329. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to explain the recent budget cuts to the national school summer programme, known as the July provision, which supports students with complex needs (details supplied); if she will outline, given that only a third of primary schools are offering this programme, the steps that are being taken to encourage wider participation and ensuring that the reduced budget does not deter schools from participating in the national school summer programme; if she will outline plans to address this disparity and ensure equal opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21662/24]
313. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide assistance to a person (details supplied) regarding the ongoing issue pertaining to this child’s ability to obtain an ASD primary school place for the 2024/2025 academic year; the steps being taken by her Department to address the issues highlighted; if she will confirm that this child will receive an ASD primary school place for the 2024/2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21510/24]
264. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth f he will provide an update on an application submitted in October 2023 to the children’s disability fund by an organisation (details supplied); when the organisation will receive a decision on its application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21056/24]
586. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance to a person (details supplied) regarding the ongoing issue in relation to funding for a Trekinetic GTE wheelchair; the reason why this funding was denied despite the supporting medical information; what steps are being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20597/24]
567. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issues highlighted by a person (details supplied); the steps being considered to address the issues highlighted; when the person will receive a detailed response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20480/24]
320. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of an application for the school meals programme (details supplied); the reason this school did not receive approval in the latest expansion of this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20614/24]
235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide assistance to a school (details supplied); if she is aware that the delay in providing this additional accommodation will result in a large number of children being forced to be educated in overcrowded classrooms for September 2024; if she will expedite the processing of this school’s DES re: R1 Form on health and safety grounds; if she will ensure that all steps and processes are being considered to address the accommodation issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20881/24]
212. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide assistance to a school in Tipperary regarding the ongoing issue pertaining to their accommodation needs for an additional ASD classroom; if she is aware that the delay in providing this additional accommodation has resulted in a number of children being denied an ASD place for September 2024 (details supplied); what steps are being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20613/24]
208. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide assistance to a person (details supplied) regarding their ongoing issue pertaining to the supplementary panel for the 2023/24 school year under the terms of Circular 0074/2022; the reason this teacher was denied panel rights; what steps are being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20528/24]
205. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if assistance can be provided to a school (details supplied) regarding the ongoing issue pertaining to this school's accommodation needs; what steps are being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20495/24]
199. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide assistance to a school (details supplied) regarding the payment of the 2024 ancillary grant and information that was forwarded to schools on Friday, 26 April 2024; the steps being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20455/24]
165. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the current school transport system, specifically in relation to the situation faced by the parents of a school in Tipperary (details supplied); the measures being taken to address the concerns of these parents, who rely on the Bus Éireann school bus as an affordable transport option for their children, and who have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed changes to the school transport scheme set to be implemented by 2030; what can be done to ensure these students have an appropriate and affordable transport option to their local secondary school; what steps are being considered to address these issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20036/24]
336. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is a formal mechanism for local authorities to report issues or challenges back to her Department concerning burial ground management and practices; if so, how this information is actioned to improve sector-wide practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19557/24]
335. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department ensures it maintains adequate knowledge and expertise about sector specific challenges in burial ground management to provide effective guidance and support to local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19556/24]
334. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide insights into any known negative practices arising from the lack of standardisation in burial ground management across local authorities; the steps that are being considered to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19555/24]
333. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development given the critical role of burial ground management in public health and community welfare, if she will provide details of any existing national standards for these practices; if same do not exist, if she will provide an explanation for the absence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19554/24]
332. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures that are in place to ensure consistent oversight of burial ground management practices across all local authorities; how frequently these measures are reviewed for effectiveness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19553/24]
218. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the climate resilient reforestation scheme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/24]
217. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 20 June 2023, if he intends this to only apply in situations where the licence has not been actioned (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/24]
140. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide details on the measures being taken to address the following concerns for teachers and special needs assistants injured at work; the current provision of immediate financial assistance available to cover medical bills and medications for teachers and SNAs who have been assaulted at work; if she will consider the extension of assault leave for teachers/SNAs to cover the entire duration of medically certified leave, as opposed to the current limit of three-six months; if she will establish a comprehensive support system for educators who have been injured at work; if her Department has completed a review of current policies and supports for schools and educators dealing with instances of extreme and frequent violent behaviours (details supplied); what steps are being considered to address these issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19577/24]
126. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will postpone the planned introduction of the latest round of carbon tax increases for agricultural diesel from 1 May 2024 until 1 October 2024 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/24]
96. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will support the proposals concerning the Shallee Project and the development of facilities at Shallee Mine in Silvermines, County Tipperary; if he has been made aware of correspondence issued by email (details supplied) to his Department on 24 April 2024; if he will review the correspondence issued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19828/24]
681. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to reduce paediatric primary care wait lists in south Tipperary; if he will give a commitment to improve the waiting times for children waiting to access these much-needed appointments in 2024, many of whom are waiting over 12 months for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19011/24]
680. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current WTE posts filled and unfilled, respectively in south Tipperary primary care services, broken down by discipline for physiotherapy, occupational therapist, speech and language therapy, psychology, dietician, audiology and ophthalmology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19010/24]
555. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide information in relation to whether the provision of accommodation (details supplied) was scheduled to be delivered in four phases; if the owners will be offered an extension to their current contract when the initial 12-month period ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/24]
444. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the current status of the application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of an individual (details supplied) who was previously unsuccessful; to confirm if the diagnosis of 'Classic PKU - Non-Responsive to Kuvan' (Phenylketonuria) fulfils the qualifying medical criteria for payment of domiciliary care allowance, given that the child does not respond to Kuvan treatment and requires a very specific diet and continuous monitoring on a daily basis for a lifetime; the reason some parents of children diagnosed with this condition qualify for domiciliary care allowance, while others with the same diagnosis do not; to specifically clarify the reason that this applicant was unsuccessful in their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18927/24]
209. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if a school bus route which provides transport to a school (details suppled) will be adjusted and the route changed, in order that children living in a particular area can be collected outside of their home; the reasons previous correspondence to Bus Éireann on this matter have not received a reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18679/24]
482. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that farmers along the Shannon Callows in Redwood, Ballyea and Ballymacegan, areas of County Tipperary who were greatly impacted by flooding over a minimum of six flood occurrences over the course of dates between 2 July 2023 and 29 September 2023, were not included in the recent compensation scheme; if he is taking steps to address this oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17540/24]
436. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 27 February 2024, to confirm if officials in her Department have reviewed correspondence (details supplied); to confirm whether contact was made with representatives from a named association; if she will ensure that every effort will be made to rectify any possible irregularities at the earliest convenience, in order that this application can be processed and finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17565/24]
292. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in place to increase the provision of ASD places in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17552/24]
291. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education what assistance can be offered to a school (details supplied); when this school will be provided with a modular unit; the plans to increase the provision of ASD places in north Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17551/24]
222. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW will provide new stacked timbers, known as stoplogs, or wooden panels known as flashboards, to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17525/24]
214. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding his Department refused to provide to Tipperary County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation purchases and Traveller-specific accommodation maintenance, repairs and upgrades in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17118/24]
213. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocated funding provided to Tipperary County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation maintenance, repairs and upgrades in Traveller-specific accommodation in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17117/24]
212. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding sought from his Department and the number of properties purchased by Tipperary County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17116/24]
152. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to clarify the Government’s stance on an organisation’s (details supplied) call for a pre-registration VAT-exempt status for its qualified and accredited members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17146/24]
151. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to explain and provide clarity on the current discrepancies in VAT treatment between different professions in the mental health sector; what measures are being considered to ensure fair treatment and regulatory coherence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17145/24]
150. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the consideration of the VAT proposal submitted by an organisation (details supplied) in March 2024, which calls for the extension of VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland; what steps are being taken to address the issues raised by the IACP, including the low VAT turnover threshold, high compliance costs, and the burden of VAT on clients seeking mental health support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17144/24]
65. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to correspondence sent to her office from a person (details supplied); if she and the Government will support Ireland’s ambition for an organisation to host stages of the FIA World Rally Championship in Ireland over a three-year period from 2025-27; if she is aware of the tourism, economic, and cultural benefits that hosting such an event will offer to Ireland; when a decision will be issued on this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17037/24]
691. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress update on the HSE recruitment freeze; when this recruitment freeze is likely to be lifted; the number of front line positions per services department which remained unfilled in CHO5 south Tipperary and CHO3 north Tipperary compared to before the freeze was implemented, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16234/24]
559. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum average tree width acceptable under the native tree area scheme type 2 native forests for water protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16579/24]
558. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the minimum tree width acceptable under the native tree area scheme type 2 native forests for water protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16578/24]
339. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the assistance that can be offered to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16543/24]
199. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport the progress that is being made on improving public transport connections in Thurles and to a facility (details supplied) given record passenger numbers on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16071/24]
133. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what assistance can be offered to a child (details supplied) who urgently requires access to services offered through North Tipperary CDNT; when it is envisaged that the CDNT will be able to offer their family an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15599/24]
113. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if she will suspend the processing of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 until an examination of its potential impact on fundraising income for charities can be undertaken; if she is aware of concerns from charitable organisations (details supplied) that the Bill, in its current format, will impact their ability to fundraise and this potential loss of fundraising will increase the funding needed from several Government Departments that currently fund charitable organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15595/24]
66. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education what assistance can be offered to child (details supplied); when the educational supports this child needs will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15581/24]
1570. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health what assistance can be offered to a day centre (details supplied); when Section 91 for practising chiropody will reopen for registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15124/24]
1480. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the process for online applications for medical cards (details supplied); if the HSE will make arrangements to provide an option to have these documents printed by the HSE and then have them posted to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14767/24]
1479. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the English version of the medical card application form is currently not available for download from the Health Service Executive (HSE) website and checked on 24, 25. 26 and 27 March 2024; the reason these forms were unavailable on these dates (details supplied); the measures that are being taken to ensure the availability of these forms in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14766/24]