1249. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmed salmon that escaped from a farm (details supplied) on Sunday 11 August 2024; when the Department was notified of the escape; details of the comprehensive emergency plan in place, if any, by the licensee and or the Department to recapture the escapees as is required by the licensee in accordance with the conditions of their salmon farm licence; the number of escapees recaptured to date either by netting or anglers; when netting began in order to recapture the escapees; the sanctions, if any, to be imposed on the licensee or the operators of the salmon farm from which the farmed salmon escaped; if the escaped farmed salmon were infected with Amoebic Gill Disease or any other disease when they escaped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34809/24]
1125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the measures undertaken by her Department to reduce citizenship application processing times; the details of the average waiting time from application to the granting of citizenship in respect of applications received in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34875/24]
1124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the implementation of recommendation seven 7.6 of the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews, which calls for the amending of current legislation to ensure that a parent convicted of murder or manslaughter of the other parent does not retain guardianship of the surviving child or children; the timeline for the implementation of this recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34874/24]
1123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No 1592 of 23 July 2024, the status of the independent review of part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which is now being completed by her Department; her plans to publish any interim reports or updates she has received from the data and research unit of her Department since it took over the work; the timeline for the publication of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34873/24]
995. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the pre-Budget 2025 submission to her Department by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands, and in particular to supplementary recommendation 41, which calls for each care-related credited contribution awarded while in receipt of carer’s benefit or carer’s allowance to have the same value and currency as a paid contribution and be considered as a qualifying contribution for the State pension (contributory) scheme; if she has raised or plans to raise this matter in pre-Budget 2025 discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35270/24]
852. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the qualifications necessary for engineering grades within local authorities, in particular, his plans to include project management as a qualification necessary for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35159/24]
821. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the report (details supplied) into allegations of malpractice at An Bord Pleanála; the expected timeline for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34698/24]
820. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 668 of 20 March 2024, for an update on the 2023 Interim Review of the State’s current nitrates action programme; the timeline for publication of the review; if he has signed the amended GAP regulations to date; if not, when he expects to sign them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34697/24]
819. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local authority home loan scheme can be availed of in the purchase of a local authority house; if so, to provide the number of applicants who have done so in each of the years since 2022, in tabular form, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34696/24]
818. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if successful applicants to the local authority home loan scheme can also avail of the help-to-buy scheme; if so, to provide the number of applicants who have done so in each of the years since 2022, in tabular form, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34695/24]
817. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money given out in loans to date under the local authority home loan scheme in each local authority since 2022; the total amount of money given out in loans to date under the local authority home loan scheme nationwide since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34694/24]
816. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money given out in loans to date under the local authority home loan scheme in Galway county since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34693/24]
815. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money given out in loans to date under the local authority home loan scheme in Galway city since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34692/24]
814. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications made to the local authority home loan scheme in respect of applicants in Galway county since January 2022; the number of these applications that have been approved; the number of these applications that have been refused; the average time from application to decision; the number of loans that have been taken up to date under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34691/24]
813. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications made to the local authority home loan scheme in respect of applicants in Galway city since January 2022; the number of these applications that have been approved; the number of these applications that have been refused; the average time from application to decision; the number of loans that have been taken up to date under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34690/24]
788. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1038 of 23 July 2024, to what extent, if any, MARA has a role in reviewing offshore wind farm planning applications on foot of the submission of a completed application to An Bord Pleanála; the way in which the appeals process will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34131/24]
745. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán stádas na tuarascála ón Choiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge, bunaithe faoin Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021; an dáta a fuair an Roinn an tuarascáil sin; stádas breithniúchán na Roinne ar an tuarascáil sin; cén dáta a fhoilseofar an tuarascáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [35047/24]
744. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 954 den 23ú Iúil 2024, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar an obair athbhreithnithe ar na chéad deich bplean teanga a ceadaíodh faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012; cathain a chríochnófar an tuarascáil; cathain a fhoilseofar an tuarascáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [35046/24]
743. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No 959 of 23 July 2024, the length of time covered by the confidentiality agreement around the sale of Arramara Teoranta by Údarás na Gaeltachta to a company [details supplied] in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35045/24]
742. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No 959 of 23 July 2024, the date on which the confidentiality agreement around the sale of Arramara Teoranta by Údarás na Gaeltachta to a company [details supplied] in 2014, will cease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35044/24]
689. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to address the shortfall in school transport places for children with special educational needs in Galway city and county; the specific steps being taken to ensure that pupils with special educational needs and who are eligible for school transport will be provided with same; the number of students with special educational needs without school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35766/24]
688. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to address the shortfall in school transport places in Galway city and county; the specific steps being taken to ensure that pupils who are eligible for school transport will be provided with same; the total number of students without school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35765/24]
480. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No 583 of 23 July 2024, when the next meeting of the business and human rights stakeholder forum will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35135/24]
479. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No 60 of 11 July 2024, the status of the development of the next Action Plan on Business and Human Rights; when the plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35134/24]
478. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of consideration of the complaint by GLAN against the ESB to the National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, regarding the purchase of coal by the ESB from a mine (details supplied) in La Guajira, Colombia; the timeline for when a final statement will issue in respect of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35130/24]
264. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport to confirm, or otherwise, reports that Israeli-operated cargo planes flew through Irish sovereign airspace with explosives on 27 February 2024 and 1 February 2024 (details supplied); if applications for exemptions were received and granted by the Department; if not, the steps being taken in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35114/24]
263. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if the US military, or any other body, has been authorised to transport munitions through Irish-controlled airspace since October 2023; if so, to provide details, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35113/24]
262. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for exemptions for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft received, the number granted, the number refused by month since October 2023 to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35112/24]
261. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number of inspections that have been carried out on aircraft in Irish airports in each of the past five years and to-date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35111/24]
260. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to ensure that Irish airports are not being used to facilitate the supply of military equipment to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35110/24]
259. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the number of flights carrying Israeli Defence Forces weaponry that have flown through Irish sovereign airspace without legal permission in each of the past five years; the steps taken in this regard given that the air transportation of munitions of war across State airspace without an exemption is an indictable criminal offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35109/24]
148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 23 July 2024, the reason the decision was taken to bring the Minister of State with responsibility for EU affairs under the Department of Defence, by whom and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33997/24]
126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 27 June 2024, the status of the terms and conditions of the export tariff phase of the second renewable energy support scheme; the timeline for when the scheme will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35278/24]
125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 14 May 2024, the locations of all seven community-led projects that were successful in the renewable energy support scheme 1 auction; to clarify which are solar and which are wind; to clarify which of these projects have energised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35269/24]
124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 14 May 2024, when he expects the remaining four community-led projects that were successful in the renewable energy support scheme 1 (RESS 1) auction to energise; the number that will continue in the RESS 1 scheme; the number that will energise via the second renewable energy support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35268/24]
123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 14 May 2024, the status of the community-led projects that were successful in the renewable energy support scheme 2; the locations of all eight projects; if they are wind or solar projects; the details of the other two projects that are no longer in the process; if they were wind or solar; the reason they did not continue in the scheme; the number of projects that remain in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35267/24]
119. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of his engagement with the ESB with regard to the establishment of a compensation fund for local communities in La Guajira, Colombia, who have been adversely affected by the exploitation of coal at a mine (details supplied) from which the ESB has purchased coal over the last two decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35224/24]
2698. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 19 June 2024, the status of the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the status of the appointment of a consultant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33087/24]
2697. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 19 June 2024, the status of the development of Inis Oírr pier; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33086/24]
2696. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 20 June 2024, the status of the transfer to her Department of land on Inisbofin on which the airstrip is situated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33085/24]
2695. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 20 June 2024, for an update on the work of the steering committee tasked with monitoring progress on the development of the piers on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin; the date of the next meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33084/24]
2604. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a Ukrainian beneficiary of temporary protection is eligible to participate in the Erasmus programme, particularly where Erasmus is a compulsory element of their university course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31570/24]
2521. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for treatment for osteoporosis in CHO 2, by county and periods spent waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33364/24]
2520. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated to osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment in each of the years 2019 to 2023, and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33363/24]
2519. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for a national strategy on osteoporosis, which would cover diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33362/24]
2518. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to roll out a national over-8s public eyecare programme; the reason for the ongoing delays in rolling out the programme; the timeline for the roll-out of the programme; the expected cost of the programme; the status of the promised implementation plan; when it will be published; the details of his engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with regard to the roll-out of the national over-8s public eyecare programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33361/24]
2517. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made proposals for the increase of optometrists’ fees to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; if so, the details of same; the details of his engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33360/24]
2516. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase optometrists’ fees, which have not been increased in over 20 years; the timeline for same; the reason for the delay in increasing the fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33359/24]
2515. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of all respite beds in County Galway; the number of these that are currently operational and currently closed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33358/24]
2514. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 867 of 11 June 2024, the status of the development of a primary care centre on Inisbofin; the status of the land transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33357/24]