579. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34680/24]
578. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34679/24]
577. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34678/24]
576. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34677/24]
575. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34676/24]
574. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34675/24]
573. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a Bus Éireann school transport case (details supplied), which was submitted through the Bus Éireann Oireachtas help desk, has not been answered and a response not issued; if she will investigate this matter and instruct that a response is issued immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34674/24]
487. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the recent complaints regarding a company's use (details supplied) of 'in-demand' or 'dynamic' pricing for concert tickets, which has led to substantial and unexpected price increases; if he will investigate these practices to ensure they are fair and transparent to consumers; if he will take appropriate action to protect consumers from unfair and misleading pricing tactics; if he will provide guidance on any measures that can be implemented to enhance transparency and fairness in ticket pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35566/24]
376. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the actions being taken to improve access to low-cost finance for farmers, given the reported 17% reduction in SME credit to the agricultural sector since 2017; if he will provide details on any planned initiatives to ensure farmers have sufficient working capital to operate efficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35652/24]
375. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend agricultural tax reliefs beyond December 2024, including agri-stock relief, the flat rate refund, and excise duty relief on agricultural diesel; if he will consider revising the definition of agricultural activities within taxation to encompass diversified farming systems, as well as increasing the category A threshold for agricultural relief from capital acquisitions tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35651/24]
372. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to address the concerns regarding inheritance tax, will he consider reviewing the thresholds in Budget 2025 and provide increased tax-free thresholds and clearer guidance to alleviate the tax burden on young people inheriting family homes and assets, particularly its impact on family homes across Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35564/24]
371. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to address concerns regarding inheritance tax, particularly its impact on young people; if he will address the issue of costs incurred by individuals inheriting property and assets from a parent; if he is aware that currently the average cost for tax advisors on such matters is approximately €1,500 alone, before any professional solicitors’ fees are paid; his plans in Budget 2025 to help individuals who are impacted by these costs which occur before any capital acquisitions tax is paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35559/24]
364. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the introduction of individual savings accounts in Ireland, similar to those available in the UK, to encourage long-term savings, promote investment and economic growth, enhance financial inclusion and education, and support homeownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35419/24]
347. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to consider abolishing the deemed disposal tax on investment funds and ETFs, which requires individuals to pay capital gains tax on unrealised gains after eight years, regardless of whether the assets are sold; if his attention has been drawn to the financial burden this places on young investors who are just beginning to invest and work towards their financial goals; if he will outline any plans to review this policy to promote long-term investment, boost economic growth, and create a more investor-friendly environment; if the Minister will review the attached correspondence from a recent graduate with a degree in economics and finance from UCD (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34837/24]
313. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce legislative changes to exempt actively farmed land from the residential zoned land tax, given the concerns that the annual 3% tax on market value could force the sale of intergenerational land; the steps that will be taken to address the rejection of exemption submissions by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35656/24]
304. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to introduce plain English in the driver theory test, in line with the Government’s policy to incorporate plain English across all State services, to better support individuals with learning disabilities and ensure accessibility for all; the current supports provided in the driver theory test for individuals with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35777/24]
296. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to provide clarity on the recent decision by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to instruct local authorities to withhold planned road improvement tenders unless explicitly approved by TII; the rationale behind this decision and specifically; if he will address the impact of this decision on t projects (details supplied) in Tipperary, which have either been withdrawn after tender or have not yet been tendered. [35521/24]
236. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if the Minister will support a Bus Éireann route change (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34790/24]
131. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a better energy warmer homes application submitted over 14 months ago (details supplied) has not yet received its BER assessment; if his Department will review this application; if he is confident that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has sufficient resources to manage and cope with the large volume of applications it is receiving; the general timeframe for BER assessments and full processing of better energy warmer home applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35475/24]
106. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the situation of residents who use a coin meter for electricity, given that these residents are not registered with an electricity supplier in Ireland, do not have an individual meter point registration number, and do not receive an electricity bill, this results in no energy credit being passed onto the residents; if energy credits are announced or allocated to persons again in Budget 2025 or if further schemes are designed to assist with the cost of energy; if he will into account the difficulties that such persons who have coin meters face; the provisions that can be put in place to allow such residents to claim the energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34728/24]
101. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will take immediate action to review and rectify the impact of the 2013 ‘pension accord’, which has resulted in reduced pensionable entitlements, reduced pension gratuities/lump sums upon retirement, and the loss of parity of pension increases with pay increases for pre-1984 employees; if he will ensure that the promised review of the ‘pension accord’, which was due in 2023, is conducted without further delay, given the substantial surplus of €0.7 billion in An Post’s pension funds at the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34670/24]
100. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can address the significant delays in the approval and payment of pension increases for An Post retired pensioners, which require Ministerial approval and have resulted in unacceptable delays, such as those experienced in 2022 and 2023; the measures he is taking to rectify these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34668/24]
99. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the ongoing issues faced by An Post retired pensioners regarding their pensions and pensionable entitlements, particularly those protected under Section 46 of the Post and Telecommunications Act 1983; the measures he is taking to rectify these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34667/24]
2606. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the development plans for a college in County Tipperary (details supplied); if the Government will consider the college in future capital investment plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31602/24]
