Written answers
Wednesday, 19 May 2021
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
42. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his latest engagement with the social partners. [24664/21]
- Energy Usage
53. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the resource efficient action plan for 2021 of his Department. [26504/21]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Enterprise Support Schemes
54. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on ensuring that funding schemes are in place, such as the long-term SBCI future growth loan scheme, for businesses in line...
- Workplace Relations Commission
55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason his Department will not provide for an independent and impartial investigation of allegations of a pro-employer bias in the...
- Industrial Relations
56. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will encourage a bank (details supplied) to engage with the trade union representing its workers regarding industrial relations...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if individual hairdressers are responsible for the cost of PPE equipment or their employer or owner of the hairdresser salon; and if...
- Tax Reliefs
58. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering a digital gaming sector tax credit similar to section 481, tax credit for film, television and animation; and if...
- Work Permits
59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the approved critical work permits available currently for each sector; the process to add a profession or sector onto this list; and...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Inland Fisheries
60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a fish counter in operation by Inland Fisheries Ireland for recording salmon stock on the rivers Suir, Nore...
- Fishing Industry
61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of salmon drift netting licences that were not bought out under the compulsory buy out scheme introduced in...
- Inland Fisheries
63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding will be sought to carry out works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26838/21]
- Just Transition
64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding in each year provided for a just transition; the drawdown in each year; and if he will make a statement on...
- Sustainable Development Goals
68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made to consider options available to identify those items of Departmental expenditure which support...
- National Broadband Plan
69. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the National Broadband Plan will be rolled out for a premises (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driver Licences
70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the start date for a driving ban can be deferred (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26694/21]
- Rail Network
71. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the Sligo rail freight yard is to let when the strategic rail review of the network has yet to be finalised; and if he will...
- Electric Vehicles
72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities including Meath County Council are not drawing down funding for...
- Pension Provisions
73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to ongoing discussions taking place between CIÉ management and the membership of the CIÉ 1951...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports he now plans to implement to specifically aid taxi drivers in the coming period to overcome the impact of Covid-19...
- Brexit Issues
76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions being taken by his Department to facilitate Northern Irish transport managers working as transport managers for Irish haulage...
- Driver Test
78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the website of the Road Safety Authority is giving appointment confirmation dates in the...
- Driver Licences
79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an extension to a licence for a further 12 months for a person (details supplied) can be reviewed. [26791/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will shortly introduce specific measures to support the aviation industry and those employed within the sector. [26799/21]
- Proposed Legislation
81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to introduce the legislation for the regulation of escooters and ebikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Driver Test
82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reconsider the usage of dash cams during driver tests in order that in cases in which a decision is appealed there is a record...
- Driver Licences
83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to medical examinations for a driver licence will receive...
- Driver Test
85. 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 as...
- Tax Code
88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the change from NEDC emissions testing to WLTP will lead to an increase in motor tax for consumers. [27059/21]
- Driver Test
89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if driver theory tests remain suspended; if appointments for tests in the coming weeks are being cancelled; if these cancelled appointment...
- Department of Finance
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
90. To ask the Minister for Finance if a pub availing of Covid-19 related financial supports such as the employment wage subsidy scheme or Covid restrictions support scheme will still be eligible...
- State Aid
91. To ask the Minister for Finance if EU state aid approval for changes to the research and development regime in section 25 of Finance Act 2019 to better support the Irish SME sector has been...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
93. To ask the Minister for Finance if the tax debt warehousing scheme will cease when the public health restrictions are lifted; the way changes to the scheme will be conveyed to businesses; and...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- An Garda Síochána
94. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a schedule of the 11 sites that An Garda Síochána estates section evaluated as part of its preparation to...
- Health Services Staff
96. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of workers who have been transferred without their knowledge from a section 39 status organisation to a section 56 status...
- Public Procurement Contracts
97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the approach being taken to ensure that the standard in Office of Government Procurement contracts remain in compliance with the core...
- Office of Public Works
98. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will extend the opening hours of the park and visitors centre at Oldbridge, County Meath which is in the possession of the OPW; and...
- An Garda Síochána
101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a schedule of the engagements and or contacts the OPW made with An Garda Síochána in respect of an expiring...
- European Union
104. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Ireland has requested under Article 25(3) of the RRF Regulation to redact information relating to Ireland's National Recovery Plan;...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Covid-19 Pandemic
105. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans from a tourism perspective and in conjunction with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment...
- Product Labelling
106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to a campaign in Wales that seeks to require both Welsh and English labelling on all products for...
- Departmental Schemes
107. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a decision will be made on an application for a traditional music festival (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Water Quality
108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action his Department will take to address the water quality at Lilliput, County Westmeath which again has been found to...
- Heritage Council
109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the taskforce established by the Heritage Council to consider the future of the National Biodiversity Data Centre will...
- Citizens' Assembly
111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress he has made on establishing a citizens’ assembly on biodiversity. [26683/21]
- Local Authorities
112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of additional biodiversity and heritage officers employed in each local authority by county since June 2020 to date...
- National Biodiversity Plan
113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions he has taken to support biodiversity data collection. [26685/21]
- Environmental Schemes
114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the additional policies on supports for urban biodiversity and tree planting introduced by county June 2020 to date in tabular...
- Commercial Rates
116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of commercial rates valuation appeals awaiting a result in 2020 and to date in 2021; the average waiting time for...
- Planning Issues
117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to extend the period that a planning permission is valid for in view of the fact that construction works were...
- Housing Policy
118. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to amend the income limits set by the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011; and if he will make a statement on...
- Vacant Properties
119. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant residential properties in counties Longford and Westmeath on the vacant homes register in tabular form....
