Written answers
Wednesday, 10 April 2024
- Department of Finance
- Inflation Rate
10. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the progress in reducing inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15224/24]
- Legislative Process
12. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024; the reason for restricting access to the climate and nature fund...
- Tax Yield
13. To ask the Minister for Finance the total tax take from fuel in 2023, broken down by category; how this figure compares with the estimated amount of total tax take from fuel as set out in...
- Tax Data
14. To ask the Minister for Finance if the projection for corporate tax revenue in 2024 and 2025 is €24.5 billion and €25.8 billion (details supplied) respectively; the estimated...
- Financial Services
15. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an update on consideration of changes to legislation to address the inability of consumers to make complaints to the Financial and Services Pensions...
- Climate Action Plan
16. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether tax policy on luxury emissions can play a more active role in incentivising climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Insurance Industry
17. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the work of the Office for the Promotion of Competition in the Insurance Market, particularly in relation to reducing the cost of...
- Tax Reliefs
19. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of people who claimed mortgage interest tax relief last year; and the average payment. [15219/24]
- Tax Credits
20. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered the extent of unclaimed tax allowances and other benefits; if he would consider establishing a cross-Government initiative to promote...
- Banking Sector
21. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures he is putting in place so that future banking changes are managed in a controlled, fair and transparent manner for consumers; and if he will make...
- Tax Credits
24. To ask the Minister for Finance how many rent tax credit claims have been made as of 31 March 2024, or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14272/24]
- Vacant Properties
25. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is planning any further taxation measures to address the problem of vacant and derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15246/24]
- Fuel Prices
26. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken any study on the fluctuation in the price of petrol and diesel in each of the past ten years. [15071/24]
- Business Supports
27. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has plans for a range of supports to help the hospitality industry, including VAT reductions, to help businesses in difficulties and incentivise...
- Tax Code
28. To ask the Minister for Finance if he or his Department are considering increasing the rate of and threshold for the 10% stamp duty with respect to the bulk purchase of residential property;...
- Tax Yield
29. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount taken in corporation tax in each of the past 18 months, in tabular form. [15072/24]
- General Government Debt
32. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on his Department's latest assessment of public indebtedness in Ireland. [14266/24]
- Business Supports
33. To ask the Minister for Finance the changes that are being considered to the debt warehousing scheme to support private businesses availing of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on...
- Tax Yield
35. To ask the Minister for Finance the total tax take from the restaurant sector in 2023, broken down by category; how this figure compares with the estimated amount of total tax take from the...
- Tax Code
36. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will commit to a review in 2024 of the remittance basis of tax and the domicile levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15014/24]
- Flexible Work Practices
38. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the survey that was carried out related to cross Border workers and the issues they face in relation to working from home,...
- Housing Schemes
42. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 1 February 2024, his plans for the phasing out of the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
43. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to expedite a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15516/24]
- Middle East
44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the efforts of Palestine to secure full membership of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Humanitarian Aid
45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the deteriorating situation in Haiti and if he will support the humanitarian efforts in Haiti through both the Irish Aid...
- Official Engagements
46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met formally with the Malaysian Ambassador to Ireland to date in 2024. [15565/24]
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Telecommunications Services
47. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has engaged with ComReg regarding the need to introduce additional retail price regulations in respect of...
- Defective Building Materials
48. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the DCB scheme, specifically regarding the reimbursement of costs associated with SEAI; when is...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
49. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline, in light of the news that former members of the Defence Forces, operating as a company (details supplied) are training...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Fines Administration
50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider making changes to payment methods for those issued with speeding fines in Ireland but live in a foreign country,...
- Flood Relief Schemes
51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be provided for the proposed flood relief scheme at Ballycar on the Limerick to Ennis railway line, where flooding has...
- Road Tolls
52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans, if any, that TII has in respect of an advertisement campaign on both social media and national radio reminding drivers to...
- Bus Services
53. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progression made by NTA regarding the installation of a bus shelter at a location (details supplied); and when these works will...
- Public Transport
54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of Revenue protection officers within Iarnród Eireann; and the amount collected in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to...
- Rights of Way
55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if permission is required from a local authority to close a public right of way linking two public roads; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Finance
- Fuel Prices
56. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to the recent fuel price increase and future planned increases in the cost of petrol and diesel, and the impact this will have...
- Departmental Schemes
57. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that a response is provided to an email in relation to the disabled drivers scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Departmental Data
58. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the names of external security/steward companies currently on the Office of Government Procurement Muti-Supplier Framework for the...
