Tipperary North — week of Mon, 23 Sept

What your Tipperary North TDs did this week

Mon, 23 Sept – 29 Sept 2024 · 3 TDs · 1 bill voted on · 44 questions · 3 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2024-09-24 · 1 vote

The week's Dáil business schedule · motion passed 70–54

Voted against 1 Alan Kelly

Did not vote 2 Michael Lowry · Ryan O'Meara

Alan Kelly — Labour Party 1 vote · 2 questions · 2 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 2 total

Health 1 question
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding the injection ozempic to the drugs payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37854/24]
Education 1 question
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the supports that will be put in place for nurses and boarding staff made redundant at a school (details supplied), given the school’s inability to pay statutory redundancy at the current time owing to financial issues. [38415/24]

New lobbying 2 returns

Waterford Chamber of Commerce Education and Training
- Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy at the South East Technological University (SETU)
National Traveller MABS Finance
- An copy of NTMABS research report into financial literacy in the Traveller community was sent via email to all T.D.'s and Senators

Michael Lowry — Independent 0 votes · 42 questions · 1 new lobbying return

Questions asked 42 total

Further and Higher Education 12 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allocate €2 billion in Budget 2025 to fund the building of 30,000 student accommodation units to address the severe shortage of affordable and accessible housing for students; if he will provide details on any planned emergency accommodation funds for students (details supplied) as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37917/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allocate €6 million in multi-annual core funding for mental health services in higher education institutions and invest to improve the counsellor-to-student ratios to international standards as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will permanently reduce student fees by €1,500 and outline a plan to abolish fees over the next few years, in light of Ireland having the highest undergraduate fees in the EU, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37919/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will expand the device lending scheme and invest in digital infrastructure to support hybrid learning and teaching in higher education institutions, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37920/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will remove apprenticeship registration fees, with an estimated cost of €11.39 million, and increase income and allowances for apprentices to make apprenticeship education more accessible, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37921/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will double the funding for access to e-books through transformative agreements and increase funding for open education resources to alleviate the financial strain from e-book licensing on students and libraries as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37922/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will continue annual funding for the student assistance fund at post-pandemic levels; to ensure eligibility for all students to address the hidden costs associated with education which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the holiday earnings eligible for deduction from reckonable income to €13,104; if he will amend the dependent brackets for SUSI to better support students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37928/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will introduce a minimum stipend of €25,000 for all postgraduate researchers; to cap postgraduate fees at €3,000 to address the financial strain on postgraduate students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37929/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allocate additional funding for period products and the fund for students with disabilities; if he will establish a Government-funded T-fund for trans and non-binary students to address social inequalities and support disadvantaged students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37930/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to ringfence 10% of the national training fund for the charity sector to support digital upskilling (details supplied). [38264/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to introduce a dedicated grant scheme of €1 million for trustee training and development to support good governance in the charity sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38265/24]
Education 7 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to move school cleaners/janitors onto public sector pay scales, as was done with school secretaries and school caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37277/24]
- 2024-09-25 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to review a school bus ticket application for a child (details supplied); the reasons this applicant’s request for a pick-up point at the end of their road, which is safe for this child to be collected by the school bus, was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38216/24]
- 2024-09-25 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to review a school bus ticket application for a child (details supplied); the reasons this applicant’s request for a pick-up point at the end of their road, which is safe for this child to be collected by the school bus, was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38217/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will coordinate with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure a cross-Government approach to supporting foster care, particularly in providing educational support to children in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38413/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the measures that are being taken to ensure that special needs assistants (SNAs) receive the recognition and appreciation they deserve from schools and her Department; if she recognises that the current educational requirements for SNAs, set at three passes in the Junior Certificate, do not reflect the actual qualifications held by many SNAs; if she plans to officially recognise higher qualifications to ensure fair compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38436/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to address the concerns regarding the low salaries and pensions of SNAs, and to ensure that their compensation reflects their qualifications and the critical role they play in the education system; the upcoming initiatives or resources that will be provided to support SNAs in their roles, particularly in light of the ongoing review of the SNA contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38437/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the way she plans to highlight and enhance the role of SNAs in the education of children with special needs, ensuring that their contributions are adequately recognized and supported; the mechanisms that are in place for ongoing communication and engagement with SNAs to address their concerns and incorporate their feedback into policy decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38438/24]