- Departmental Schemes
121. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to change the maximum grant limits of the housing adaptation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Local Authorities
122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the breakdown of funding under the multi-annual funding programme to proceed with the taking-in-charge of estates to every...
- Housing Provision
124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the housing need and demand assessment; and the household and new home completion targets for each local...
- Local Authorities
126. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a copy of circular 38/2020 will be provided (details supplied). [26901/21]
- Water Services
128. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of a programme (details supplied) in tabular form including project status spend to date and the estimated timeline...
- Housing Provision
129. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the expenditure in each of the past ten years to date specifically devoted to affordable house building where the purchaser...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Birth Registration
130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the Foreign Births Register will reopen; the length of the backlog; the length of time he expects it will take to clear it; and if he...
- Military Aircraft
131. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the US Navy helicopter that landed at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel on 13 May 2021, at approximately 9am and took off again at...
- Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Foreign Secretary in...
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Properties
133. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 5 May 2021, the operational use that the Defence Forces have for this site. [26803/21]
- Departmental Staff
134. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if clarity will be provided in relation to a document (details supplied) regarding earnings in his Department; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the July Provision programme will be rolled out in 2021; and the way in which it will operate with particular emphasis on the way students...
- School Enrolments
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the capacity and the number of pupils enrolled in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Irish Language
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will advise on an Irish language exemption for a person (details supplied). [26793/21]
- Public Sector Pay
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the application of EU circular 0027/2016 and its potential equivalence to teachers in...
- School Funding
143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if work is underway to bring rural DEIS school funding in line with urban DEIS funding. [26854/21]
- Special Educational Needs
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will meet with behaviour analysts working in special schools as per the recommendation of the Labour Court of December 2019 to address...
- Education Policy
146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [27051/21]
- Schools Building Projects
147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills ag eascairt as ceist 146, an 4ú Márta 2021, cathain a bheidh scoil (sonraí tugtha) i gContae Bhaile Átha Cliath in ann bogadh...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Benefits
148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the rules relating to requalify for jobseeker’s benefit and short-time payments will be suspended for workers, such...
- School Meals Programme
155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding available for the school meals scheme in the 2021-2022 academic year; the number of schools that applied to the...
- Social Welfare Benefits
157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a care support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Gender Proofing of Policies
159. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to ensure that the forthcoming report and conclusions of the Pensions Commission will be...
- Departmental Schemes
160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the contract of each participant on affected schemes such as community employment, Tús,...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
161. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a pregnant and at high risk childcare worker can continue to be paid their supplemented employment wage subsidy scheme...
- Social Welfare Benefits
162. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the case of a person (details supplied). [27050/21]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Health Services Staff
164. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of workers who have been transferred without their knowledge from a section 39 status organisation to...
- Child and Family Agency
165. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Tusla counselling grant awarded to a school (details supplied) can be substantially increased to...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Third Level Education
166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider liaising with Irish third-level institutions on contingency plans for study abroad programmes that are due to begin in...
- Education and Training Provision
167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the development of Cavan Institute as a hub for further education and training. [26700/21]
- Higher Education Institutions
168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the implementation of a model (details supplied) for student well-being has been explored for Irish higher education institutions; if so, the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason apprentice electricians at GMIT are being requested to do their final exams in an exam hall in person; if this is in line with best...
- Domestic Violence
170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the launch of a domestic violence leave policy; and when it...
- Third Level Fees
171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the fees that a person (details supplied) will be expected to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26752/21]
- Research Funding
172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that has been allocated for spending on grants and supports and structural funding for blue sky research in higher education...
- Education and Training Boards
173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the future capital funding being provided to education and training board building and facility programmes with specific reference to the Mayo,...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- EU Data
174. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1493 of 21 April 2021, the relevant legislation that has been changed; the changes to...
- Immigration Status
175. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the permanent relationship between persons (details supplied) will be recognised as a basis for naturalisation in the case...
- Citizenship Applications
176. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if required documentation in the case of a person (details supplied) has now been received in her Department which was sent by...
- Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell
177. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the scoping exercise into the investigation of the death of a person (details supplied) will be completed and published.;...
- International Protection
178. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address missing targeted applications under the single application procedure for international protection...
- Alcohol Sales
179. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address the decreased number of liquor licensing applications for 2020; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Forestry Sector
180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1107 of 28 April 2021, his views on whether most of the 4,500 hectares will not convert to...
- Fishing Industry
182. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address matters in relation to the purchase of new fishing vessels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Departmental Consultations
183. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reports or services that have been commissioned by his Department from consultants since 2016 to date; the awardee of the...
- Horse Racing Industry
184. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has approved the resumption of point to point racing which is now taking place with large crowds in attendance; and if he will...
- Departmental Strategies
185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of implementing the outstanding recommendations of his Department’s commissioned reports Steering A New...
- Fishing Industry
186. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a voluntary decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels and their owners who wish to leave the fishing sector...
- Regulatory Bodies
187. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations of the Review of the Organisational Capability of the Sea-Fisheries Protection...
- Aquaculture Industry
188. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations of the 2017 report from the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group;...
- Gender Balance
189. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to reflect the growing female participation in agriculture from 4% to 9% within the composition of boards working in the...
- Brexit Issues
190. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of engagement and the rate of progress being made between the EU and Britain on a bilateral veterinary agreement; and if he...
- Forestry Sector
191. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1991 of 24 March 2021, if he regards the GLAS and afforestation schemes as complementary...
- Food Labelling
211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale behind individual stickers being placed on fruit such as apples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27113/21]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Offshore Islands
212. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the refurbishment of a helipad (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27111/21]
- Ferry Services
213. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the criteria that was used to determine the frequency of sailings when publishing the tender for a ferry service (details supplied);...