- Departmental Expenditure
59. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of the development of the National Children's Science Centre at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2; and which Department will be...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- State Bodies
60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits hosted by the IDA in County Kildare in 2023 and for the first two months of 2024. [15560/24]
- Employment Rights
61. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a second pay increase will be commenced under the Employment Regulation Order for workers in the security sector; and if he will...
- Health and Safety
62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of health and safety issues in the fishing sector (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that the health...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Staff
63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if caretakers in schools will be recognised and receive benefits under her Department and statement (details supplied). [15521/24]
- School Funding
64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make contact with a school (details supplied) in relation to a funding matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15577/24]
- Special Educational Needs
66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what assistance can be offered to child (details supplied); when the educational supports this child needs will be provided; and if she will make...
- Schools Building Projects
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the Capital Appraisal in her Department for a school (details supplied); and if she will confirm if there is a viable...
- School Transport
70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address a Bus Éireann matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15650/24]
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Provision
71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 656 of 20 March 2024, on leased units used by the State for social housing allocations,...
- Energy Conservation
72. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the recently released report; (details supplied); his views on the recommendation there was a need for...
- Housing Provision
73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to report on housing targets as they pertain to Meath and his plans to increase housing availability there; to report on the...
- Legislative Programme
74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he intends legislating for higher minimum BERs as part of minimum rental accommodation standards; and if he will make a...
- Traveller Accommodation
76. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the moneys set aside from the public purse annually for the past ten years per local authority in relation to the Traveller...
- Regeneration Projects
77. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to list the local authority housing regeneration schemes his Department is working on with various city and county councils;...
- Defective Building Materials
78. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason not one applicant has received the defective concrete block scheme grant in Clare; when he expects the first grants...
- Emergency Accommodation
84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has any plans for ensuring that service users of emergency accommodation from local authorities will seek...
- Housing Policy
90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will clarify that adult tenants in their parents' council house would be in a position to submit their own housing...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Appeals
91. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can have an oral hearing for a carer’s allowance appeal. [15524/24]
- Social Welfare Payments
92. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people in receipt of payments (details supplied) as of 31 December 2023, in tabular form. [15535/24]
- Social Welfare Benefits
93. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending parental leave and benefit by four weeks for mothers and by six weeks for fathers....
- State Pensions
94. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was never advised to apply for a pension (non-contributory) when awarded a reduced rate...
- Departmental Schemes
95. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection why the free travel pass is only assigned to those in receipt of the carers allowance and cannot be assigned to both the...
- State Pensions
97. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will bring forward amending legislation to address the anomaly whereby retrospective payment to pension claimants is...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Legislative Measures
98. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to respond to concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the Gambling Regulation Bill. 2022; and if she...
- International Protection
99. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15533/24]
- An Garda Síochána
100. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of WTE civilian Garda staff working in the Garda national cyber crime unit as of 3 April 2024. [15549/24]
- Public Procurement Contracts
111. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and...
- An Garda Síochána
112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on Garda operation Irene; the number of persons arrested and charged under this operation during 2023, in...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Forestry Sector
114. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15541/24]
- Horse Racing Industry
115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. reference 1188 of 17 January 2024, the reason the accounts still have not been published for...
- Trade Missions
116. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a food-related trade mission to Vietnam will occur in Quarter 2 of 2024. [15558/24]
- EU Funding
117. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding his Department received under the EU Adjustment Reserve in 2023; and how that funding was spent, in tabular...
- Aquaculture Industry
118. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15567/24]
- Agriculture Supports
119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if mink farmers received compensation for the closure of mink farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15584/24]
- Agriculture Schemes
120. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15585/24]
- Departmental Licences
121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on his Department's performance for Q1 versus its licensing plan for Q1 2024, per licence and scheme...
- Fodder Crisis
122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fodder crisis that farmers are enduring; if urgent financial aid can be provided to help them...
- Agriculture Schemes
124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if planning permission in the business name of a sole trader farmer in County Kerry (details supplied) will be accepted for a TAMS...
- Aquaculture Industry
126. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if force majeure will be accepted for a late 2023 Brexit inshore business model adjustment scheme application (details supplied); and...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- State Properties
127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 531 of 13 February 2024, on what dates the inspection of Baggot Street...
- Departmental Expenditure
128. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of the five largest refurbishments to date of public buildings carried out by his Department to cater...
- Departmental Data
129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a list of all buildings that have asbestos that are providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees...
- Disability Services
130. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of high-support disability residential placements available in County Wicklow in 2022 and 2023 and to...
- Health Services Staff
132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the WTE vacancies, by job title, currently within the community neuro-rehabilitation team within CHO7; and when...
