Written answers
Wednesday, 1 December 2021
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Trade Data
38. To ask the Taoiseach the level of peat produced in Ireland from 2016 to 2021; and the level of peat exported from Ireland from 2016 to 2021, in tabular form. [59175/21]
- State Bodies
40. To ask the Taoiseach the reason for the fees to counsel in the budget of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor; and the breakdown of the fees to counsel in tabular form. [59299/21]
- Seanad Reform
41. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his plans for Seanad reform. [58861/21]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Work Permits
42. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59267/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
47. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the new measures he will now introduce given reports (details supplied) to support the play and leisure industry which includes all...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Electricity Generation
49. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the implementation of a microgeneration scheme recently announced by him and due to be facilitated from...
- National Broadband Plan
50. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the long-term financial stability of each company in the consortium was assessed and or future-proofed with due...
- Climate Change Policy
52. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason County Clare, which has a high dependency on the coal-burning ESB power station at Moneypoint has been...
- National Broadband Plan
53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes and business premises that have benefited from high speed fibre connection across County Meath since...
- Renewable Energy Generation
56. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of community-led renewable energy projects operational in the country; the number which come under any other...
- National Broadband Plan
57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has had with National Broadband Ireland with regard to the roll-out of high speed fibre broadband in...
- Water Services
58. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Irish Water continues to meet its obligations under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 given the fact that the...
- Energy Policy
59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the SEAI National Energy Research Development and Demonstration Funding Programme will be awarded. [59486/21]
- Bus Services
61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of sheltered bus stops for Belgooly and Riverstick, County Cork. [59398/21]
- Enterprise Support Services
62. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that will be implemented to assist businesses that are severely impacted due to supply chain issues, shipping delays...
- Rail Network
63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Greystones, Skerries, Balbriggan, Kilcock, Sallins, and Kilcoole Dart stations are not included in the reduced rail fare...
- Departmental Communications
64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a memorandum for observations has yet been circulated to other Departments; if not, when it will be circulated; the Departments to...
- Public Transport
65. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public transport projects aside from the purchase of new buses, firmly committed to in the NDP, either partially or wholly located in,...
- Rail Network
66. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the rail connectivity of Longford town with Dublin city by the provision of a dual rail line; if feasibility studies...
- Greenways Provision
67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of funding will be announced for Greenways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59281/21]
- Driver Licences
69. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment at the National Driver Licencing Service centre in Ennis to...
- Airport Policy
71. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of air traffic control staff that are out of work due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59320/21]
- Ports Policy
74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Galway Port is eligible for either State grants or Ten-T grants to develop the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Bus Services
75. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide additional funding for the design of a 24-hour north south and east west bus route to be included in the draft...
- Department of Finance
- Insurance Industry
76. To ask the Minister for Finance the efforts he and his Department have taken to lower insurance premiums or for insurance firms to honour their pledge to reduce premiums. [59173/21]
- Tax Code
78. To ask the Minister for Finance if capital gains tax applies on the sale of a family home in Ireland in circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59408/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
79. To ask the Minister for Finance the new measures he will now introduce given reports (details supplied) to support the play and leisure industry which includes all indoor activity centres...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Covid-19 Pandemic
81. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to instances in which premiums (details supplied) for having contracted Covid-19 in the workplace were...
- Statutory Instruments
82. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the appeal process in regard to the application and implementation of the Sick Pay Policy S.I No. 124/2014 and SI 384/2015; and if he...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
83. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 23 November 2021, if a person can qualify for a late application under the events...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Fire Stations
84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ballincollig fire station, Cork is currently closed; if Cork City Council has...
- Water Quality
87. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the remedy open to ensure compliance with environmental regulations relating to water quality in which a farmer is not in...
- Road Network
88. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the options for development of the proposed narrow water bridge between counties Louth and Down; and if he will...
- Housing Provision
89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will address a matter in relation to a site in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny (details supplied). [59145/21]
- Housing Policy
90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 17 November 2020, the actions taken to date, the interim outcomes, the...
- Housing Provision
91. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the Land Development Agency development of St. Kevin’s Site in Shanakiel, Cork. [59277/21]
- Defective Building Materials
95. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has requested Suite C reports in respect of the application submitted by Clare County Council for a defective...
- Local Authorities
98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the system for reimbursement of public representation allowances and expenses for councillors; if it is to be paid and claimed...
- Wastewater Treatment
99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the necessary funding will be put in place to carry out the necessary works to comply with regulations in view of the EPA...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
100. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he will now take to maintain and extend support measures which are currently operational by his Department given...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
101. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport which was dispatched but not received by the applicant (details supplied); if the Passport Office will issue a new...
