport following the roll-out of the compressed natural gas, CNG, fuelling network, if he will provide an update on the progress made in establishing an extensive CNG infrastructure across the country; if there are any plans to expedite this roll-out and ensure wider accessibility of CNG as a fuel option for heavy-duty vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29505/23]
221. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport to elaborate on the expansion of the accelerated capital allowance scheme for natural gas propelled vehicles and equipment to include hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, and hydrogen vehicles and equipment; the measures that have been taken to facilitate the inclusion of HVO and green hydrogen technology within this scheme; what impact is expected from this expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29504/23]
220. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the alternatively-fuelled heavy-duty vehicle purchase grant scheme introduced in March 2021; the current status of the scheme; how many applications have been received; how many have been approved; the cost of the scheme to date; the effectiveness of the scheme in promoting the adoption of alternatively-fuelled large vans, trucks, buses and coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29503/23]
219. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport if he will support measures to promote the establishment of hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel as a viable alternative to diesel, given the growing interest in renewable energy sources and the need to transition to greener transportation options, similar to compressed natural gas, CNG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29501/23]
150. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide information on the provision of policy advice for projects related to the development of green hydrogen projects; how the Government is supporting and encouraging the advancement of green hydrogen initiatives; the specific policy measures that are being considered to foster the growth of this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29506/23]
105. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on Ireland’s submarine cables; if they have been put at risk in recent months by hostile states travelling through Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29572/23]
75. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which his Department is involved in developing anti-drone technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29571/23]
129. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the current work being undertaken by his Department on security of energy supply; to outline, in the context of the Government decision to build over 2,000 megawatts of new gas-powered electricity plants; if it has been considered that an indigenous gas supply would provide a reliable source of low emission energy for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28741/23]
95. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the potential of renewable energy to transform livelihoods and the scope for regional economic development; and if he will indicate the discussions and the planning which he is undertaking to deliver this potential, particularly in onshore employment and new sources of farm income. [28742/23]
39. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for his assessment of issues with the current passport express process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28738/23]
32. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on long-term solutions to address the challenges faced by the undocumented Irish in the US and his work to continue to seek new immigration pathways for Irish citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28737/23]
41. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) who applied to the foreign birth register will have their application processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28716/23]
1404. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider providing support for the creation of a broadband connection point (BCP) at a location (details supplied), given that her Department has already granted funds for a remote working hub under the town-and-village renewal scheme (TVRS); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28465/23]
1315. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health considering that community pharmacies were linked to the public sector agreements through FEMPI legislation when pay cuts were implemented, but are currently not aligned with the public sector for pay restoration, the measures in place to ensure that community pharmacist pay is restored in congruity with public sector pay arrangements; if he will address the reimbursement for escalating administrative tasks related to the complex operation of community drug schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/23]
1314. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health given the obligations stipulated by the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act of 2017, can he provide an update on the progress of the review concerning the nature of services performed by community pharmacies; if discussions will be held with community pharmacies about restoring their dispensing fees to a flat fee model in line with the precedent set before the recession-induced cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28470/23]
1244. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28150/23]
1130. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health in view of his Department's decision to fund the recruitment of an additional 3,500 skilled staff for the Enhanced Community Care Programme, 1,500 of whom are specialist staff to deliver urgently needed integrated care across community-hospital setting for older persons and chronic disease, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is impossible to deliver such services because of the refusal of his Department to provide the necessary funding for a fully functioning integrated electronic health record system (integrating hospital and community systems) and that the absence of such a system completely undermines the programme and poses a significant clinical risk to patient safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27239/23]
905. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice the reason a person's (details supplied) approval of visa was two weeks into the approval dates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27903/23]
880. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice to outline the current capital funding allocations from her Department to the Garda small capital works budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27430/23]
859. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the current status of an EU Treaty Rights application by a person (details supplied); if the application has been reviewed by the relevant authorities; if so, the outcome or progress of the assessment; if there are any outstanding issues or requirements related to the application that need to be addressed; the estimated timeline for the final decision on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27275/23]
770. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has determined the number of houses in the ownership of Mayo County Council that have tested for pyrite; if these homes will be demolished and rebuilt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28238/23]
696. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progress of the review of the 2018 regulations that exempt certain vacant commercial premises from the requirement to obtain planning permission for change of use to residential purposes; specifically, what considerations are being given to extending the scope of these regulations to include other forms of vacant commercial premises beyond those already exempted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27409/23]
610. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a DEIS status application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28467/23]
609. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will consider providing support for IXL learning supports for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28466/23]
501. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the timeline for delivery of two modular classrooms granted by her Department's modular projects department for a school (details supplied); if she will provide clarification for the delivery and readiness of the modular classrooms for the start of the next academic year on 1 September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27408/23]
500. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education following a meeting between representatives of a school (details supplied), the NCSE, and the school's special educational needs organiser (SENO) and regional manager, the viability of enrolling pupils with significant SEN as agreed ensuring the school received the required supports in terms of additional accommodation and staff resources to proceed with enrolling these pupils; if she will confirm whether the necessary supports have been approved; what these supports comprise of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27407/23]
499. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the precise forecasting on behalf of the National Council for Special Education regarding enrolments for the 2023/2024 academic year communicated to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27406/23]
456. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many people have been prosecuted since the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021 was brought into force in 2021; the breakdown of sentences received for individuals prosecuted; the type of event the offence was committed in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27647/23]
455. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how effective the new law banning ticket touting has been since 2021; how many people have been prosecuted since the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021 was brought into force in 2021; the type of event the offence was committed in that is, concert, sporting event, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27646/23]
403. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if Castlebar Garda station or any Mayo Garda stations have been identified as a recipient of such funding to support its expansion and infrastructure development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27430/23]
125. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27186/23]
97. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided by her Department to County Mayo since January 2020; the list of projects supported under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund, Building Acquisition Fund and CLÁR Fund during this time in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28353/23]
74. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures being taken to tackle vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28352/23]
388. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the claim to align adult education tutors with a pay scale of an existing grade in ETBs; the progress that has been made in identifying the scale of cost and making an offer within the parameters set by FEMPI legislation and the Public Service Stability Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26796/23]
387. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide clarification on the differences in pay arrangements across the education and training boards for adult education tutors; the specific differences that exist; how they are being addressed to ensure consistency and fairness in remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26795/23]
386. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the discussions on pay grades for adult education tutors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26761/23]
338. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the National Youth Mental Health Task Force, in particular the youth mental health pathfinder project; if a pathfinder team is now in place; if so, the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26850/23]
272. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the current volume of imported beef compares to the corresponding period in previous years; if there are any notable increases or decreases in imports during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26847/23]
271. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted an assessment of the impact of imported beef on Irish beef prices in each of the past four months to date; if so, the findings of this assessment; if there are significant price fluctuations; if so, how are they attributed to the imported beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26846/23]
270. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the exact quantity of imported beef that has entered the Irish market in each of the past four months to date; the breakdown of the top five countries, and their respective quantities for this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26845/23]
192. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding a school (details supplied); the reason the building and planning unit are not providing a permanent building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26844/23]
189. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the accommodation project for a school (details supplied); the current status of the project; and when it is expected to proceed to tender and construction. [26809/23]