23. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/25]
19. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14580/25]
13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there is continuous contact at political and official level with international organisations, including the United Nations and the European Union, concerning the appalling atrocities inflicted on innocent people in Gaza; and also concerning the blocking of essential aid from delivery into Gaza taking into account recent comments of a UN Official where it was stated “for two weeks now, our food supplies are rotting at the borders, the medicines are expiring, the water’s been cut off, the power’s been cut off - and all that to punish civilians further”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14601/25]
12. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14582/25]
11. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if changes will be made to the processing of passport applications where there is a requirement for the Passport Office to contact a Garda station to verify documentation submitted as part of the application; if he is aware that in many instances officials are calling Garda stations and getting no reply as many stations are not open on a regular basis or taking phone calls and this is delaying the processing of applications and at times causing delays for applicants in having their applications processed in a timely manner; if he will accept that this system is not adequate to ensure a proper service for the public; when the system will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14556/25]
8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given Ireland’s recent pledge of €20 million to UNRWA to provide additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, to outline how this funding will be effectively implemented in light of the growing difficulties in delivering aid to Gaza; the steps being taken to ensure that this aid reaches those most in need, given the obstacles and blockages to the delivery of aid into the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14391/25]
7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific measures has Ireland advocated for at EU level to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, into Gaza, considering the blockades preventing the delivery of much needed supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14390/25]
6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the outcomes of recent discussions between Ireland and the United Nations concerning the facilitation and delivery of food aid to Gaza, especially in light of the severe restrictions reported by humanitarian organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14389/25]
5. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14590/25]
556. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if there are adequate checks at ports and airports in relation to the movement of persons to this State; the proposals to install new technology for checking the identity of persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13778/25]
5. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the engagements he has had with the National Emergency Coordination Group in the days before, during and after Storm Éowyn. [10847/25]
382. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine where fallen trees impede access on public roads and/or damage ESB transmission lines and telecom provider lines on public roads or on private property and where the ownership of such property is not readily known to the local community or to the local authority or emergency services, if there is provision to provide statutory agencies or public utility providers with the names of the owners of such property to ensure that they can be requested, without delay, to remedy the difficulties that have arisen or to bill them for emergency work that may need to be carried out by or on behalf of statutory agencies or public utilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12970/25]
333. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage where fallen trees impede access on public roads and/or damage ESB transmission lines and telecom provider lines on public roads or on private property and where the ownership of such property is not readily known to the local community or to the local authority or emergency services, if there is provision to provide statutory agencies or public utility providers with the names of the owners of such property to ensure that they can be requested, without delay, to remedy the difficulties that have arisen or to bill them for emergency work that may need to be carried out by or on behalf of statutory agencies or public utilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12968/25]
299. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if a student entering a special class or an ASD unit in first year at second level will be guaranteed that placement for the duration of their education at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12976/25]
298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education in view of the commitment in Budget 2025 to provide for up to 400 additional new special classes for the 2025-2026 school year, if there is additional demand beyond 400 additional classes; if further financial provision will be made to provide additional classes if such are needed to ensure that every student with additional needs at primary and post primary level can be assured of a suitable school place for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12975/25]
184. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice to outline the role of the new Gambling Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12684/25]
118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice how he intends to address the prevalence of drugs in rural Ireland and its consequences on community safety and criminality in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12683/25]
63. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review current income eligibility thresholds for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12685/25]
45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he proposes to take regarding research received by his Department from the Housing Agency on Social Housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12686/25]
1375. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of respite services in Cavan and Monaghan for children and adults; the further proposals to extend the range of such services in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11532/25]
1374. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in advancing a proposal to provide a standalone respite centre for adults with intellectual disability in County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11531/25]
1095. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice his views on the recent report of the Independent Reporting Commission; if he will outline the Government’s views on the absolute need to rid society of paramilitarism; the measures that will be implemented to deal with such issues of criminality, gangsterism and thuggery. [10703/25]
123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals to extend voting rights for the Presidential election to persons living in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/25]
453. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures she will introduce to ensure quicker access to new medicines and treatments for all patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10504/25]
452. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a proposed new health care facility (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; the level of accommodation and range of services to be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10503/25]
381. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will ensure that an application for a new service will be given detailed and favourable consideration (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10522/25]
380. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals there are to expand and/or provide new family resource centres in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10521/25]
363. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that existing legislation and regulations are adequate to ensure the provision of safe corridor widths for tree planting adjacent to ESB transmission lines; if not, the proposals, if any, there are to amend existing protections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10530/25]
253. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 117 and 116 of 26 February 2025, the number of outstanding applications under the increased cost of business and power up grant schemes in Counties Cavan and Monaghan, due to be finalised; when it is expected payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/25]
245. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that any measures increasing the powers of the European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority (EIOPA) regarding cross border insurance sales contain legal guarantees that national parliaments have the right to access all material produced by, or shared with, EIOPA in the exercise of such powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10496/25]
244. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he has outlined at the European Council the need to ensure that the day-to-day supervision of the European Union’s insurance industry remains the exclusive competence of national competent authorities appointed by each member state under national law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10495/25]
235. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided this year to local authorities for the repair of local and regional roads due to damage caused by recent heavy rainfall and storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10542/25]
202. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his Department have had discussion with telecoms providers concerning ongoing outages in many areas, including parts of Cavan and Monaghan, as a result of storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10539/25]
201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or his Department have discussed with telecoms providers the need to strengthen their networks in view of the widespread outages of telecommunication services due to recent storms; the outcome of such discussions; if those providers intend to put adequate investment in upgrading their networks and avoid such outages in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10538/25]
200. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are adequate protections in place to safeguard ESB transmission lines, with particular reference to the problems caused by falling trees in storms over recent years resulting in power outages for many communities on a repeated basis; the measures that will be implemented as a result of lessons learned from such storms and actions to be taken across Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10532/25]
180. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when he proposes to discuss with the political parties in Stormont the recent report of the Independent Reporting Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10526/25]
179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent report of the Independent Reporting Commission; if he will outline the Government’s views on the absolute need to rid society of paramilitarism; the measures that will be implemented to deal with such issues of criminality, gangsterism and thuggery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/25]
70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a building project at a school (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage as soon as possible in view of the need for this additional accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9847/25]
58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if measures will be introduced at an early date, including much-needed additional investment in infrastructure in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan to address regional economic imbalance as outlined in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10081/25]
459. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the first-home scheme will be extended to first-time buyers of second-hand homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/25]
449. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give detailed consideration to the issues outlined by a national organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9648/25]
383. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project will proceed to the next stage in view of the urgent need to provide additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9385/25]
181. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the next census of population will be carried out; and the preparations undertaken to date. [9634/25]
348. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when compensation measures will be introduced for farmers whose forestry plantations were badly damaged in storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8916/25]
343. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid will be provided to farmers, particularly small-scale landholders whose outhouses/farm buildings were damaged during storm Éowyn; if details of such a scheme will be announced at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8751/25]
252. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8954/25]
152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will progress as quickly as possible the proposal to abolish the means test in respect of an entitlement to carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8464/25]
102. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on his Department’s humanitarian assistance for those impacted by storm Éowyn in Cavan/Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8463/25]
77. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when additional special classes will be sanctioned; if she will ensure that all students with additional needs will have an appropriate school place for the 2025/2026 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8601/25]
36. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals she has to roll out a national therapy service in education for special schools and special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8600/25]