Written answers

Wednesday, 6 October 2021

  • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
    • Departmental Meetings
      1. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he and or his officials engaged with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in advance of 30 September 2021 in respect...
    • Departmental Priorities
      2. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the completion of the latest critical skills and ineligible occupation lists. [48497/21]
  • Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
    • Wind Energy Generation
      3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to avail of the extraordinary renewable wind energy off the west coast of Ireland; and if he will...
    • Electricity Grid
      4. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to ensure that there will not be any electricity blackouts during the winter months; and if he will...
    • Departmental Correspondence
      5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action that will be taken on foot of correspondence received (details supplied) by the Secretary General of the...
    • Data Centres
      6. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has the power to order data centres to turn to auxiliary power if the demand on the grid could cause potential...
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Bus Éireann
      7. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of cancellations of the Bus Éireann Dublin to Donegal Town Route X30 Expressway for each month of 2020 and to date in 2021,...
    • Driver Licences
      10. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a bus driver test application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48566/21]
    • Transport Infrastructure Ireland
      11. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale behind the delay of the MetroLink project to 2034; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48590/21]
    • Vehicle Testing
      12. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason vehicle testing (details supplied) is not available in Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Driver Licences
      14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure asylum seekers are permitted to apply for a driving licence. [48733/21]
  • Department of Finance
    • Tax Code
      15. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 295 and 296 of 28 September 2021, if he will provide a measure of redress through the tax system for owner-occupiers and...
    • Banking Sector
      17. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the closure of a bank (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48425/21]
    • Tax Code
      18. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the call made by an organisation (details supplied) for the design of a special relief on carbon tax in order that relevant good producers can...
    • Childcare Services
      19. To ask the Minister for Finance if the employment wage subsidy scheme will continue to be made available to childcare providers in quarter 4 of 2021 without the income reduction requirements;...
    • Housing Schemes
      21. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons that claimed the help-to-buy scheme since its inception for a self-build home; the value of these claims broken down by county; and if he...
    • Departmental Schemes
      23. To ask the Minister for Finance the supports in place for a family whose family home has been sold on by their mortgage provider to a vulture fund and in cases in which that same mortgage...
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
    • Brexit Supports
      24. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a decision will be made on the allocation of the Brexit adjustment fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48431/21]
    • Summer Economic Statement
      25. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the demographic costs for Budget 2022 provided for in the Summer Economic Statement with...
    • Office of Public Works
      26. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff employed in the OPW with training or experience in universal design. [48494/21]
  • Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • Departmental Reports
      27. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she expects to receive the report of the Future of Media Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48409/21]
    • National Cultural Institutions
      28. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the planned transition of the National Symphony Orchestra to the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a...
    • Tourism Industry
      29. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if detailed consideration will be given to the issues outlined in a submission (details supplied) with a view to ensuring that this...
    • Údarás na Gaeltachta
      30. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an gcuirfidh sí cúrsa pleanála faoi chúram Údarás na Gaeltachta ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht. [48608/21]
    • Craoltóirí Seirbhíse Poiblí
      31. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cén fáth a bhfuil maoiniú TG4 chomh híseal is a tá sé. [48609/21]
    • Tourism Policy
      32. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to sustainably develop tourism on Tara Hill and Loughcrew, Oldcastle, County Meath. [48610/21]
    • Tourism Funding
      35. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on increasing funding to support overseas tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48717/21]
  • Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
    • Tourism Industry
      36. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the tourism aspect of the Moore Street State investment will be open to the public. [48607/21]
    • Housing Provision
      37. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has met with representatives from a group (details supplied), Dublin City Council, NAMA and others to ensure that the...
    • Citizens' Assembly
      38. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the biodiversity citizens' assembly will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48543/21]
    • Housing Schemes
      39. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to increase the basic income qualifying limits for applicants for social housing which have not increased since...
    • Departmental Data
      40. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of qualified households for social housing now and in each of the past five years by local authority area; the...
    • Departmental Reports
      41. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to previous Parliamentary Questions querying the four year delay in publication of the report A Review into Certain...
    • Housing Schemes
      43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports in place for a family whose family home has been sold on by their mortgage provider to a vulture fund and in cases...
    • Fire Service
      44. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to address staff shortages in Dublin Fire Brigade given the seriousness of the situation in respect of...
    • Planning Issues
      45. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he remains committed to terminating the Strategic Housing Development planning process in February 2022, in view of the...
    • Emergency Accommodation
      46. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action he is taking to ensure that staff working in privately-run emergency accommodation and services for persons...
    • Rental Sector
      47. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of cases that have been taken against landlords for non-compliance with the rent pressure zone rules in the past 12...
    • Electoral Process
      51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will carry out an audit of all polling stations to ensure that they are accessible for all and ensure that they carry out...
    • Fire Service
      52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a plan is in place to address the under staffing in Dublin City Fire Brigade resulting in an overreliance on overtime; and...
