Written answers
Wednesday, 2 June 2021
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
20. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the British Prime Minister. [27635/21]
- Departmental Strategies
24. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the statement of strategy of his Department. [27636/21]
- Cabinet Committees
30. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Education last met, and when it will next meet. [27951/21]
- Departmental Policies
39. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress to date by his Department in its development of a well-being framework for Ireland. [28068/21]
- Programme for Government
51. To ask the Taoiseach if an annual report on programme for Government implementation will be published; and if so, when this report will be published. [30103/21]
- Youth Unemployment
52. To ask the Taoiseach the number and percentage of young persons aged between 15 and 24 years of age classified as not in employment, education or training; and the corresponding EU average...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Company Registration
53. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the issues raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the Companies Registration Office...
- Economic Policy
54. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports the Economic Recovery Plan will put in place to help persons back to work and to help SMEs survive; and if he...
- Flexible Work Practices
55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the implementation of the National Remote Work Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29946/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
56. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of trading online voucher scheme applications approved to date in 2021 in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on...
- Joint Labour Committees
58. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the proposed establishment of a joint labour committee for the early learning and care and school age childcare sector;...
- Minimum Wage
59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons in receipt of the minimum wage; the number of persons in receipt of the minimum wage who are under 30 years of...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of loans approved for each State-backed loan scheme by his Department by county in tabular form; and if he will make a...
- Insurance Industry
61. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures his Department is taking on the issue of insurance reform. [30236/21]
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Food Waste
62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider developing a roadmap for halving food waste by 2026. [29885/21]
- Environmental Policy
63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which restoration of peatlands can be a credit towards Ireland’s climate targets. [29886/21]
- Climate Change Policy
64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure that the selection criteria used in the awarding of contracts under Just Transition funds will include...
- National Broadband Plan
65. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 11 May 2021, if a property (details supplied) that is not included in the...
- Exploration Industry
66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has carried out an assessment on the expected reduction of carbon emissions which will result from...
- Departmental Schemes
68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of households that have applied for the national home retrofit scheme since its commencement; and if he will...
- Programme for Government
69. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the programme for Government commitment to develop a solar energy strategy; and if he will make a...
- National Broadband Plan
70. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30014/21]
- Electricity Grid
71. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to complete the Celtic interconnector to connect...
- Food Waste
72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department plans to develop a strategy to tackle food waste in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Data Protection
73. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will commence and lead a public conversation on privacy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- National Postcode System
74. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the circumstances of a person (details supplied) who has had consistent issues regarding their address...
- Climate Change Policy
75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to secure EU agreement to secure a split national target by 2050 for greenhouse gases with a...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driver Test
78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the capacity for online theory testing will expand (details supplied). [29881/21]
- Tax Yield
79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of road tax revenue for County Cork in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively, in tabular form....
- Road Network
80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of projects of road maintenance and upgrade expenditure in County Cork in each of the years of 2016 to 2020 and to date in...
- Departmental Records
81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if historical pension records are held, including pre-1922, in respect of the Commissioners of Irish Lights; if so, the year that it dates...
- Taxi Sector
82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the 10-year taxi system (details supplied); if additional supports will be given to the industry; and if he will make a...
- Climate Change Policy
83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to roll-out truck‐suitable hydrogen refuelling stations in Ireland as part of the Alternative Fuels...
- Driver Test
85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a date for a driver theory test; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Road Projects
87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will extend the N24 Waterford to Cahir project constraints public study beyond the 1 June 2021 deadline in view of Covid-19; and if...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) in relation to international travel and tourism; and if he will make a statement on the...
- National Transport Authority
89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of fines issued by the National Transport Authority to public transport providers for failing to adhere to service level...
- Driver Test
90. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a driver test will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal to facilitate an offer of employment with the HSE;...
- Driver Licences
91. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a driving licence may be expected to be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement...
- Public Transport
92. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the decision to cancel several of the evening express 51 services from Galway to Cork was made; if there was an assessment of...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
93. To ask the Minister for Finance if exemptions will be made to the newly increased stamp duty rate for inheritance cases and so on (details supplied) [29929/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
94. To ask the Minister for Finance the penalties a business will face that has received the Covid restrictions support scheme payment to date but has decided not to reopen the business and...
