244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will address the urgent health and safety concerns at a school (details supplied); if she will provide funding for the installation of safety equipment, as outlined, to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff; and if she will consider granting Urban DEIS 1 status to the school to address the various challenges faced by the school, including poor infrastructure, insufficient playground space, inadequate ICT resources, and high levels of deprivation among the pupil population, to enhance educational outcomes and provide better support for the school community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8868/25]
373. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of a report (details supplied) highlighting the challenges faced by businesses in Tipperary due to severe storms, snow and ice disruption earlier this year; the progress made in addressing these challenges; his plans for any financial assistance, tax relief measures, and improved snow and ice management to prevent future disruptions; if there is a pathway for financial support for the affected businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/25]
1073. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if allowances are available to a person (details supplied); if allowances are given in such circumstances for minor discrepancies; if this case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46280/24]
1072. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if allowances are available to a person (details supplied); if allowances are given in such circumstances for minor discrepancies; if this case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46279/24]
470. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to address the urgent need for the building project at a school (details supplied); the reasons for the delay in progressing past stage 2A, apply for planning permission, and move to the tender and construction stages; the reason the interim modular accommodation granted in September 2022 was subsequently reduced, resulting in inadequate facilities for the current and projected student population; the timeline for the approval of progressing past stage 2A, the envisaged timeframe for the tender stage; the timeframe for construction to ensure the school can meet the needs of its students and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46265/24]
207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that Newport does not have a bus service between 2:30 PM and 5:10 PM from Limerick (details supplied); if he will seek to review the Cashel to Limerick bus service via Newport operated by Bus Éireann route 332 for an additional bus service to Newport around 4:30 PM to address this gap in the schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1000/25]
193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an appeal by a club (details supplied) was received; when this club can expect to receive a decision on their appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45661/24]
1204. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 17 October 2024, when a full and detailed reply will issue on the substantial part of this question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44930/24]
1203. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 315 of 17 October 2024, when a full and detailed reply will issue on the substantial part of this question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44929/24]
1202. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); when full funding will be approved for their appointment to a position in Tallaght University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44925/24]
604. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if properties in Tipperary with issues related to pyrite and other contaminants in the cement and concrete blocks used to build their principal private residences will be able to receive financial assistance through the proposed defective concrete block redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44924/24]
543. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he plans to address the concerns regarding the suitability of Waterways Ireland facilities for sailing boats of certain draughts and heights, given that these boats are largely confined to the lake but are expected to pay the same fees as all users; the measures he is taking to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44062/24]
542. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage why the latest draft of the Waterways Ireland Shannon and Canal Bye-laws has only been shared with an organisation (details supplied), representing only 20% of boaters, and not with other key stakeholders such as recreational users, local communities, and business operators; what steps will be taken to ensure a more inclusive consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44061/24]
531. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an appeal was received (details supplied); when this club can expect to receive a decision on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44933/24]
530. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an appeal was received (details supplied); when this club can expect to receive a decision on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44932/24]
529. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an appeal was received (details supplied); when this club can expect to receive a decision on the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44931/24]
471. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if immediate action will be taken to review this refusal and approve the allocation of assistive technology equipment for this student; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44928/24]
248. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance what measures are being considered to ensure that the introduction of mandatory insurance does not lead to overcharging due to a lack of competition among insurance providers, potentially contravening EU competition law; the measures he is taking to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44063/24]
235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport for information and data regarding the car driving test outcomes in County Tipperary; the percentage of driving tests conducted at each driving test centre in Tipperary that have resulted in failure over the past year, by each test centre from August 2023 until the end of September 2024; if any person received multiple failures by the same examiner; if any of the failure rates at these centres and testers are higher than the national average; if there are higher than average failure rates, the reason for these discrepancies, in tabular form; the steps he is taking to correct any higher than average failure rates to ensure all driving tests are conducted fairly and in line with national driving test policies, testing guidelines and procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45109/24]
291. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will engage with a person (details supplied) to explore opportunities for grant aid and support in the development of her initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43747/24]
167. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns of a school (details supplied) regarding the lack of DEIS status, despite significant indicators of social disadvantage; if she will consider revising the DEIS criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43597/24]
166. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns of a school (details supplied) regarding the lack of DEIS status despite significant indicators of social disadvantage; if she will consider revising the DEIS criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43596/24]
49. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport how the Government plans to address the apparent funding disparities, highlighted by the significant investments in other infrastructure projects and airports, in contrast to the lack of support for Waterford Airport; if he will commit to prioritizing the Waterford Airport proposal to foster regional economic growth, enhance tourism, and support the business community in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43338/24]
48. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the status of the Waterford Airport development proposal, considering the urgent need for a decision before the Dáil dissolves, to avoid a delay of six to nine months, which could jeopardize the project and its potential economic benefits for the south east region; if he will outline the steps being taken to ensure this critical investment is secured promptly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43337/24]
637. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department can provide grants or funding assistance for the construction of a specialised care home for individuals with Angelman Syndrome, including for a person (details supplied); if he will fully consider this request for assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43012/24]
574. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the steps that are being taken to address the stress and uncertainty faced by clerical officers in An Garda Síochána due to the lack of communication from both a union (details supplied) and her Department; to ensure that transparent and timely updates are provided to these employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42915/24]
573. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the measures that are being taken to ensure that clerical officers who may lose their Civil Service status retain their mobility rights to transfer to other Government departments; the reason why the mobility status of clerical staff in An Garda Síochána was frozen for six months without union consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42914/24]
572. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice to provide a detailed update on the current status of negotiations with a union (details supplied) regarding the potential loss of Civil Service status for clerical officers in An Garda Síochána, including whether an agreement has been reached; the terms of any such agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42913/24]
315. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for persons who are on the waiting list for community eye services in the Cashel and Clonmel area of County Tipperary; if individuals on the waiting list have been contacted to inform them that there is no longer an ophthalmologist in the area; if these cases will be referred to other ophthalmologists within the HSE, while waiting for full services to be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42195/24]
314. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if the Cashel and Clonmel areas of County Tipperary are receiving community eye services as outlined in the primary eye care review completed in 2017; if not, the reason the services recommended in the review have not been established in these areas; when full community eye services will be restored to these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42194/24]
313. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the community eye services in the Cashel and Clonmel area of County Tipperary have ceased operations due to the retirement of the ophthalmologist; if a recruitment campaign was initiated to find a replacement for the retired ophthalmologist; when a suitable candidate will be found to replace the retiree; when it is anticipated that the community eye services in Cashel and Clonmel will be fully reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42193/24]
285. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when additional measures will be implemented to address the outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in parts of County Tipperary; if there are sufficient personnel in the district veterinary offices at present dealing with disease-control issues; to confirm that the ongoing testing of badgers and wild deer will continue for the reminder of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42213/24]
20. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current status and future plans for the Defence Forces’ recruitment and retention strategy, particularly in light of recent reports indicating significant personnel shortages, and given the critical role of the Defence Forces in ensuring national security and fulfilling international obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41979/24]
116. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to review a school bus ticket application for a person (details supplied); the reasons this applicant is still on a waiting list for a concessionary ticket for a bus ticket from an area to a school; when this child can expect to be issued with a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41688/24]
85. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to consider revising the VAT regulations for small bus operators, particularly those involved in school transport, to allow them to reclaim VAT on the purchase of new buses, noting that the current VAT rate of 23% with no reclaim option places a significant financial burden on these operators, especially given the lack of a second-hand market and the impact of Brexit on import options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41878/24]
528. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) persons living in County Tipperary at the end of September 2024, given that the county is currently considered at capacity for such persons and as County Tipperary has already significantly contributed to accommodating IPAS persons; if he can confirm that no further new contracts or additional new allocations for IPAS persons accommodation will be made in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40941/24]
453. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the significant delays in the completion of toxicological analyses for coronial autopsies due to understaffing and lack of resources at the State laboratory in Celbridge, County Kildare; the details on plans to increase the number of pathologists available to complete coronial autopsies, particularly in the regions of Limerick, Clare, and north Tipperary (details supplied); the steps being taken to address these delays and understaffing and lack of resources at the State Laboratory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41457/24]
275. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to review a school bus ticket application for a person (details supplied); the reasons that this applicant, who had a concessionary ticket last year, is still on a waiting list for a concessionary ticket for this school year on a route number; when this child can expect to be issued with a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40948/24]
206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will address the urgent staffing and resource issues at Roscrea primary care centre (details supplied); if he is aware that a community-registered nurse (CRGN) on maternity leave has not been fully replaced, leading to reduced nursing cover; if he will expedite the approval for increased hours for the CRGN covering this maternity leave to address the staffing shortages and ensure the effective delivery of primary care services in Roscrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40420/24]
569. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issues faced by a person (details supplied); if guidance will be provided on this matter and ensure that their return to work is facilitated in a timely and supportive manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39917/24]
248. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason owners of newly constructed homes are currently ineligible to apply for grants under the water well grant scheme for the drilling of a private water well supply; the reason for a condition in the current grant scheme that the house must have been fully constructed for more than seven years; if he will review this condition and consider removing it to allow newly constructed homes to avail of grant funding when such new homes are not connected to and cannot reasonably be connected to an Uisce Éireann water supply or a group water scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39911/24]
209. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will address the urgent need for the introduction of extra time in State examinations, specifically the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams, for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning difficulties; if she will acknowledge the significant disadvantage these students face without such accommodations; the steps she is taking to expedite the review process and implement this necessary support in line with practices in other European countries; if she is aware of correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) to her Department supporting this matter; the efforts she is making to address the urgent need for extra time in State examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40141/24]
79. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the strategic importance of diversifying airport usage to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on Dublin Airport; if he will provide details on how decentralising flights to regional airports, such as Shannon, can reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to Ireland’s environmental goals, particularly in light of the potential 4.6kg decrease in road-based CO2 emissions per visitor when flying from Shannon instead of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39884/24]
78. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the immediate implementation of measures to optimise air traffic management and introduce new coordination parameters prioritising new long-haul destinations from Dublin Airport; if he will outline plans to lift the threshold on the regional airports programme to include Shannon and Cork airports, thereby enhancing national connectivity and supporting sustainable aviation development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39883/24]
77. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he acknowledges and accepts that Ireland’s airport capacity problem is fundamentally a policy issue rather than a capacity issue; the steps being taken to develop a cohesive national airports policy that leverages the existing capacities at Shannon and Cork airports to relieve pressure on Dublin Airport and ensure balanced regional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39882/24]
187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current status of the Shannondoc service in Roscrea, County Tipperary, given the ongoing concerns from residents about the lack of this essential service; the steps being taken to address this issue and ensure the community of Roscrea has access to adequate medical care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39535/24]
186. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the issue with dispensing fees for community pharmacists and ensure the sustainability of these essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39533/24]
167. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his views on the current operational status of the new community nursing unit in Nenagh, County Tipperary, originally meant for the transfer of St. Conlon's patients. [39334/24]
164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the case of a child (details supplied); to clarify the assistance that can be offered to ensure this child obtains the cognitive assessment within the required timeframe, before the school enrolment closing date of January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39503/24]
102. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way she plans to address the market distortion in the media sector and ensure a level playing field for independent radio stations competing against global technology platforms and domestic players like RTÉ; if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) and Coimisiún na Meán to develop simple, pragmatic, and constructive solutions to support the provision of public service content by independent radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39498/24]