284. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the minimum rate of pay for healthcare assistants and social care support staff employed by private companies, in view of the increasing rate of staff turnover in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29464/24]
195. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will raise the taxation exemption threshold for single persons and married couples aged 65 and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29461/24]
104. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a review of the vacant property refurbishment fund, in particular that it would be awarded in stage payments rather than a lump sum after work has been completed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28399/24]
197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the renewal fee for general employment permit applications, in view of the fact that the renewal fee is greater than the initial application fee and the renewal fee is a significant financial burden incurred by the employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28318/24]
184. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration would be given to reviewing the eligibility areas of grant aid schemes administered by a local authority (details supplied) to upgrade, repair or replace domestic wastewater treatment system/septic tank systems, to ensure that those who are in most need of the grant and who would have difficulty in financing such works could utilise the grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27707/24]
121. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the action her Department is taking to assist a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26607/24]
394. 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. [25995/24]
149. 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 a school (details supplied) contacted about 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. [25994/24]
908. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider expediting a review of the SOLAS statutory apprenticeship which requires that certain apprenticeships applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses, particularly considering the most recent technological advances that have been made in such lenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25139/24]
225. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the steps she will take to address the substantial shortfall of educational places in Cork city for children with autism spectrum disorder, and if she will set out her proposals for dealing with this shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23861/24]
51. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance to clarify what measures are to be taken to ensure there is not a discrepancy between higher and lower paid workers as a result of a higher BIK being made available for electric cars, which may be more expensive, but simultaneously result in greater tax reliefs than for those with internal combustion engine models; what incentives are available and will be introduced for lower income workers to ensure that plug-in electric hybrid vehicles are more affordable for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23015/24]
69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the up-to-date status of a carers allowance application review (details supplied), given that further documentation was provided some time ago; when a decision will be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22026/24]
696. 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. [21729/24]
335. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to amending a stipulation (details supplied) in Circular Letter 0041/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21736/24]
307. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if the school transport section will approve an application for school transport for a child (details supplied) with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21465/24]
299. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) for reconfiguration and refurbishment; when it is likely that work will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21452/24]
217. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a living alone increase payment for a widower (details supplied) will be backdated to the date of death of their spouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20947/24]
122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures being undertaken by his Department to ensure there is sufficient staffing numbers in passport services, in order that the current processing times for passport applications are maintained, in view that a spike in volume of passport applications received by passport services often occurs in the lead up to, and during, the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21065/24]
395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is 19 months since the application was first lodged (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20859/24]
200. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application for reconfiguration of a school (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be made in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20471/24]
204. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm when a citizenship application will be completed, in view that it is over 48 months since the application (details supplied) was first lodged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19961/24]
181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a person's (details supplied) appeal; when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19578/24]
156. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19754/24]
155. 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 about 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. [19752/24]
355. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to include private schools under the free books scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19389/24]
357. 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. [18463/24]
201. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the grants awarded to groups under the 2023 towns and villages renewal scheme will be announced. [18209/24]
152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to increasing the allocation of therapists to an area (details supplied) to meet the needs of the caseload, in view that the current level of allocation does not deliver essential intervention and support necessary to every pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18264/24]
151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the reason a special school (details supplied) is still without essential therapists including a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, play/behaviour therapists, and a social worker; the date they will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18263/24]
150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the return of essential therapists including a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, play/behaviour therapists, and social worker to a special school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18262/24]
61. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm why a school (details supplied) has recently been refused approval under the Emergency Works Programme for an urgent project which impacts children’s safety in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18199/24]
318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application for the town and village renewal scheme 2023 by an organisation (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; when they might be awarded funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17081/24]
235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17192/24]
234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the living alone increase to elderly people who have their disabled child living with them but the children attend disability day services and they cannot work due to their severe needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17150/24]
232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of a person’s (details supplied) appeal and when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17131/24]
192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17191/24]
187. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17166/24]
23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration would be given to reclassifying hydrotreated vegetable oil as a home heating fuel, in view that it is currently rated as a transport fuel and is therefore more expensive to purchase than diesel and kerosene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17018/24]
10. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for diesel in diesel cars, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]
9. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to research and develop the hydrotreated vegetable oil market in Ireland, in view that HVO fuel could be substituted for retrofitting to home boilers, which could lead to an immediate reduction in carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17017/24]
261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress of the review of the two proposed national procedures for allowances towards post-mastectomy products (prostheses and specialist bras), along with hair loss products initially published in February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15941/24]
197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, on the costs of accommodating people in mental health community residences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15800/24]
192. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of people in mental health community residences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15780/24]
191. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (EIP), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide, in the year 2023 and to-date in 2024 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15779/24]
190. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current number of teams for each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (EIP), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide, the current staffing levels of each of these teams and the shortfall in staff within each team as per the required number in the respective Models of Care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15778/24]
124. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15807/24]
123. 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 about 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. [15806/24]
120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to confirm that the family of a child (details supplied) on a HSE waiting list for an occupational therapist since 2022, who requires assisted technology for their exams and requires rest breaks, will be permitted to request this assisted technology from SENCO for their Junior Certificate if referred by their teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15799/24]
72. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money spent in Cork on housing adaption grants in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15654/24]
49. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes completed in Cork in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15653/24]