- Human Rights
104. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will introduce a resolution at the Human Rights Council addressing human rights violations in Bahrain; and if not, the reason...
- Northern Ireland
106. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has been made during this parliamentary term on the commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to establish a bill of rights...
- European Union
107. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of countries that have applied to join the European Union; the present status of their applications; the position being adapted...
- Passport Services
108. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason it took the Passport Office 65 working days after the receipt of a passport application from a person (details supplied) to...
- Department of Defence
- European Union
110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the policy of his Department in relation to the European Union policy to grow the armaments industry across the European Union in view of...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no special educational needs organisers (SENO) covering south County Tipperary...
- Schools Building Projects
112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of building works taking place on a site for a school (details supplied); the projected timeline for completion of the school...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her advice on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the wearing of masks in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Education Policy
115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process that will be followed in reviewing the DEIS programme; if there will be a public consultation before consultants are appointed to...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she and her officials will examine the case of a person (details supplied) for Covid-19 leave; and if she will intervene on their behalf....
- School Funding
117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding streams available for the running of primary schools; the dates in which these funds are forwarded to individual schools; and if she...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is considering providing access to either funding or a procurement scheme for the purchase of HEPA filters for classrooms; and if she will...
- School Admissions
120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a lack of secondary school places in the Glanmire area of Cork. [59410/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that parents are expressing concerns in relation to the mental health impact that the wearing of...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Gender Recognition
123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the gender recognition certificate; if there is a timeframe for when persons aged 16 years of age and...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlements available for a person who has class S self-employment contributions who is medically certified as currently...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if INTREO front and back office set-ups established in response to Covid-19 have been reviewed; if she will advise on when...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is flexibility in which a person (details supplied) has the required number of PRSI contributions but not at the...
- Social Welfare Benefits
127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average processing time of paternity benefit applications since being introduced. [59368/21]
- Social Welfare Code
128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is obligatory for persons in receipt of social welfare payments including job seeker’s benefit to have a valid...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will agree to reinstate an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in view of the changed circumstance...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Childcare Services
130. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a number of childcare facilities that have closed down in County Wicklow due...
- Youth Services
131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there have been developments, additional supports or funding provided to an organisation (details supplied)...
- Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the name and professional position that is, secretary general, principal officer and so on, of those members of...
- Family Resource Centres
133. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to increase core funding for family resource centres; if funding can be increased by a centre...
- Direct Provision System
134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department holds responsibility for the daily expenses allowance. [59513/21]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Covid-19 Pandemic
135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is planned to introduce health regulations in relation to the holding of in-person third-level examinations between the end of November and...
- Education and Training Boards
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a project (details supplied) and the fact that an arts programme is now at risk with the recruitment process...
- Further and Higher Education
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons that achieved a QQI level 5 qualification, or higher in childcare or early childhood education and care or montessori in...
- Third Level Fees
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the practice of third-level institutions passing on student debt arising from unpaid fees to debt collectors;...
- Apprenticeship Programmes
143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made by his Department to increase the number of apprenticeship places in higher education institutes to allow persons in an...
- Further and Higher Education
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 24 November 2021, the time duration of the each Nearly Zero Energy Building Standard (NZEB) course...
- Institutes of Technology
145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 297, 298, 299 of 25 November 2021, the overall cost of the extension to the central campus EO1 project at...
- Further and Higher Education
146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund has concluded or if additional calls will be made in the future; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Expenditure
147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated and spent under the Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Programme; the details of each project in tabular form; and if...
- Project Ireland 2040
150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he remains committed to the Project Ireland 2040 commitment of Exchequer investment of €2.2 billion in Ireland's higher education...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Asylum Seekers
151. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of overall asylum spaces that have been granted to refugees in Ireland in each of the years from 2015 to date; the...
- Departmental Reviews
152. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will review the actions committed to within her Department’s implementation plan for the Review of Protections...
- Courts Service
153. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation that will provide for an enhanced and more transparent process in respect of the way in...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
154. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of liquor licences for pubs and restaurants revoked or not renewed for breach of Covid-19 guidelines in 2020 and to...
- An Garda Síochána
155. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently employed by the State by county in tabular form. [59301/21]
- Legislative Measures
157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she plans to sign the commencement order in relation to the extension of the time period to three years for clinical...
- Immigration Status
158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of stamp 4 in the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59399/21]
- An Garda Síochána
159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to raise the retirement age for gardaí from 60; if she has had discussions with the Department of Public...
- Immigration Status
160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department’s regularisation scheme will be delivered by the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Visa Applications
161. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if Irish citizens in receipt of disability allowance are required to provide evidence of cumulative income of at least...