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Undocumented Irish in the USA
      55. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent efforts made by his Department to highlight the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; the progress...
    • Passport Services
      56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport for a person (details supplied) will be dispatched in time for their travel plans; and if he will make a statement on the...
  • Department of Defence
    • Defence Forces
      57. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason he has not met a person (details supplied) who has been in regular communication with him, An Garda Síochána and others in...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • School Transport
      58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to lift the restriction on the capacity for school buses to ensure that there are more places for students on buses; and if she...
    • Education and Training Boards
      59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the failures of CMETB and LMETB in which processes and procedures were ignored to safeguard management to the detrimental treatment...
    • School Transport
      63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when school buses which are operated by Bus Éireann will be returning to full capacity given that private school buses are operating at full...
    • Special Educational Needs
      65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 29 September 2021, if she will elaborate on the specific plans in place for the establishment of new...
    • Departmental Meetings
      66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will arrange a meeting with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to discuss components of the programme and ensure these...
    • Mental Health Policy
      67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce mental health and resilience modules in secondary education for transition year students and leaving certificate students;...
    • School Discipline
      68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the interim arrangements that can be put in place for a student (details supplied) to receive an education in person for a student ); and if she...
    • Departmental Correspondence
      69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when correspondence relating to a person (details supplied) will be completed and returned as it is delaying a SUSI application and has been...
    • National Educational Psychological Service
      70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a young person (details supplied) can access a NEPS assessment as soon as possible. [48728/21]
    • School Equipment
      71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a CO2 monitor to each ASD classroom in the country; the estimated cost for this provision; and if she will make a statement on...
  • Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
    • Asylum Seekers
      72. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on increasing the weekly allowance for asylum seekers to €58.80. [48727/21]
    • Pension Provisions
      73. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether the way the pension recalculation introduced by the former Minister for Social Protection (details...
    • Financial Services
      74. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on whether credit unions and other financial institutions should be allowed the option of accepting the public...
    • Employment Schemes
      75. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason she is proceeding to a new model of local employment service delivery; the cost basis on which the new model will...
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      76. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be reconsidered for an application for fuel allowance; and if she will...
    • Social Welfare Payments
      78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the decision to refuse a carer's allowance will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
      79. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if second year students that were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment are eligible to apply for the back to...
    • Employment Support Services
      80. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a scoping exercise has been carried out to test whether there are sufficient competent entities such as private for profit,...
    • Social Welfare Payments
      81. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer’s allowance payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) following an appeal. [48597/21]
    • Pension Provisions
      82. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that recipients of the invalidity pension living in the North do not qualify for free travel; if it is planned to...
  • Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
    • Legislative Process
      83. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline of the full commencement and implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015....
    • Childcare Services
      84. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his proposals to improve childcare provision under the national childcare scheme for children whose parents are...
    • Early Childhood Care and Education
      85. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one intake per year for the ECCE scheme and that...
    • Domestic Violence
      86. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the development of proposals to provide for domestic violence leave; the engagement he has...
    • Refugee Legal Services
      87. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to expand the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in order to accept an increased number of refugees...
    • School Funding
      88. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding is available for national schools to set up after-school services; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Cybersecurity Policy
      89. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all of the information and data that was lost during the cyber-attack has been restored, consolidated; and if...
    • Direct Provision System
      90. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the report concerning the opening of a direct provision centre (details supplied) in March 2020....
    • Social Welfare Inspections
      92. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals made to his Department or Tusla as a result of social welfare inspectors performing site...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Education and Training Boards
      93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be eligible to sit exams with the ETB in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will make...
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • Legislative Measures
      94. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 575 of 28 September 2021, if her intended amendments to section 120 of the Succession Act...
    • Prison Service
      95. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 24 February 2021, the progress that has been made in relation to this matter; when...
    • Citizenship Applications
      96. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); when the...
    • Departmental Data
      97. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of categories of original offences alleged to have been committed by persons while on bail in...
  • Department of Health
    • Disabilities Assessments
      99. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the children whose assessment of need has been completed in 2021 that have been successfully referred to and engaged with by a disability...
    • Disability Services
      100. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the 91 disability networks that have been formed by the HSE per CHO area; and the number of members who are in each network in tabular form....
    • Care Services
      102. To ask the Minister for Health the care services have been put in place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48411/21]
    • Home Care Packages
      103. To ask the Minister for Health the status of and the process for the commitment to introduce a statutory homecare scheme to ensure equitable allocation of resources to persons requiring...
    • Home Help Service
      104. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE employed home help staff under CHO2 for counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon; the current annual budget for each county; the calculated HSE...
    • Medicinal Products
      105. To ask the Minister for Health if work has commenced on legislation to recognise the recent European Court of Justice ruling on levels of THC in CBD products and their classification as...