2068. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department and the Health Service Executive have separated the pay of clinical nurse specialist from the clinical nurse manager 2 pay scale, as was previously customary, without negotiations with the clinical nurse specialist representative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31376/24]
1998. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the measures that were taken to communicate changes in the reimbursement rate for cataract surgery from €1,928 to €863 to patients (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31012/24]
1991. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if guidance will be provided by the HSE to parents living in the catchment area of Nenagh Hospital who have children with special needs, regarding what they should do in the event of an emergency dental appointment, given that there is currently no special needs dentistry services at Nenagh Hospital; if Portlaoise Hospital, which has special needs dentistry services, will accept emergency cases; if he and the HSE can provide any assistance or advice on this matter to such emergency dental appointment cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31002/24]
1990. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the special needs dentist who was operating out of Nenagh Hospital has recently left their position and has not been replaced; if the HSE has plans to find a replacement for this critical role, given the importance of special needs dentistry services for children who require sedation for dental procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31001/24]
1963. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health how the decision to reduce the reimbursement rate for cataract surgery from €1,928 to €863, through the cross-Border healthcare scheme aligns with the Government’s commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30919/24]
1962. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the recent decision by the Health Service Executive to reduce the reimbursement rate for cataract surgery from €1,928 to €863 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30918/24]
1808. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a building block application will be reviewed (details supplied); the reason this application was not successful following the Pobal appraisal process; the additional funding opportunities that will be available for groups such as this to obtain funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32137/24]
1800. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to address serious concerns raised by parent representatives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31999/24]
1734. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current status of a property (details supplied); whether his Department received an expression of interest or an application to use this property for the purposes of accommodating either International Protection Accommodation Service persons or beneficiaries of international protection from the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30890/24]
1071. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability through the HGD, HOP and MAG will be increased (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31702/24]
898. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media his views on the concerns raised regarding the ongoing funding of RTÉ, the recent reduction of VAT on newspapers and the lack of proper regulation of the social media sector putting local radio stations at a significant commercial disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30904/24]
897. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide information on the steps being taken to address the concerns raised by an organisations (details supplied) regarding the need for substantial ringfenced support for independent radio for core news and current affairs programming, and the provision of interim funding to independent stations until the pilot schemes can be amended to ensure long-term support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30903/24]
896. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the two journalism schemes that are to be announced alongside the funding for RTÉ will have dedicated funding for local radio; if these schemes will be accessible to local radio and provide the required support to protect their existing core news, current affairs, and information programme content; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30902/24]
895. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on the imminent decision on major funding for RTÉ; if she has considered its implications for the independent radio sector, specifically local radio stations (details supplied); if she considered the concerns raised by an organisation regarding the lack of workable solutions for the sector and the risk of decline in core news and current affairs services due to digital disruption and lack of fair funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30901/24]
487. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the works to Cashel Garda station, Hogan Square, Cashel, County Tipperary; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a separate budget is required for additional civil works at the rear, specifically for the development of a car park and associated provisions; when this budget will be approved in order that these civil works can be completed in conjunction with the current works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32059/24]
317. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if the case of a prize bond will be examined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31484/24]
340. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 29 May 2024, if he will expedite a scanning appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30529/24]
415. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide details on how his Department plans to support the development of clinical nurse specialists in the community, which is essential for the improvement of services and the development of Sláintecare, especially during the current recruitment and retention crisis in the healthcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30442/24]
414. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason, despite the recommendations for the implementation of the recommended salary increment for clinical nurse manager 2, as suggested by the expert review body on nursing and midwifery, the salary increment has not been applied to clinical nurse specialists, particularly those working in community palliative care in south Tipperary, and what steps are being taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30441/24]
413. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the implementation of the recommended salary increment for clinical nurse manager 2, as suggested by the expert review body on nursing and midwifery, given that the salaries of clinical nurse specialists are linked to this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30440/24]
207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the review of the family reunion policy; if consideration will be given to amending the policy to allow individuals in full-time employment to have their family with them from the start of their full-time employment; when it is envisaged that this review will be finalised and the review findings issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30436/24]
686. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged zero to 18 years of age waiting for primary care appointments, broken down by discipline in each CHO; the length of time children are waiting for a particular appointment, be it an initial appointment or further assessment or therapy, as of 30 June 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29188/24]
426. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 16 May 2024, when he and the Minister of State in his Department will meet with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29581/24]
228. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform concerning the flood relief scheme for Freshford, County Kilkenny which was approved in May 2023 to be included as part of a national pilot to inform the delivery model for future flood relief schemes, the current status of this flood relief project; the timeframe for the commencement of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29320/24]
300. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the school transport scheme, specifically in relation to concessionary tickets, and on the specific case of a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28960/24]
275. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if a sensory room grant application from a school has been received (details supplied); when a decision is expected on this application; if a lottery system will be implemented in the event a large volume of applications from primary schools are received that exceed the budgetary provisions of this sensory room grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28699/24]