- Banking Sector
95. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will take steps on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is seeking to get access to their full file with a bank; and if he will make...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
96. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will assist a company (details supplied) under the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29955/21]
- Tax Data
97. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of local property tax foregone on an annual basis to date since 2013 on exempted and properties liable for the tax that have not had local property...
- Insurance Levy
98. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount raised by the 1% insurance levy each year since its introduction; if he is currently reviewing the operation of the levy; and if he will make a...
- Housing Policy
99. To ask the Minister for Finance if the help-to-buy scheme will be extended (details supplied). [30222/21]
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Risk Management
100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide information in relation to following flood relief scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
102. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been finalised and submitted to the European Commission; and if so, when it will...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
103. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to extend supports to bed and breakfasts in 2021 in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of international...
- Online Safety
104. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether she has considered ensuring that the online safety regulation Bill will specifically protect persons with...
- Seirbhísí Iompair
105. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil plean ag a Roinn chun cúiteamh a chur ar fáil do chuideachtaí bus sa Ghaeltacht atá ag fulaingt mar...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Fire Safety
106. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 27 June 2017, if he will provide an update on the establishment of the...
- National Parks
107. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding an official centrally held map of the Wicklow National Park boundaries; if a copy of same will be...
- Housing Policy
108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider amending the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to allow persons who having been several years on...
- Public Private Partnerships
109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a requirement to include a mechanism with PPPs obliging county councils to review and audit aspects of an...
- Citizens' Assembly
110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the citizens’ assembly on biodiversity will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29990/21]
- Harbours and Piers
111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether his Department is responsible for the maintenance and development of the piers and harbours under the...
- Defective Building Materials
112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of engagements he and his advisers have had with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Land Issues
115. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the registration of lands and the redesignation of lands (details supplied) [30082/21]
- Water Services
116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a detailed response will issue in relation to a series of matters (details supplied) on the privatisation of the water...
- Housing Provision
117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of social housing being planned nationally that aligns with the principles of universal design; and if he will...
- Real Estate Investment Trusts
118. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 27 May 2021, if he will review social housing policy in the context of removing...
- Defective Building Materials
119. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the pyrite issue in County Mayo and the MICA...
- Rental Sector
120. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that when the rent freeze ceases on 13 July 2021 those landlords of properties in...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- United Nations
121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount in funding Ireland contributed to the United Nations in each of the years 2000 and 2020 by United Nations agency or body. [29893/21]
- International Bodies
123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any of Ireland's contributions to international organisations or foreign aid to other countries is conditional upon certain criteria...
- Foreign Policy
124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the official position of Ireland on the actions of the Chinese Communist Party towards the Muslim Uighur population. [29897/21]
- United Nations
128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will use Ireland’s position on the United Nations Security Council to ensure that a United Nations database of companies...
- Department of Defence
- EU Programmes
129. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Ireland provides funding to EU defence initiatives and schemes; if so, the amount Ireland has contributed to same; and when these...
- Air Corps
130. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the full cost of retrofitting display smoke generation capability to the Air Corps Pilatus PC9 fleet; and the breakdown of the component costs,...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the summer special needs education package for July 2021 will include budgetary provision for additional payments to bus drivers whose normal...
- School Management
132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has the capacity for an additional first year class of between 30...
- State Examinations
133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether a student who experiences an epileptic seizure immediately before or during their exam and is unable to complete their exam...
- Transfer of Service
134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the service record of a person (details supplied) has been transferred from the Louth-Meath Education and Training Board to her Department;...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Capital Plan 2016-2021; the number of projects that remain to be commenced; her plans for the schools that need capital...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason post-primary schools were directed to close for summer break on 28 May 2021 given the time already lost by students since the...
- Schools Building Projects
137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her officials have met with Meath County Council to commence the pre-planning process for additional buildings at a school (details supplied)...
- School Admissions
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has agreed to allocate additional places for first year students at a school (details supplied) for the 2021-2022 school year;...
- Schools Building Projects
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 26 May 2021, if she will make contact with the Chief State Solicitors Office with information...
- School Curriculum
140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 18 May 2021, if her attention has been drawn to an issue in a number of schools whereby parents are...
- School Accommodation
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the plans and drawings for the new temporary accommodation planned for a secondary school (details supplied) in Dublin 24;...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Schemes
142. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether persons with epilepsy who lose their driver licence due to a diagnosis of epilepsy or breakthrough...