    • Health Services
      106. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of nurses and careers in Limerick city and county for facilities such as respite care units in the communities the...
    • Mental Health Services
      107. To ask the Minister for Health if discussions are expected to prioritise funding for mental health services in Limerick in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48427/21]
    • Health Services Staff
      108. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48433/21]
    • Medicinal Products
      109. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the pricing and reimbursement negotiations for the gene therapy drug zolgensma (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
    • Health Services
      110. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied). [48453/21]
    • Departmental Data
      111. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care as of 30 September 2021 or the latest date available; and the number...
    • Hospital Staff
      136. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a standard process for selecting candidates to panels for the position of healthcare assistants within HSE hospitals; if so, the details of the...
    • Hospital Closures
      137. To ask the Minister for Health if he will meet with members of a campaign (details supplied) to discuss the HSE plan to close the accident and emergency department in a hospital overnight....
    • General Practitioner Services
      138. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will process an application to assign a general practitioner to a family (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Health Services Staff
      139. To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff in the HSE with training or experience in universal design. [48495/21]
    • Hospital Services
      140. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to diabetes care at the University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make...
    • Departmental Administrative Arrangements
      141. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1120 of 9 September 2021, the status of the single integrated financial and procurement management system; when it will...
    • Hospital Charges
      142. To ask the Minister for Health if he will publish the November 2019 recommendations prepared by the HSE relating to hospital car parking charges; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Medicinal Products
      143. To ask the Minister for Health if he will take steps to bring the cost of xalacom eyedrops here in line with other countries, such as Spain in which the over-the-counter cost is between a...
    • Health Service Executive
      144. To ask the Minister for Health if he will urgently reassess an application for emergency funding for a person (details supplied) in County Cork given the urgency of the medical requirements;...
    • Care Services
      145. To ask the Minister for Health the way he plans to expand dementia day care services in County Mayo; the engagement his Department has had with organisations (details supplied) on increasing...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      146. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48532/21]
    • Hospital Services
      147. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 852 of 31 March 2021, if the tender has finished; the services each hospital has been providing since then; and if he...
    • Medicinal Products
      148. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will review the decision not to allow for reimbursement of cannabidiol, epidiolex in view of the fact that there has been clear...
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      149. To ask the Minister for Health when an appropriate occupational therapy service will be provided to a person (details supplied) who requires such a service as soon as possible; and if he...
    • Health Services
      150. To ask the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [48560/21]
    • Departmental Data
      152. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home support hours for persons with disabilities that were provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in...
    • Health Services
      154. To ask the Minister for Health the reason there is no consultant ophthalmologist located permanently at Letterkenny University Hospital; if an assessment of need was carried out in respect...
    • Medical Cards
      159. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a situation whereby many dental surgeries in an area are no longer taking on medical card patients; and if advice will be given to a person...
    • Medicinal Products
      160. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the €50 million allocated to the provision of new medicines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48600/21]
    • Dental Services
      161. To ask the Minister for Health when the dental treatment services scheme which was cut back significantly during the financial crisis will be restored given a restoration schedule for...
    • Departmental Schemes
      162. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme as of 30 September 2021 or the latest date available; the average waiting time; the number...
    • Departmental Contracts
      163. To ask the Minister for Health the number of active contracts or tenders for health ICT or eHealth projects by software, hardware or similar typology; the length of contract and start date...
    • Health Service Executive
      164. To ask the Minister for Health the guidance the HSE provides to community healthcare organisations on the provision of information and criteria to the general public on the technical aids...
    • Health Services Staff
      165. To ask the Minister for Health if the registration fees for nurses can be waived (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48718/21]
    • General Practitioner Services
      166. To ask the Minister for Health if he will restore the general practitioner distance coding rural practice allowance. [48729/21]
    • Hospital Investigations
      167. To ask the Minister for Health if he will immediately put in place an external review of practices in all maternity hospitals and units to ensure that all guidelines and protocols regarding...
    • Fire Service
      169. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a plan to address the underfunding by the HSE of Dublin Fire Brigade to operate ambulances and the need for additional ambulances in the capital....
    • Departmental Data
      170. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home support hours for older persons that were provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and the projected out...
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Departmental Schemes
      171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received the full payment to their genetic scheme application; and if he will make a...
    • Agriculture Schemes
      172. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will extend the deadline for farmers to submit their Beep-S dung samples beyond 1 October 2021; if he will take...
    • Forestry Sector
      173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current felling site notice which has to be erected following the granting of a felling licence and during harvesting...
    • Departmental Policies
      176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered a ban on polyflurinated alkyl substances in food packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48711/21]
    • Departmental Correspondence
      177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 865 of 28 September 2021, if he has conveyed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and...
  • Department of Rural and Community Development
    • Departmental Schemes
      178. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of playgrounds funded under the CLÁR scheme in each county both through community organisations and through schools....