242. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the views outlined by the United Nations special rapporteurs on 23 September 2022, expressing concern that children of African and Irish descent were subjected to differential treatment in mother-and-baby homes due to their race and colour; if special redress will be provided through the mother and baby institutions payment scheme as a result of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57157/22]
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that he will take to ensure that online queries raised through MyWelfare accounts are responded to in a reasonable timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57178/22]
214. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to reduce the distance that a student has to reside from a primary and secondary school in order to qualify for school transport for the 2023-2024 school year and onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57145/22]
213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if there are any outstanding applications with her Department from Bus Éireann for approval of either extra or larger buses for school transport in order to meet the demand; if there are applications outstanding; the details of the applications; when the applications are likely to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57144/22]
212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she will request Bus Éireann to issue school bus tickets to late applicants who would otherwise have been eligible for school transport in view of the fact that the Bus Éireann website was down for reprogramming earlier in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57143/22]
211. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the reason that persons with e-mail addresses (details supplied) were not issued with emails to confirm their registration for a bus ticket in July 2022; if she intends instructing Bus Éireann to issue these applicants with bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57137/22]
208. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided to an eligible student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57107/22]
207. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided to an eligible student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57104/22]
144. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the bus companies that were fined by the NTA due to the fact that they did not comply with their public service obligations in providing bus services; the location of the substandard services; the details of the fine in each case; if the NTA had to obtain his approval to impose these fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57156/22]
143. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the proposals that he has put to the Government in relation to the upgrade of the rail line from Foynes to Limerick; the decisions that have been taken in relation to this vital project; the amount that will be expended on this project; the details of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57151/22]
84. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad iad na pleananna atá aici le TG4 a neartú agus lena chinntiú go mbeidh comhréir chothrom idir an maoiniú stáit atá ag TG4 le hais RTÉ; an bhfuil i gceist aici gasra oibre a bhunú le breathnú air sin agus ar an gcleachtas atá ann maidir le maoiniú S4C sa Bhreatain Bheag; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56876/22]
83. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil i gceist aici gasra oibre a bhunú le scrúdú a dhéanamh ar na féidearthachtaí atá ann don earnáil gnó, bunaithe ar an teanga a neartú, le go gcruthófar ioncam níos mó agus poist as an earnáil seo, gurb í an achmhainn nádurtha is mó atá sna limistéir Ghaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56875/22]
641. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an EU regulation or rule is in place that would prohibit her from providing for a dedicated sub-region for the offshore islands under LEADER; if so, when the regulation or rule was first introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56650/22]
556. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if categories of workers (details supplied) are eligible for the pandemic recognition payment; if so, when they will be paid the bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56421/22]
555. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if contract workers, such as contract cleaning staff, contract catering staff and contract security workers as opposed to agency workers who worked in the health service including in hospitals during the Covid pandemic will be eligible for the pandemic recognition payment; if so, when they will be paid the bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56420/22]
485. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of female prisoners who are sleeping on mattresses laid on the floor each night in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick Prison, respectively during September, October and to date in November 2022; the reason that this is occurring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56651/22]
484. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when the next naturalisation ceremonies will be held; the locations in which they will be held; when participants in the ceremonies will be notified; the reason for the delay in same given that in many cases persons need to make arrangements in relation to family, education and work commitments in order to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56648/22]
315. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the progress made in selecting a location for a base for the Naval Service on the west coast to service the immense area of Irish waters off this coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56417/22]
214. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the present carbon tax and excise duty charged on biofuels used for home heating; if he intends eliminating the carbon tax and excise duty on these biofuels when used as a substitute for diesel or kerosene as home heating oil in order to encourage a reduction in Ireland's carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56652/22]
181. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date with the development of a ports policy for the wind energy sector; when the policy will be published and implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56418/22]
116. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps taken since the enactment of the amended Official Languages Act 2021 to increase the intake of civil servants who are capable of doing their business through Irish and English; the number recruited to date in 2022 with such a competency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56384/22]
107. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total underspend on capital allocated to Departments to the end of October 2022; the steps taken to streamline and speed up capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56383/22]
312. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the shift leads will be appointed to the ICU in Mayo University Hospital as per the national directive given that all the other hospitals in the Saolta group have already had their shift leads appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55982/22]
236. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the conditions under which land designated as an SAC can be taken out of the SAC; if it is intended to change this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55983/22]
229. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is intended now to proceed with legal action in relation to the filling in of foreshore without permission in a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55914/22]
227. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil i gceist aici scéim a bhunú le teaghlaigh gurab í an Ghaeilge a dteanga baile a mhealladh go dtí an Ghaeltacht [55916/22]
226. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé na deontais nua nó meadaithe atá ar fáil do theaghlaigh a choinníonn scoláirí faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i mbliana agus i 2023 [55915/22]
176. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of money allocated in 2021 and to date in 2022 to NGOs by the Department for work on environmental and climate projects; the names of the NGOs involved; the purpose for which the money was allocated; the amount allocated in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55977/22]
165. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the amount of PAYE, USC and PRSI payable in 2022 by a one-income family with an income of €100,000 with only basic tax credits, including the homemaker's tax credit, as compared with a two-income family with each earning €50,000; the reason for the disparity in the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55042/22]
136. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he intends introducing a mortgage interest tax credit for first-time buyers of new or second-hand properties to assist them to deal with the challenge of ever-increasing interest rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55043/22]
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport his plans to continue the work ongoing on the western rail corridor connecting Foynes to Westport, Ballina and Sligo; the progress made to date in upgrading these lines for both passenger and freight; the reason for the delay in progressing construction, particularly on the sections of the lines closed at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55044/22]
21. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure adequate resources are made available to the NTA to provide frequent, good-quality commuter services for approximately 100 km around Ireland's towns and cities with either a third level college or a major hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55045/22]
150. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to repeal the Noxious Weeds Act 1936/37 in view of the new understanding of the need for biodiversity and the need to avoid unnecessary spraying; the number of prosecutions taken under the Act in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55855/22]
138. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when persons working in non-HSE nursing homes will receive the pandemic bonus of €1,000; the reason for the delay with these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55822/22]
136. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1079 of 2 November 2021, the progress made regarding the preparation of a care plan for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55808/22]
134. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he has raised concerns at EU level in relation to the short-term effect of the medical device regulation, which came into effect on 26 May 2021; if subject to a risk-based roll-out he will be looking for the deferment of the implementation of the directive from 2024 to 2027 and allow the use of existing stock after 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55796/22]
133. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of district medical officers on salary from the HSE in the State; the location of each; the increase in salary for these in the past ten years; the basis on which their salary is set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55795/22]
132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that pensioners who used to work for the HSE and received their salaries on a fortnightly basis receive their pension on a monthly basis in arrears; if he intends instructing the HSE to pay these pensions at the same frequency as they were paid their salaries while working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55794/22]
131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when home care workers employed during the Covid-19 pandemic will receive their €1,000 bonus payment; the reason for the delay in paying this; if he can assure this Deputy that all outstanding payments of the bonus to all entitled to it will be paid by Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55788/22]
130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in accessing the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, service in Galway city and county; the urgent action being taken to provide a quality service to young people in the county who require these services urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55787/22]
98. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be extra compensation under the mother-and-baby homes to children of African descent who were born in covered institutions, given that they were often subject to differential treatment due to racial prejudice, thus affecting lifelong outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55897/22]
95. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that persons who are in receipt of illness benefit for a period similar to the qualification period for qualifying for the double payment of welfare for recipients of supplementary allowance and jobseeker’s allowance benefit, were not entitled to the recently announced double payment of welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55819/22]
94. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the extra assistance provided by her Department in budget 2023 in terms of double payments and so on to pensioners who are not entitled to the State pension (contributory) as they were public servants and paid a modified PRSI contribution and who are suffering like all pensioners form the effects of the increase in fuel prices and the cost-of-living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55810/22]
79. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an application by a school (details supplied) for funding for a new SEN 2 base along with the replacement of four substandard classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55793/22]
78. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an application by a school (details supplied) for funding for a new SEN 2 base along with the replacement of four substandard classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55791/22]
62. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends introducing an incentive for persons who are council tenants and could afford to build or buy their own house, to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55862/22]
60. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received any update from the Public Appointments Service in relation to when it intends advertising the position for a permanent chief executive in Galway County Council; the explanation, if any, that it provided as to the reasons for the delay in doing so; the discussions that his Department has had with the PAS in relation to this matter since the requirement was made known to the PAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55827/22]
59. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will instruct both Galway City Council and Galway County Council to give equal consideration to applicants for housing who are on the housing list of one local authority, but who express a preference for housing in the other local authority as allowed (details supplied) to ensure equality of treatment of all applicants; if he has given consideration to instructing both councils to hold a joint housing list data base for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55804/22]
52. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a chuirfear an grúpa oibre ar bun le scrúdú a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt agus todhchaí na gColáistí Gaeilge; an t-amscála a bhainfidh leis an athbhreithniú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [55818/22]
51. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she intends setting up an independent enquiry to examine issues of concern that have arisen in relation to Irish dancing competitions run under the auspices of an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55809/22]