- Disability Services
133. To ask 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...
- Ukraine War
134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will overturn a decision to refuse permission to travel to two children (details supplied) who need to sit...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Waiting Lists
135. To ask the Minister for Health to resolve the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15525/24]
- Hospital Services
136. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1,462 of 20 March 2024, if his attention has been drawn to a recent response from the HSE that indicates there are no...
- Hospital Staff
138. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be approved for the recruitment of two additional WTE clinical nurse specialists for children with Down's syndrome to be based at CHI Tallaght....
- Medical Cards
142. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to increasing the income threshold for qualification for a medical card for under-70s; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Staff
143. To ask the Minister for Health if clinical posts are vacant in the cancer genetics department of St. James's Hospital; the optimum staffing allocation levels for each position; the length of...
- Hospital Services
147. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people who have attended cancer genetics counselling services in St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
149. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people currently waiting to attend cancer genetics services in CHI at Crumlin Hospital by waiting time period 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18...
- Departmental Funding
151. To ask the Minister for Health how much funding has been allocated to the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care to date to implement its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Nursing Homes
152. To ask the Minister for Health the number of long- and short-stay nursing home beds in counties Tipperary, Clare, and Limerick, in tabular form; and whether they are from public or private...
- Hospital Facilities
153. To ask the Minister for Health if he directed the HSE to open the medical assessment units in Nenagh, Ennis and St. John's hospitals on a 24-hour basis. [15597/24]
- Nursing Homes
154. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline, given his decision to repurpose the new 50-bed community nursing home unit in Nenagh, what he is proposing the HSE does now to substitute...
- Departmental Data
155. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1427 of 20 March 2024, in which month of 2023 the security contract for a location (details supplied) was terminated; the...
- Health and Safety
156. To ask the Minister for Health what current process is in place in salons, and other relevant establishments, to ensure those under the age of eighteen are prohibited from using sunbeds; and...
- Health Services Staff
162. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to add vascular physiologists to the list of regulated professions regulated by CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15612/24]
- Organ Donation
163. To ask the Minister for Health when the register for opting out of organ donation will be up and running. [15613/24]
- Nursing Homes
164. To ask the Minister for Health on what date he was notified by the HSE that it was not opening the new community nursing home in Nenagh in 2024. [15621/24]
- Hospital Appointments Status
166. To ask the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Addiction Treatment Services
167. To ask the Minister for Health if the case of a service provided by a group (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15649/24]
- Medical Cards
168. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to restore the chiropody visits for older medical card holders to four visits per year, as older people, especially diabetic patients,...
- Disabilities Assessments
169. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether there are any plans to provide community occupational therapy services to private nursing homes, as these visits cost a minimum of...
- Mental Health Services
170. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify the reason an organisation (details supplied) does not provide mental health services to private nursing homes in Kildare, but does provide that...
- Nursing Homes
171. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that can be taken to address the issue where private nursing home residents do not have access to transport to attend out-patient appointments and/or...
- Fire Safety
172. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify, with regard to HIQA and fire safety requirements in nursing homes/care facilities, which authority is authorised to give fire safety...
- Hospital Appointments Status
173. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a HSE appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/24]
- Hospital Procedures
174. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the closure of elective surgeries in the mid-west region; how the increase in demand due to closures will impact on service delivery in 2024 and...
- Hospital Overcrowding
175. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his plans in detailed timeline with respect to recent measures announced for the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services Staff
176. To ask the Minister for Health if he has confidence in the CEO of the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15739/24]
- Hospital Facilities
179. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the progress of an application submitted for the €9.95 million upgrade of the theatre complex and sterile services department at Ennis...
- Departmental Data
180. To ask the Minister for Health the number of births that took place in County Clare in the years 2019 to 2024 to date inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Health Services Staff
181. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 580 of 27 February 2024, what the ratio of public health nurse to population is in Clare; whether it is below the...
- Health Services
182. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider rolling out public health nurse clinics in areas not covered by a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Health Services Staff
183. To ask the Minister for Health if he has the power to terminate the contract of a Hospital Group CEO; what steps he can take up to that point to discipline a Hospital Group CEO; and if he...
- Hospital Services
184. To ask the Minister for Health the number of attendances per month since 1 January 2023 to Ennis injury unit to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15749/24]
- Departmental Licences
186. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 15 February 2024, the conditions that the 319 Ministerial licences were granted to treat, in tabular form; and if...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Official Engagements
187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he is next scheduled to meet the CEO of the Higher Education Authority. [15545/24]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Departmental Schemes
188. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on an expression of interest in the town and village renewal scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- Rural Schemes
189. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a grant will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the...
