117. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applicants awaiting payment in counties Cavan and Monaghan under the increased cost of business and power up grant schemes; when these outstanding payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8216/25]
116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when businesses due payment under the increased cost of business and power up grant schemes will receive this grant aid. [8215/25]
90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the progress to date in developing a strategy in relation to the provision of new facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8615/25]
89. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport when a project (details supplied) will progress to the next stage; the proposed preparatory work to be carried out on this project in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8614/25]
52. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the lack of progress with the E-3 Visa Bill in the US legislative process, the diplomatic strategies that are being pursued to strongly advocate for its passage through Congress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8417/25]
51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of the commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 to "advocating with the US Administration and Capitol Hill" for the Undocumented Irish, the actions the Government has taken since the reintroduction of the E-3 Visa Bill to advocate for its approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8416/25]
30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total funding allocated to his Department for current and capital expenditure from 2023 and 2024; the total expenditure incurred under each heading each year; the progress achieved in improving accommodation for permanent Defence Force members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6100/25]
29. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total enlistment in the permanent Defence Forces from 2019 to 2024; the measures that will be implemented this year to increase recruitment and improve retention of personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6101/25]
454. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will give urgent consideration to the expansion of a programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8150/25]
453. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will give urgent consideration to the inclusion of a school in a programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8149/25]
433. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the measures she will implement in 2025 to ensure that there is appropriate access to therapies for children in special schools and in special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7845/25]
432. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a national therapy service for schools will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7844/25]
165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of grant aid that will be available in 2025 for the upgrading or provision of new childcare accommodation, both for community providers and private providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7774/25]
133. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures she will introduce to improve supports including access to therapies for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7773/25]
264. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grant aid will be provided for group water schemes to facilitate the installation of generators, in view of the difficulties that have arisen with power outages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7092/25]
112. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposed investment in the electricity grid; if there are specific proposals to update the grid particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6804/25]
99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that will be implemented to reduce risks to an essential and sustainable energy supply for this State in view of the reference in the National Risk Assessment 2024 relating to investment requirements concerning energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6803/25]
24. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that will be implemented and the level of increased investment proposed to strengthen such infrastructure, In view of the reference in the National Risk Assessment 2024 to disruptions to the availability of critical infrastructure including energy and telecommunications networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6800/25]
125. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in Ireland securing access to the US E3 visa programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5733/25]
11. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the 42nd British-Irish Council in Edinburgh in December 2024. [1682/25]
319. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that adequate funding will be provided for a comprehensive health care programme, including Cavan/Monaghan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5406/25]
270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to the extension of deadlines for specific work to be carried out by participants in ACRES in view of delays that have occurred due to recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5407/25]
190. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that adequate school places will be available for the 2025-2026 school year in locations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5405/25]
241. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional measures being introduced to ensure the proper maintenance of forests and plantations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5102/25]
240. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to give further consideration to the appointment of a community representative, or representatives, particularly from the areas worst affected by recent storms and the damage caused by falling trees, to the recently appointed Forestry Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5101/25]
149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the provision being made to compensate small businesses and sole traders who had their premises and businesses closed due to Storm Éowyn, incurring substantial loss of earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5184/25]
99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the investment programme for the upgrade of the energy grid over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5177/25]
98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if existing legislative measures and regulations are adequate to protect ESB transmission lines from damage such as through falling trees or overgrown vegetation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5176/25]
97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the outcome of his discussions with the ESB in relation to the need to have a significant investment in the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5175/25]
1370. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when contact was made with the European Commission seeking assistance through the European Social Fund to help deal with difficulties arising from storm Éowyn; the outcome of such discussions, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3540/25]
888. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 7 November 2024, if further consideration will be given to the introduction of supports to help small-scale farm holders purchase neighbouring farm land when such options occur; if measures will be introduced to help reduce the sale of farm land to non-farming interests and particularly large-scale businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3559/25]
886. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when guidelines and details of grant aid will issue to farmers whose forestry plantations have been damaged by storm Éowyn; if this matter will be dealt with as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3485/25]
770. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the measures that have been put in place to ensure full co-operation by the State with the Omagh bombing inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3561/25]
761. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will bring forward to the earliest possible date the timeline for the abolition of the means test for the carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3498/25]
400. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when approval will issue to local authorities to issue payments to the remainder of outstanding applications under the 2024 increased cost of business scheme which were due to be issued before the end of 2024; if this matter will be finalised without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3554/25]
309. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if cross-Government measures will be introduced to reduce the sale of farm land to non-farming interests, and particularly large-scale businesses, with specific reference to the need to support small farm holders who may wish to buy neighbouring farm land for farming purposes when such options arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3560/25]
1764. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date in finalising the review of the CLÁR areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2071/25]
1759. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding provided for the present Monaghan Leader programme; the funding provided for the previous programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1948/25]
1758. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding provided for the present Cavan Leader programme; the funding provided for the previous programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1947/25]
1757. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding provided for the present Leader programme; the funding provided for the previous programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1946/25]
1122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that all valid 2023/2024 applications for ACRES are finalised, and payments issued without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1971/25]
1121. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions taken to date, and proposals advanced, regarding the need to retain the nitrates derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1970/25]
1102. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will convene as a matter of urgency a working group comprising of officials from his Department and other Departments and statutory agencies to deal with the recurring problems of fallen trees causing damage to ESB transmission lines, resulting in power outages and huge inconvenience, costs and hardship to communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1338/25]
1101. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 323 of 17 November 2022 and 601 of 22 November 2022, the additional measures that have been implemented to ensure that there is an adequate inspection programme concerning maintenance of forests, both in public and private ownership; if the Forestry Standards Manual 2015 was reviewed and updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1337/25]
909. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that adequate personnel are assigned at local level to administer community welfare services and ensure as existed, prior to administrative changes in recent years, reasonable access for persons to such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2070/25]
674. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a school project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2087/25]