433. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 20 June 2023, and in view of the criteria stated in the native woodland conservation scheme (details supplied), if it is fair that this envisages the preparation and submission of the site-specific native woodland plan by a NPWS ecologist and NPWS forester to his Department prior to the clear-felling of the conifer forest taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46534/23]
296. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if school transport or school transport support grants can be extended to a student (details supplied) with special education needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46571/23]
286. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 17 October 2023, if she can make enquiries with Bus Éireann and ask them to confirm whether their online system ever experienced any issues related to the capturing of eircodes during the 2023-2024 ticket application process; if such an issue with eircodes was indeed present; if Bus Éireann will provide the Minister with the date(s) when this issue was identified and when it was subsequently resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46442/23]
265. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review correspondence received from a school (details supplied) given the gravity of the issue raised by the management of the school; if she will make arrangements for officials in her Department to engage with the school without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46178/23]
222. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the anticipated timeframe for the determination of an appeal lodged subsequent to the refusal of a permit application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46211/23]
221. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a permit application (details supplied) was refused; the relevant governing body/person that was consulted by his Department concerning this employment permit which led to a decision to refuse; what exactly is section 12(1I)(b) of the Employment Permits Act 2006; the reason the permit was under this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46195/23]
150. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he and Bus Éireann will consider the reinstatement of the Bus Éireann X12 Expressway service between Dublin and Limerick, which also includes a stop in Roscrea, County Tipperary in the event that the return of the X12 service is not feasible; if not, if he and Bus Éireann will consider introducing a public bus service from Roscrea to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46133/23]
52. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection the processing times for carer's allowance applications; the sequential processing time for applications sent for review by applicants, and refusals that are under appeals by applicants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46638/23]
272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding and assistance can be made available to a school (details supplied), which is at risk of closure due to the loss of its premises for the academic year 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45968/23]
200. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be issued regarding the application for a personal special needs assistant for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45979/23]
101. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he has received the correspondence regarding the unacceptable waiting times for driving tests, which are currently at an all-time high (details supplied); when he intends to issue a response to the correspondence received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45725/23]
434. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of the proposals for a voluntary dairy exit scheme that is currently under consideration by his Department; if he will provide information regarding the consideration given to the inclusion of an entry scheme for young farmers as part of or alongside the proposed exit scheme; if he will provide information on the various proposals being examined as part of this voluntary scheme and any engagement his Department has had with key stakeholders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45276/23]
255. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 10 October 2023; if he will confirm when the work on the Junior Certificate School Programme review will physically recommence; what is the new timeline for completing this review; when its findings will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45193/23]
226. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a student (details supplied) did not receive a school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; if the Bus Éireann system had an issue with the capturing of eircodes, as suggested by the applicants mother; if so, when this issue was resolved; when they will be allocated a ticket for the 2023/2024 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44785/23]
187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 05 October 2023, while it is heartening to read about the supports available to companies across the country and across County Tipperary if he will commit to utilising all available State agencies and exerting every possible effort to support the community of Carrick-on-Suir; specifically, if he, his Department and State agencies actively seek an alternative company to take over a factory (details supplied) and address the loss of approximately 50 jobs in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44631/23]
164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child was removed from the NCS scheme without a parent's knowledge or consent (details supplied); if he will review what additional recourse is now available to this child's parent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44505/23]
69. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 56 of 25 July 2023, when a decision will be reached regarding an individual's application to the foreign birth register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44499/23]
194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a company (details supplied) entrusted with the management of a significant number of properties under contract with his Department, has properties that either remain completely unoccupied or possess and have available family rooms that have not been allocated to anyone for over two months; the reason individuals continue to reside in tents in Stradbally while the company have secure, contracted properties which remain unutilised with vacant beds; if he will provide clarification regarding which department or section are now responsible for assigning persons to properties under contract with his Department as currently it appears that Citywest is no longer in charge of assigning persons to properties, and regional temporary accommodation hub managers are also without this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44260/23]
552. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of days from January 2022 to the end of September 2023 during which radiation oncology services at University Hospital Limerick were unavailable due to breakdowns in radiotherapy machinery/equipment, in tabular form; the average duration required to repair radiotherapy machinery/equipment at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43973/23]
514. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 528 and 532 of 13 December 2022, if he will review correspondence from the chairperson of an organisation (details supplied) concerning an increase in the number of proposed palliative care beds in Clonmel at the new development in St. Anthony's unit on the grounds of Tipperary University Hospital; if he will agree to review the current complement of palliative care beds in the Clonmel region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43683/23]
456. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he has received a copy of correspondence originally sent to An Taoiseach by a person (details supplied); if he will provide an additional €115 million for mental health services in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43454/23]
405. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 3 October 2023 and the case of goat milk farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44190/23]
234. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the ongoing issue pertaining to the need for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); what is the long-term plan for this school accommodation needs; if a permanent structure will be built on the school grounds or is it anticipated that additional modular units will be provided as a short-term measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44081/23]
228. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education when the JCSP review commenced; to outline the scope and guidelines for this review; when the review is expected to be concluded; when its findings will be issued; if it his intention to reopen the programme once the review is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44022/23]
329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence (details supplied) from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on behalf of nursing members across Tipperary, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, who are employed in CareDoc (section 39) organisation as community intervention team nurses; if he is aware that this cohort of nurses has not received their Covid-19 pandemic payment from the HSE or the Department of Health through KOSI; if he will support these nurses in receiving and addressing the non-payment of their Covid-19 pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43219/23]
318. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 970 Question Reference of 18 January 2023, if he will provide an update on the status of a person’s (details supplied) redress claim within the mother-and-baby institutions scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43349/23]
280. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a request from citizens information services in County Tipperary asking for additional funding and permission to increase its current complement of information officer posts (details supplied); if she will consider and approve the request from citizens information services in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43325/23]
279. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that staff working in citizens information services have not received any pay rise since 2008; if she will provide information on the efforts being made to address this issue and bring the compensation of staff in citizens information services in line with those working in equivalent positions within the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43323/23]
243. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 234 of 26 September 2023, if she will provide an update on this matter and confirm the current status of the provision of school transport for the person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43322/23]
242. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she has been apprised of the situation concerning a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43321/23]
241. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department will accelerate the processing of an application for additional accommodation submitted in March 2023, by a school (details supplied); if she will consider the unique circumstances of this school, which currently operates as a three-teacher school with only two classrooms; if she will take into account that using an SET classroom for the third teachers classroom is very unsatisfactory; if she will factor in the expected significant growth in projected enrolment numbers for the foreseeable future in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43320/23]
235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what assistance his Department can offer to the residents of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, in light of the recent closure of a factory (details supplied) and the resulting loss of approximately 50 jobs, which has placed significant hardship on the affected families; if he will commit to making every possible effort to aid the people of Carrick-on-Suir and actively seek an alternative company to take over the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43319/23]
233. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he is confident that both public and private sector employees are well informed about the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; if he will elaborate on the steps taken to ensure there is awareness of the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43245/23]
232. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an assessment has been conducted regarding the awareness levels of employees and employers in Ireland, encompassing both the public and private sectors, with regard to the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; if such an assessment has not been carried out, to outline the strategies and initiatives planned to enhance awareness among both employers and employees regarding the Code of Practice during the period from 1 October 2023, to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43244/23]
231. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide information on the educational seminars, radio marketing campaigns, expenditures on radio marketing, email campaigns, direct mail initiatives or any other related activities that have been conducted between 26 May 2023, and 1 October 2023, with the objective of raising awareness among both public and private employers and employees in Ireland regarding the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality; if he will provide information on any forthcoming activities scheduled for increasing awareness of the Code of Practice during the period from October to December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43243/23]
213. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to reinstating the VAT equalisation measure for rental cars in budget 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43377/23]
187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department and the Road Safety Authority have recently initiated discussions with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the implementation and deployment of floating bus islands and cycle lanes as integral components of active travel initiatives; if he and the RSA will to arrange a meeting with the organisation to gather the insights and perspectives on these novel active travel initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43351/23]
186. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department and the RSA (Road Safety Authority) have engaged with the Irish Motorcycle Association for Ireland (details supplied); if he and the RSA will consider scheduling a meeting with them at their earliest convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43348/23]
161. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reasons the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is no longer providing grants for the replacement of heat pumps; to specify what financial supports or grant funding can be obtained by persons whose existing heat pump systems are beyond economic repair and who have been informed by engineers that it is more cost-effective to replace than repair;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43192/23]
115. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance regarding Revenue duty and charges levied on motor dealers, traders, and registered vehicle importers during and after the Brexit period; as the Minister is aware Revenue demands specific documentation before granting clearance and releasing vehicles to their owners; if he is aware that Revenue is currently re-evaluating the duty and charges applied to vehicles imported into Ireland from the UK over the past three years; if he is also aware that Revenue is now imposing an additional 10% fee on these vehicles; the reason why Revenue introduced new guidelines and altered the requirements; if he concurs that the imposition of this additional 10% levy appears unjust, especially considering that motor dealers, traders, and registered vehicle importers had diligently adhered to Revenue's requirements at the time of import; furthermore, if he could explain the removal of the 2020/21 guidelines for compliance that were initially provided to motor dealers, traders, and registered vehicle importers on the Revenue website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42886/23]
144. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 28 September 2023, if he can confirm and provide clarity on the reason the timeframe for the approval to completion of works under the Croí Cónaithe (towns) fund was reduced from 18 months to 13 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43044/23]
54. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 16 May 2023, when the low-cost loan scheme for energy upgrades will be made available and opened for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42901/23]
472. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a case (details supplied); if the Minister is aware that since the identification of TB reactors in their herd, they have been unable to trade and are experiencing extreme financial hardship; the reasons they have been informed by the Department that they cannot claim any TB support payments; what financial support schemes are made available to goat milk farmers to assist in reducing the burden and costs associated with TB breakouts on such farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42221/23]
420. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can confirm when the income limit for the carer's allowance means test was last reviewed by her Department; if she is aware that the current income limit appears to be excessively restrictive, particularly in light of recent wage increases aimed at offsetting the significant rise in the cost of living, including the substantial increase in mortgage interest rates (details supplied); if she will give serious consideration to raising the income threshold to a more realistic level, or even consider abolishing the income threshold for carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42489/23]
181. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he and Irish Rail will consider the full reopening and upgrading of the train station in Clonmel, County Tipperary; if he and Irish Rail will explore the possibility of operating additional direct rail services between Waterford and Galway by utilising the current Waterford-Limerick line, thereby benefitting commuters of Ireland's largest inland town, Clonmel, with enhanced rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42107/23]
196. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the timeframe for the approval to completion of works under the croí cónaithe (towns) fund was reduced from 18 months to 13 months; what the rationale behind this decision was, especially considering that the initial 18-month timeframe was already proving difficult to achieve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42004/23]
126. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he would consider reviewing the medical card guidelines for individuals with spinal injuries; if he will contemplate the automatic provision of medical cards to individuals with a spinal cord injury based on certified medical needs, rather than financial means; if he will explore the possibility of extending the review cycle for medical card holders with a spinal cord injury to ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41666/23]
125. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can confirm whether the six planned regional assessment teams were fully established and operational by 1 August 2023 to address the significant waiting lists for assessments of needs; if, in the event that the teams were not fully operational by this date, he has considered allowing for the full reimbursement of private treatment expenses for children with disabilities and special education needs assessment from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41878/23]
61. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to a range of queries concerning the Budget Oversight Committee's recent recommendations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41684/23]
43. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he would consider extending the free energy upgrades provided under the warmer homes scheme to automatically encompass applicants who are over 66 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41701/23]