1395. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures his Department is implementing to address the issues raised by the motion passed by Seanad Éireann (details supplied) relating to precarious work in higher education; if any of the policy solutions recommended by Seanad Éireann have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47848/23]
1131. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health how many patients are on the orthodontic assessment waiting list in Galway; how long the current waiting time is; how many patients are on the orthodontic treatment waiting list; what the current wait time is; if there are currently any unfilled clinical positions in the Galway service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47464/23]
631. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details, for each of the 31 local authorities, on the number of inspections for minimum standards of private properties carried out in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; the number of enforcement orders made; the reason for each of the enforcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47708/23]
529. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made on the issue of 'fair post-primary redeployment for teachers'; the plans going forward to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48419/23]
307. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if it is the case that PhD research students are excluded from the new student renters' credit; if so, if he can outline the rationale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47666/23]
304. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if the change in the renter's tax credit which allows for students living in digs accommodation to avail of the tax credit requires the landlord to be registered with the RTB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47596/23]
303. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if students who are currently paying for student accommodation but are not currently in employment and paying tax through that employment can avail of the renter's tax credit; and if so, how this will function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47595/23]
302. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if parents who are currently renting themselves and also paying the rent for their children in student accommodation will receive the tax credit once for the accommodation in which they are based, or twice to include the student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47594/23]
288. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what funding supports are available for apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47075/23]
122. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the review into the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse Fish Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 and the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law No. 809 of 2006 will commence, considering that both bylaws protect and conserve invasive and non-native freshwater fish in Lough Corrib SAC, which is completely at odds with Ireland’s legal obligations under the EU habitats directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47127/23]
120. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí an bhfoilseoidh sí an méid iomlán a íoctar mar 'Sochar Linbh' sa stát in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 agus 2022 agus i bhfoirm thábla. [46764/23]
104. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the current iteration of the means test for social assistance payments; if her Department is taking steps to update the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46179/23]
208. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad é suim an deontais reáchtála a ceadaíodh do gach comharchumann agus gach comhlacht pobalbhunaithe Gaeltachta sa bhliain 2023; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45969/23]
91. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on his efforts to increase the number of graduate dentists into the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45693/23]
89. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is ensuring that the National Maritime College of Ireland has the required level of funding to continue providing the essential training in green technology and skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45697/23]
86. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to the announcement of the significant funding that Magee University would receive from the shared island initiative to expand its capacity, if he will provide details of the nature of the arrangement; the way it will work in practice; the benefits it will bring in terms of workforce planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45696/23]
80. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on his efforts to increase the number of graduate entry medicine places; the reason he has not tried to reduce fees as a means to attract more applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45694/23]
78. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current number of apprentices waiting for off-the-job training at levels 2, 4 and 6 in addition to the numbers waiting for such training in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45695/23]
76. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there was such an absence of measures related to purpose-built student accommodation in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45692/23]
74. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for the one-off cost-of-living measures in budget 2024 associated with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45691/23]
36. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán céard í an fhaisnéis is déanaí maidir le toghcháin phoiblí do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45645/23]
17. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil aon mhaoiniú breise ar fáil i mBuiséad 2024 do mhná tí na gColáistí Samhraidh Gaeltachta chun dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim ina bhfuil 30% díobh éirithe as ó 2018; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45644/23]
289. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for not addressing the cost of graduate entry medicine fees as a means for increasing the number of qualified medicine graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45383/23]
155. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45571/23]
644. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his progress on the roll-out of graduate entry dentistry across selected Irish universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45351/23]
643. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his announcement of an additional €4.1 million to "enhance the number of places" in GEM for EU students as part of Budget Expenditure Report (2024), can he outline the estimated number of places this equates to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45350/23]
642. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his announcement that PhDs will receive a €3,000 increase in their stipend, if he can confirm that this applies to institutional scholarships; if the funding for this will come from the additional €60 million in core funding announced in Budget Expenditure Report (2024); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45349/23]
641. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the €400 thousand bursary announced in the Budget Expenditure Report (2024) for apprenticeships from underrepresented areas; the qualifying criteria; how many awards this equates too; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45348/23]
640. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the €67 million announced for apprenticeships in the Budget Expenditure Report (2024), how much of this comprises unspent funds from the €30 million that was announced for apprenticeship in Budget Expenditure Report (2023); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45347/23]
562. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the measures that were put in place for patients with complex cancer cases in Portiuncula Hospital prior to the hiring of a consultant radiologist six weeks ago, in terms of their representation at the multidisciplinary meetings at Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45034/23]
482. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list figures, average waiting time, number of people waiting more than six months, more than one year, more than two years, more than three years, more than four years, more than five years, more than six years, more than seven years and more than ten years in Galway, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44642/23]
360. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish the payment dates of all additional lump sum payments announced as part of budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44933/23]
303. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the policy in relation to allocating social housing with additional rooms to families who have children with additional needs, i.e., if an OT recommended a child to have access to a sensory room in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44654/23]
288. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of recipients of home tuition grants due to mental health issues for 2022-23; the average number of weekly hours they received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45352/23]
178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the breakdown of the Covid Contingency Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44999/23]
102. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when his officials in 2007 were drafting the Lough Conn and Lough Cullin (Conservation of Brown Trout) Bye-law No. 827, 2007, whether the now defunct North Western Regional Fisheries Board (NWRFB) provided him and his Department officials with validated scientific data to show that rod and line angling was having a direct and measurable impact on brown trout stocks in Loughs Conn and Cullin (River Moy SAC), and if Department officials used any scientific data to ensure that the said bye-law was in compliance with the requirements of Regulation 31 of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 94 of 1997); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44653/23]
152. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the ACRES scheme; when farmers will be updated regarding the amount they are due to be paid; when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44501/23]
148. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make the benefit payment for 65-year-olds a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44413/23]
112. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify when construction of a modular building for the ASD unit at a school (details supplied) will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44439/23]
321. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the benefit payment for 65-year-olds is not a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43625/23]
71. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if the Government will ensure that the Western Rail Corridor is added to the TEN-T network following the publication of the All-Island Rail Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43921/23]
237. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1085 of 20 September 2023, the current number of apprentices waiting for off-the-job training at levels 2, 4 and 6; the numbers waiting for such training in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43004/23]
724. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address matters raised (details supplied) regarding students from the North wishing to study in universities in the South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42688/23]
720. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, in relation to the issue of PhD stipends and his Department's recent report recommending they be increased, he is aware that some institutions provide stipends from benefaction funds; if he is aware that stipends from such funding sources are being considered for the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42568/23]
719. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline, in light of the recent publication of his report on PhD stipends, the discussions he has had with different universities; if he can confirm, in tabular form, which universities have agreed to increase the value of their stipend; the value of the increase; the date this is being enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42567/23]
578. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if respite and end of life care is currently provided in Áras Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua; if so, the number of respite spaces currently available; if not, when these services were terminated; what is being done with those bed spaces now; what analysis was conducted as the basis for ceasing the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42204/23]
577. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the maximum bed capacity in Áras Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua each year from 2018 to 2023, in tabular form; the number of beds that are currently occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42203/23]
427. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department's recommendation to people who are suffering a short-term illness or injury which prevents them from engaging in work but do not have adequate PRSI contributions to qualify for illness benefit; if there is a suitable payment that this cohort can apply for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42797/23]
190. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport in relation to the Galway Oranmore Passing Loop rail project which was announced in 2021, stated that it would commence in Autumn 2022 and be opened in early 2024; however little progress to date has been made; if the Minister can outline the reasons for this and provide an updated timeline for commencement and completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42274/23]