Children 6 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide funding or provide details on funding options for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37871/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the critical shortage of registered childminders in County Tipperary, particularly in light of the complex regulations that deter childminders from registering with Tusla; the immediate actions that can be taken to ensure that children with additional care needs, such as those with phenylketonuria, have access to suitable and reliable childcare, given the current lack of available spaces in registered facilities; if he will provide an update on efforts to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37889/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support an organisation's campaign by advocating for a €15 million increase in youth work funding in Budget 2025, in recognition of the vital role youth work plays in the development and wellbeing of young people across Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide additional funding to cover essential expenses for foster carers, including placement start-up costs and fair travel reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38409/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that children in foster care are auto-enrolled in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38410/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will enhance funding for Tusla’s regional therapeutic teams, to ensure timely therapeutic interventions for children in care who have experienced trauma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38411/24]
Housing 4 questions
- 2024-09-25 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in establishing the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) stakeholder forum, which was included in the strategic action plan for the NPWS and was due to be established in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38195/24]
- 2024-09-25 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps taken to ensure that the National Parks and Wildlife Service stakeholder forum will be established on a permanent footing with regular meetings starting in quarter four of 2024 as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38196/24]
- 2024-09-25 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide a concrete timeline for the establishment of the National Parks and Wildlife Service stakeholder forum, including the dates for the first meeting and the frequency of subsequent meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38197/24]
- 2024-09-25 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way the National Parks and Wildlife Service stakeholder forum will ensure the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders, including environmental, conservation, rural pursuits, and farming interests, to ensure a fully inclusive approach to future policymaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38198/24]
Tourism 3 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will allocate €1.2 million to fund a radio station (details supplied) to secure an FM licence and increase funding for TG4, to support the Irish language and its promotion among young people, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37939/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will commit to the retention, extension, and expansion of the basic income for artists scheme in Budget 2025, to ensure continued support for artists and the cultural sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37953/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will increase funding for youth theatres at a local level in Budget 2025, to support the development of youth theatre activities and the holistic growth of young people in communities across Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37955/24]
Transport 2 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he supports the integration of a new DART station at Croke Park; if he will engage with Irish Rail, an organisation (details supplied) and other relevant state agencies to proactively facilitate the development of this station, considering Irish Rail's ownership of the railway frontage and the willingness of the organisation to yield additional land required for the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37802/24]
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce free public transport for students in Budget 2025 to alleviate the high travel expenses faced by students; if he will consider implementing a bike-to-college scheme, which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in its pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37918/24]
Social 2 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will implement €500 maintenance grants for students on mandatory placements and ensure the payment of a living wage to all students engaged in placements, to alleviate the financial strain on students working full-time jobs alongside their studies, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37925/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider implementing pension reforms to ensure that foster carers are not financially penalised in later life for their service to the State, therefore being able to receive a full contributory State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38408/24]
Health 2 questions
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will establish drug and alcohol liaison nurses in every higher education institution, to address substance use among students through comprehensive harm reduction programs as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37924/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will coordinate with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure a cross-Government approach to supporting foster care, particularly in providing health services to children in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38412/24]
Rural 2 questions
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are plans to expedite the multi-annual funding proposals for the charity sector as outlined in her Department’s five-year strategy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38258/24]
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are plans to provide additional resources to the Charities Regulator for the development and publication of real time data from annual reports and financial statements (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38259/24]
Justice 1 question
- 2024-09-24 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if she will grant stamp 2 residency permits for the entire length of international students' courses and expand the student assistance fund to include international students, to address the significant financial burdens they face, as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37926/24]
Finance 1 question
- 2024-09-26 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance the plans to introduce a scheme with an initial fund of €5 million to defray governance costs for charities with audited accounts (details supplies); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38250/24]

New lobbying 1 return

National Traveller MABS Finance
- An copy of NTMABS research report into financial literacy in the Traveller community was sent via email to all T.D.'s and Senators

Ryan O'Meara — Fianna Fáil 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.