944. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he received the application for the dredging of Cé Heilbhic from Waterford County Council before 4 April; and if he will prioritise the works that are so badly needed now that the RNLI lifeboat and local fishermen are unable to go to sea either side of high tide. [24414/25]
925. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he believes we can renew our fisheries and aquaculture sector if we are not educating our young people in that sector. [23751/25]
924. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will continue to support higher diplomas in business in fisheries and aquaculture, and similar courses that are currently struggling to run because of a shortage of numbers, by bringing back the 50% grant-aid to help pay for fees. [23750/25]
923. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the current Programme for Government's promised action to "Ensure the promotion of marine education courses and degree programmes with a view to increasing enrolments", the plans in place to increase enrolments in marine education courses and degree programmes since formation of the Government. [23749/25]
856. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a detailed update on the protective services unit in Waterford, including current staffing numbers, ranks and specialisms, and to report on gender- and sexual-based violence, coercive control and non-consensual sharing of intimate images reported in the division over the past three years, as well as the response measures in place to support victims and pursue prosecutions. [23415/25]
854. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide the current number of Gardaí assigned to Waterford Garda Division, broken down by rank and station, and to detail how these figures compare to staffing levels in 2011 and 2020. [23410/25]
779. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 1 May 2025, regarding the affordable housing and social housing scheme at Tober Ciúin, Ardmore, County Waterford, with particular regard to whether the development is to consist solely of social housing units with no affordable housing units as per his response; and if this was incorrect, if he will correct his answer. [24480/25]
773. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta sonraí a thabhairt maidir leis an teagmháil agus comhoibriú go léir idir a Roinn féin agus Rannóg na Gaeltachta sa Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta maidir le ceist na tithíochta i limistéir Ghaeltachta. [24412/25]
705. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the town centre first policy has failed to significantly reduce vacancy rates in smaller towns since its launch; and if he will commit to new measures to strengthen its delivery. [23388/25]
676. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received any representations from Waterford City and County Council or Uisce Éireann regarding the need for a wastewater treatment facility in Bonmahon, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23296/25]
675. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to support rural communities like Bonmahon, County Waterford, where the absence of wastewater infrastructure is preventing new housing development, business investment, and tourism growth. [23295/25]
651. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the availability and use of capital support programmes under his Department for rural settlements like Bonmahon that are excluded from Uisce Éireann’s current investment plans; and if he will make a statement on the implications for community sustainability and regional balance. [23303/25]
648. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will reconsider the introduction of a content production levy given recent developments in the United States where there is now a proposed introduction of a 100% tariff on movies coming into the US from abroad. [24413/25]
630. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an dtabharfaidh sé achoimre ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le líon na mBailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta atá ag feidhmiú go gníomhach faoi phleanáil teanga. [23387/25]
629. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé na hacmhainní nua atá curtha ar fáil chun cur i bhfeidhm an Phlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge a threisiú. [23386/25]
628. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an dtabharfaidh sé sonraí ar an líon Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga atá ag feidhmiú faoi láthair i ngach Limistéar Pleanála Teanga, agus ar na bearnaí atá fágtha fós. [23385/25]
623. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she will put in place in order that more schools conduct online interviews (details supplied). [24410/25]
568. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason only children who have entered the country in the last two years can be counted when schools apply for additional EAL teaching posts; the reason the allocation is not made on the number of children who do not speak English (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23468/25]
524. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had with Uisce Éireann and the Department of Housing; Local Government and Heritage in relation to the impact of water and wastewater infrastructure deficits on enterprise growth and employment in towns like Dungarvan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23403/25]
523. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will commit to a coordinated regional enterprise strategy for the south east that includes dedicated investment in town centre renewal, public procurement access for local SMEs, and succession planning for indigenous businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23402/25]
522. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will undertake a review of enterprise and grant supports to ensure they are accessible to sole traders, family-run businesses, and employers operating in non-traditional or flexible work models, particularly in regional towns like Dungarvan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23401/25]
521. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline his Department’s strategy to support small and micro-enterprises in rural counties like Waterford, particularly in relation to access to affordable credit, reform of commercial rates, the introduction of an employer PRSI rebate for small firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23400/25]
494. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will clarify the current position of the Office of Public Works regarding the former Garda Station at An Rinn, County Waterford, and the adjoining State-owned lands; and to confirm whether the OPW will engage with the local authority or an approved housing body regarding the disposal of this site for the development of social and affordable housing to meet local need. [23418/25]
493. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide a full list of all coastal protection schemes under the remit of the Office of Public Works in County Waterford, including projects at any stage from preliminary discussion to implementation; and to outline the location, status, scope, and timeline of each scheme, particularly those addressing flood and erosion risks in vulnerable coastal communities. [23417/25]
492. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will set out what measures the Office of Public Works is taking to address flood risk associated with the Blackwater-Bride river system in County Waterford; to detail the status of any proposed or active flood relief schemes relating to this river system; and to provide an update on design work, funding allocations, timelines, and expected delivery. [23416/25]
305. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail what funding and technical support is being provided to local authorities to ensure compliance with the Waste Management (Use of CCTV in Waste Enforcement) Regulations 2023; if he will outline plans to expand or review these powers in light of ongoing challenges in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23384/25]
304. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm the number of local authorities currently using CCTV under the provisions of section 20 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022; if he will set out how his Department is ensuring that all such use is in line with data protection law; and if he will outline the role of CCTV as a tool in tackling persistent illegal dumping. [23383/25]
303. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Waste Management (Use of CCTV in Waste Enforcement) Regulations 2023, and if he will outline how his Department is supporting local authorities to deploy CCTV effectively for the detection and prevention of illegal dumping in both urban and rural areas. [23382/25]
139. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán céard atá a dhéanamh aige chun dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta Gaeltachta. [14541/25]
74. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of current wait times for driving test centres in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22291/25]
73. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to address the significant backlog of those waiting for a driving test in a test centre in County Waterford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22290/25]
72. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the significant driving test backlog in a test centre in County Waterford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22289/25]
14. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what was discussed if Government officials met with U.S. Congressman Brian Mast last week. [22090/25]
13. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the person from the Irish Government who met with U.S. Congressman Brian Mast last week. [22089/25]
12. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason U.S. Congressman Brian Mast was invited to Ireland last week. [22088/25]
11. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade he person or body that invited U.S. congressman Brian Mast to Ireland last week. [22087/25]
402. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will detail the actions taken under Our Rural Future to retain young people in rural areas through job creation and education initiatives; if he will outline whether these efforts have been successful; and if he will indicate how youth retention will be prioritised in the next rural development strategy. [21899/25]
401. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which the public consultation process on the successor to Our Rural Future will address shortcomings in the current policy, including issues of rural depopulation, housing, policing and access to essential services; and if he will ensure that the next rural strategy includes binding targets and timelines for delivery. [21898/25]
400. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his assessment of the impact of Our Rural Future on rural community safety, policing levels and public service provision in rural areas; and if he will acknowledge the concerns raised by rural communities regarding ongoing deficits in these critical areas. [21897/25]
399. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he accepts that the Our Rural Future rural development strategy failed to adequately prioritise rural housing delivery; the specific measures being taken to address this failure in the next rural development framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21896/25]
398. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of eligible local improvement scheme, LIS, applications that remain unfunded in each local authority area as of the latest available date; and if he will outline his plans to address this backlog. [21895/25]
397. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of LIS projects completed annually since 2020; and if he will provide details of the average funding awarded per project. [21894/25]
396. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current criteria used to assess applications under the local improvement scheme; and if he will outline any planned changes to eligibility requirements or prioritisation measures for 2025 and beyond. [21893/25]
395. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of local improvement scheme funding allocations, by local authority area, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21892/25]
394. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to ensure the social inclusion and community activation programme is fully aligned with national anti-poverty and social inclusion strategies over the period 2025 to 2030. [21891/25]
393. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the criteria used to assess the performance and impact of SICAP-funded initiatives; and if he will publish the latest programme evaluation findings. [21890/25]
392. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of individuals and groups supported under the social inclusion and community activation programme each year since 2020; and if he will provide a breakdown by county. [21889/25]