- Youth Work Supports
143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to address the high levels of youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Schemes
144. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an organisation (details supplied) that is calling for free travel...
- Social Welfare Payments
145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) does not qualify for the invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the...
- State Pensions
146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the pension payment for elderly persons (details supplied). [29910/21]
- Social Welfare Payments
147. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29956/21]
- Enterprise Support Services
149. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to include driver training courses as part of the eligible items for grant support under the enterprise support...
- Social Welfare Payments
150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that are in receipt of part-time and casual jobseeker’s benefit, part-time and casual...
- Public Procurement Contracts
151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans in relation to the proposed tendering process for local employment, activation and support services; if this...
- Social Welfare Payments
153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to review of a jobseeker’s allowance payment for a person (details supplied);...
- Social Welfare Appeals
154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30088/21]
- Social Welfare Payments
155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit, jobseeker's allowance and signing for...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment for six months or more by...
- Social Welfare Payments
161. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the jobseeker's allowance for those young persons under 25 years of age who are currently on...
- Youth Work Supports
163. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the youth employment support scheme in January 2020 and January 2021;...
- Social Welfare Payments
166. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years in receipt of the carer’s allowance. [30121/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons on the €203, €250 and €300 rates of payment per week of the pandemic unemployment...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider an extended or augmented social protection payment for those out of work and unable to re-enter the...
- State Pensions
173. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of the criteria in circumstances in which a person is in receipt of the State pension (contributory) and claiming...
- Departmental Reports
174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a research project undertaken by an organisation (details supplied) on behalf of her Department in relation to...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Rights of the Child
175. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions taken by his Department to implement recommendation CM/Rec (2016)7 of the Committee of Ministers of...
- Legislative Measures
176. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the sections of the Youth Work Act 2001 which have not yet been commenced; and if he will make a statement on...
- Youth Services
177. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the overall €66.8 million funding allocation for youth work provision in 2021 according...
- Departmental Expenditure
182. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total proposed current Exchequer expenditure by his Department in 2021. [30099/21]
- Direct Provision System
183. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the residents of a centre (details supplied) have been moved to...
- Family Support Services
185. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the budget in regard to parental supports across areas (details supplied); and the breakdown of...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Driver Test
186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will increase the number of driver training courses available at Tipperary Enterprise and Training Board in order to meet the high demand...
- Third Level Fees
187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any refunds or waiver of fees available to third-level students given they have been at home studying remotely for most of the year....
- Apprenticeship Programmes
188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the population of apprentices currently participating on an apprenticeship in each apprenticeship programme. [30136/21]
- Youth Services
193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the Youthreach programme. [30141/21]
- Community Training Centres
196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of young persons under 25 years of age on training programmes in the community training centres. [30144/21]
- Education and Training Provision
199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of young persons under 25 years of age on the VTOS programme. [30147/21]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
205. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is an official body or bodies in Ireland that investigate GSOC; and if not, the correct process to follow should there...
- Policing Co-operation
206. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures in place to liaise with European counterparts if suspected sex offenders are travelling between jurisdictions;...
- EU Programmes
208. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 19 May 2021, the reason Ireland has failed to provide the information relating to...
- Garda Youth Diversion Programme
209. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of projects supported by the Garda youth diversion programme in 2021; and the number of beneficiaries under the...
- Community Safety Partnerships
211. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proposed membership of the local community safety partnerships; if it is envisaged that the membership will include local...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Animal Welfare
212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request that an up-to-date report on deer management in the Wicklow mountains is carried out; and if he will make a...
- Harbours and Piers
213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department spent on maintenance and development in the six fishery harbour centres (details supplied) maintaining the...
- Fishing Industry
214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the figures for fish landed into the six fishery harbour centres; and the amount of fish landed into all the local authority harbours...
- Departmental Records
215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide for the records of the Land Commission now held by his Department to be digitised prior to any further degradation...
- Agriculture Schemes
217. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the deadline with regard to the sowing of seeds for the wild bird cover action of GLAS in view of conditions...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Voluntary Sector
218. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the Volunteering Strategy Implementation Group; the membership of the committee; the number of meetings held to date;...
- Departmental Funding
219. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to support young persons under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation...
