133. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are any plans to introduce legislation to facilitate an SMS scam filter to better protect consumers from mass fraudulent text messages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43016/24]
258. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when an appeal (details supplied) for a visa application was received; when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42171/24]
31. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how electricity account credits are provided to households that use solar energy; if they will still receive this credit if their account is in credit already; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42085/24]
420. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be likely to be reached in this case, given that the appeal was submitted over six months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41573/24]
253. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures in place to protect parents when crèches who are registered for the national childcare scheme and the early childhood care and education scheme make payment for a five-day week mandatory, which leads to increased fees for parents who do not avail of the five days per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40716/24]
175. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of a school’s (details supplied) application within the additional accommodation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40822/24]
174. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be permitted to proceed to tender for an additional accommodation and extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40821/24]
112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason, under the tenant purchase scheme, it is stated that only occupants of three-bedroom houses can purchase their homes through the incremental purchase scheme; if consideration would be given to amending the scheme to permit occupants of houses with less bedrooms to purchase their homes under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40610/24]
303. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal (details supplied); when a decision will be likely to be reached in this case given that the appeal was submitted some time ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39965/24]
302. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who submitted an appeal on 15 November 2023 with regard to benefit payment for 65-year-olds has not yet received a decision on the matter; when a decision is likely to be reached in this case; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39961/24]
198. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider including sensory pods in the sensory room grant given schools that do not have the space or capacity for a room dedicated to provide a sensory space, sensory pods are a suitable alternative for these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40056/24]
159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given by his Department to implement regular consultation with small local businesses to target specific challenges and needs that they face, as this would ensure the creation of relevant and effective support measures for said businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40078/24]
158. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to the provision of additional financial supports for small businesses in the health and safety sector, given that, while the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland loans assist many businesses, the interest rates have increased, leading to a demand for alternative financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40077/24]
151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing every person with a disability a free travel pass (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39397/24]
150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration could be given to revising the means test required to qualify for disability allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39396/24]
146. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of an appeal for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be likely to be reached in this case given that the appeal was submitted over six months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39293/24]
107. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a reconfiguration project; when the project will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39339/24]
95. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to the provision of additional time in second-level examinations for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning difficulties, in view that the lack of extra time is a disadvantage and barrier for these students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39230/24]
94. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an additional accommodation project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39228/24]
357. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to ensure that a herd number transfer request (details supplied) which was submitted over 12 months ago is processed and completed at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38678/24]
349. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is 23 months since the application (details supplied) was first lodged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39010/24]
312. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to disregarding as means any income that is expended on maintenance when determining eligibility for fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38940/24]
289. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application by a school (details supplied) for the hot school meals programme was not successful; if the application will be re-examined to include the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38549/24]
200. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be reached in respect of a stage 1 application, in view that the school (details supplied) is awaiting the outcome of this decision for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38785/24]
248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the criteria for fuel allowance in order that those who are living with children of working age, who are earning a low income and not in receipt of one of the qualifying payments for fuel allowance would not be disqualified from the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37283/24]
1961. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of any potential changes to the SUSI grant criteria to allow for the funding of hybrid and part-time courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33999/24]
1360. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action his Department is taking to help increase the availability of childcare places in Cork, in view of the substantial waiting lists for spaces in crèche’s and childcare facilities in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34377/24]
1327. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that are being taken to incentivise crèches and childcare services to remain within core funding grant for early learning and care providers; the incentives that are available for services that have left the scheme to return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33986/24]
1326. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action that is being taken by his Department to ensure that price rises by childcare facilities do not exceed planned increases to subsidies within the national childcare scheme (NCS), given that some creches have decided to increase their fees in line with increases to the NCS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33985/24]
973. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration would be given to adding class S PRSI contributions onto the list that count towards illness benefit, in the view of the fact that self-employed workers paying class S PRSI are left without adequate financial support when faced with illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34838/24]
903. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to disregarding as means any payment made to a person arising out of a settlement or award from a court for a medical negligence case in determining entitlement to disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33821/24]
860. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action being taken to ensure single applicants to the affordable housing scheme get equal opportunities and consideration as dual applicants, considering single income individuals are struggling to compete with two income households when it comes to the housing market with many having been unsuccessful in applying for the scheme as they are not deemed high priority due to their single status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35409/24]
588. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the provisions being taken by her Department to ensure that all eligible students who apply for school transport under the post primary school transport scheme in an area (details supplied) for the 2024/2025 academic year will be facilitated, in view that there is a high probability that the service will be oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34734/24]
587. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a pupil (details supplied) who is eligible for school transport will be issued with a ticket for the school transport service, in view that they have not received a ticket to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34727/24]
586. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a pupil (details supplied) who is eligible for school transport will be issued with a ticket for the school transport service, in view that they have not received a ticket to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34726/24]
512. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action being taken to ensure that all pupils attending a school (details supplied), who have applied for school transport under the school transport scheme, are provided with school transport on the current bus service; if consideration will be given to the provision of an additional or larger school bus to facilitate all pupils in view of the fact that not all pupils have been facilitated as the bus service is at capacity for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33964/24]
511. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action being taken to ensure that a pupil attending a school (details supplied), who is eligible for school transport, is provided with transport on the current bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33962/24]
510. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action being taken to ensure that pupils attending a school (details supplied), and who are eligible for school transport, are provided with transport on the current bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33951/24]
503. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a reconfiguration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33873/24]
363. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to reviewing the deemed disposal tax on exchange traded funds, ETFs, taking into account that the 41% tax on ETF gains every eight years is discouraging long-term investment and hindering the financial growth of lower-income investors and first-time young investors, in view of the fact that a reduction or eradication of this tax will benefit Irish investors and taxes on gains that compound over decades would be more likely to see higher tax revenues than the current tax receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35402/24]
343. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has plans to accept fresh start applicants into the help-to-buy scheme; if consideration would be given to same, in view that accepting fresh start applicants would help those who have separated or divorced and need to buy a home for the second time as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34607/24]
203. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action being taken to reduce the waiting times for driving test appointments at a test centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34095/24]
2693. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the precise criteria by which an applicant may qualify for the local improvement scheme, given that applicants are having difficulty in accessing the relevant criteria for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32643/24]
1511. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when a citizenship application (details supplied) will be completed, given that it is 21 months since the application was first lodged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31744/24]
673. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action being taken to ensure that pupils attending a school (details supplied) who are eligible for school transport are provided with it under the primary school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31874/24]
592. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action her Department is taking to ensure pupils attending a school (details supplied), and who are eligible for school transport, are provided with transport on the current bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30973/24]
274. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who submitted an appeal on 15 November 2023 with regard to benefit payment for 65-year-olds has not yet received a decision on the matter, when a decision is likely to be reached in this case; the reason for the delay;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30750/24]
100. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action her Department is taking to ensure that primary school classes are not exceeding the recommended class size cap of 30 pupils, given that a school (details supplied) will have 35 pupils in first class for the 2024/2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30257/24]
843. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29672/24]
348. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted regarding the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29671/24]