247. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education regarding the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community, specifically those pertaining to the exemption from Irish for dyslexic children and young people, if she is aware of the disappointment of The Dyslexia Association of Ireland that their points and views/recommendations which they presented to the Committee on 12 October 2022 have not been sufficiently taken into account in the Committee’s report or its recommendations; if she will confirm why the recommendations of The Dyslexia Association of Ireland were not adequately considered; if the views of The Dyslexia Association of Ireland will be fully taken into account before making any final decision regarding the new policy for the allocation of exemptions from Irish for dyslexic children and young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7416/24]
235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made on the development of a new Garda station in Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary; if the development of Clonmel Garda station is considered a priority for Government, given that a new Garda station in Clonmel is urgently needed for the members of An Garda Síochána stationed in Clonmel and for the members of the public they serve; when it is envisaged that works on the construction of the new station will start; the proposed completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7681/24]
104. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the measures being taken to support low-income families, such as increases in weekly social welfare payments, an increase in the domiciliary care allowance, and increases in the income thresholds for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7457/24]
102. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the steps her Department is taking in addressing the 'cliff-edges' in welfare systems; as she is aware these 'cliff-edges' in the welfare systems are where benefit entitlements and other supports are withdrawn sharply; these 'cliff-edges' disincentivise individuals from increasing their work hours or accepting pay rises as they might end up financially worse off due to the sudden loss of benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7456/24]
78. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the implementation of the new pay-related jobseeker's benefit system; how this reform is improving the social welfare system for persons with a strong work history so they can receive enhanced benefits if they lose their employment; what measures are being taken to ensure its successful implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7455/24]
329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 479 of 7 February 2024, if he will provide another status update concerning an inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State; when the terms of reference for this inquiry will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7083/24]
288. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the current caseload of the Nenagh Child and Family Agency Children’s Disability Network Team; the current level of whole time equivalent staff based in Nenagh’s CDNT; the number of WTE staff positions that are currently vacant, and the plans in place to address these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6678/24]
268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide additional information regarding the hen harrier within the ‘current distribution and breeding distribution for hen harrier’ layer and afforestation in the new forestry programme; when will this information be released for public review and consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6840/24]
267. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide additional information regarding high nature value farmland and afforestation in the new forestry programme; when will this information be released for public review and consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6839/24]
266. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide additional information regarding farmland birds and afforestation in the new forestry programme; when will this information be released for public review and consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6838/24]
265. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide additional information regarding breeding waders and afforestation in the new forestry programme; when will this information be released for public review and consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6837/24]
136. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of a school (details supplied), and consider a request from the board of management and parents for support from her Department to establish an autism-specific special class in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6726/24]
66. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can review an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7088/24]
534. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); when a final decision will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6311/24]
520. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of clearfell and thinning licensed per county for 2024, 2025, 2026; the details that are available to him on the felling licence application provided by the applicants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/24]
519. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date he intends to launch the revised ash dieback scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6646/24]
518. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to launch the native woodland conservation scheme as part of the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6645/24]
490. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene in the case of issues concerning a 2023 basic income support for sustainability, BISS, application by farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/24]
455. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to small rural primary schools that do not have the equipment or staff to heat, maintain and serve hot school meals through the hot meals programme; if her Department will provide such schools with additional funding to obtain heating equipment and the finances to compensate an existing member of staff, such as the school secretary, for the additional work and time needed to prepare, heat, and serve these meals to students five days per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6564/24]
330. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 17 January 2024, how the lottery system used during the STEM grant application process was highlighted in the briefing document to schools before they applied; her views on whether a lottery system was fair, considering the short timeframe offered to schools to complete the application, and the considerable effort schools put into submitting these applications and for them to fail without having the opportunity to be fully assessed on their individual merits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6568/24]
329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 17 January 2024, when her Department will issue a detailed and explanatory response to serious matters raised in correspondence from the management and principal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6567/24]
227. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the plans for the end of the motor fuel subsidy on 31 March 2024 (details supplied); if he plans to review or reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6143/24]
283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason an application for ECCE time extension exemption for a child (details supplied) was refused; whether the professional medical letter issued by the CDNT in support of the time extension was fully reviewed; whether this refusal will be reviewed and a time extension will be granted upon review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/24]
206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if an environmental grant is available for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6011/24]
584. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when hourly-paid adult education tutors with the ETB will receive parity with their full-time equivalent colleagues in respect of the terms and conditions for their employment, particularly a public service contract and access to an incremental salary scheme (details supplied); what work he is undertaking to avoid further disputes with this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5282/24]
479. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health for a status update concerning an inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State; when the terms of reference for this inquiry will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4977/24]
356. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application (details supplied); the exact location of the application; when this application will be reviewed; the average processing times for such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5337/24]
355. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice for an update regarding an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5324/24]
103. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he has been made aware of issues regarding the issuance of cheque books by Irish banks; if steps are being taken to address the issue; if there is a problem with the supply of cheque books due to issues with the printing companies; if so, the measures being taken to resolve this issue to ensure that customers of Irish banks are not adversely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5070/24]
244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the matter of school placements for children with disabilities in County Tipperary (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4694/24]
115. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied); the progress made in afforestation efforts, particularly in relation to the targets set for 2024; what measures are being implemented to ensure sustainable forestry practices in these operations; how these trends align with the national forestry management strategies and environmental conservation efforts; the impact of the ash dieback scheme and the native tree scheme on biodiversity and forest health in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/24]
37. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the increased cost of business scheme, ICOB, announced as part of budget 2024 (details supplied); the current status of the ICOB; the date on which it will start; the process businesses need to follow to apply for this grant; the measures in place to ensure the grant is distributed fairly and reaches the businesses most in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/24]
8. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can review an application (details supplied), given the urgent nature of this application, if all documentation required has been received to have this application processed at the earliest possible convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/24]
224. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 23 January 2024, if he will provide further clarification on when the Revenue Commissioners interpretation of section 86 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 changed (details supplied); when Revenue Commissioners notified farmers, accountants and tax consultants that their interpretation of section 86 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 was going to change and differ considerably from the previous 12 years of interpretation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4270/24]
543. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/24]
251. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the Government's approach in accessing and approving employment permits in Ireland, specifically the current guidelines and procedures for obtaining employment permits for companies who are trying to secure employment permission for foreign nationals who are seeking employment opportunities with their company; if he could provide details on the reason permit applications submitted by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2821/24]
221. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to review the correspondence from a person (details supplied); if he will provide clarification on the interpretation by the Revenue Commissioners of section 86 of the VAT Consolidation Act 2010; the reason and when the Revenue Commissioners reviewed and changed its interpretation of section 86 of Act; the reason farmers are being refused refunds/reclaims of VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/24]
269. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that dealing with a fallen tree following a storm can often be the most dangerous tree related operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2160/24]
268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a tree growing on private land falls onto the public road and a car collides with an already fallen tree, is the landowner or the County Council liable particularly in the case of Ash trees impacted by Ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2159/24]
1500. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when a Parkinson's nurse specialist will be assigned to the south Tipperary area and Tipperary University Hospital; and if any submissions were made regarding recruitment for this specialised area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56529/23]
1283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that the Forestry Service will not fail or ask for remedial actions where deer have damaged or eaten alder planted as additional broadleaves under the afforestation or reconstitution programme as alder is not eligible for the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1750/24]
1282. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if alder does not qualify for the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing scheme in both plots and as additional broadleaves in other forest type plots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1749/24]
1281. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the 20% additional broadleaves required under FT12 can comprise only one broadleaf species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1748/24]
1280. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the 20% additional broadleaves required in the new forestry programme under the new forest types can be only one broadleaf species or if a variety of broadleaf species are required under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1747/24]
1066. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice when applications by a group (details supplied) will be finalised and permission granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57390/23]
859. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the position regarding the hot school meals programme for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56431/23]
542. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department will review correspondence (details supplied); when her Department will contact the principal of this school to offer assistance and advice on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57235/23]
400. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 14 November 2023, if he has completed his investigation into this matter and if he can now provide a more substantive response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1488/24]
20. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if an FBR application (details supplied) will be reviewed; if all information required to have this application processed at the earliest convenience has been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56521/23]
423. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently address the critical issue of the delayed ACRES cooperation payments until February 2024, which was announced without any prior consultation with affected farmers or stakeholders (details supplied); if he agrees that immediate action and a review of the document submitted by an organisation are crucial; the steps he will take to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55946/23]