- Department of Health
- Oireachtas Committees
162. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to establish a Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on international surrogacy; when she expects this Committee to commence...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
163. To ask the Minister for Health when his attention was drawn by NPHET to the fact that it was proposing to make mask-wearing for children in schools and other settings a recommendation; his...
- Hospital Services
165. To ask the Minister for Health if he received a submission for a specialist centre for intestinal failure; if he plans to deliver a specialist centre at St James’s Hospital;; and if...
- Alcohol Advertising
166. To ask the Minister for Health when section 12, 13,18 and 19 of the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018 will be enacted which includes labelling of alcohol products, content of advertisements,...
- Vaccination Programme
167. To ask the Minister for Health the strategy he is undertaking to ensure that migrant communities messaging in relation to Covid-19 vaccination is done in a culturally sensitive manner; the...
- Hospital Staff
168. To ask the Minister for Health the available neurology services in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin; the current number of neurology nurses in the hospital; the current list of...
- Covid-19 Tests
169. To ask the Minister for Health the additional supports that will be put in place to ensure quick and local access to PCR testing given the level of additional needs of the service users of a...
- Vaccination Programme
171. To ask the Minister for Health if a timeline for Covid-19 booster jabs for each age group has been approved; and if so, the timeline for booster jabs. [59158/21]
- Medical Cards
172. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria for cancer patients to qualify for a medical card; and if there are plans to amend the criteria to expand eligibility for cancer patients. [59159/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
176. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times that pre-legislative scrutiny has been waived in relation to Covid-19 related legislation; the legislation for which this waiver was...
- Health Services
177. To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Research Board LINK system National drug Treatment Recording System is used by regional drugs and alcohol task forces to make decisions on...
- Vaccination Programme
181. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to a centre (details supplied). [59185/21]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
182. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of persons who have been fully vaccinated but have subsequently been diagnosed with Covid-19 from June 2021 to date; the...
- National Maternity Hospital
183. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the national maternity hospital.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59210/21]
- Abortion Services
184. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to abortion law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59212/21]
- Health Services Staff
185. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether there is an urgent need to increase the number of neurology nurses in the State in order to bring the numbers up to international...
- Vaccination Programme
186. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to put the infrastructure in place to administer a third dose of Covid-19 vaccines to all age groups following the advice of the European...
- Health Services
187. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty some elderly medical card holders are having receiving chiropodist care due to the additional cost on top of...
- Covid-19 Tests
188. To ask the Minister for Health the number of PCR test appointments available to book for the past month given the current delays for people accessing PCR test appointments. [59265/21]
- Health Services
189. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 24 November 2021, if he has raised with HIQA the issue of the challenge facing health service providers including...
- Health Services Staff
191. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the matter of funding for the Parkinson's Association and the need for specialist nurses to be put in place throughout the country; and if...
- Vaccination Programme
195. To ask the Minister for Health the proposed expected timeframe in relation to the issuing of certificates for booster doses; if he will detail the technical specifications being considered;...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
196. To ask the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for paediatric orthopaedic care by CHO; the plans in place to tackle these extensive waiting list; and if he will make a statement on...
- Dental Services
197. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59343/21]
- Hospital Services
198. To ask the Minister for Health the number of beds available in Galway University Hospital, Newcastle Road and Galway University Hospital, Merlin Park respectively; the number of these...
- Covid-19 Tests
199. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to reopening the Covid-19 testing centre in Athlone, County Westmeath to save persons from having to travel long distances for a...
- Legislative Measures
200. To ask the Minister for Health the studies that have been carried out in relation to the possible erosion of fundamental rights of assembly and protest for a wide variety of reasons and...
- Hospital Services
201. To ask the Minister for Health if funding of €5.1 million will be provided annually to Cappagh Hospital in order that it can increase surgical activity by at least 400% and relieve...
- Covid-19 Tests
202. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the cancellation and no-show rates for PCR tests. [59392/21]
- Health Services Staff
205. To ask the Minister for Health when payroll arrears dating back to 2016 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry following an increase in pay grade; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Services
206. To ask the Minister for Health when the new 33 extra beds in St. Michael’s unit in South Tipperary Hospital will be put in place. [59483/21]
- Home Care Packages
207. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being considered in relation to current difficulties of those in need of homecare packages; the engagement he has had to date with the relevant...
- Health Services
208. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the new public health model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59485/21]
- Disability Services
209. To ask the Minister for Health the status of operations at a respite facility (details supplied). [59492/21]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Environmental Schemes
210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available for rewilding and wilding of land; and the current level of take-up for these supports in tabular form. [59177/21]
- Fishing Industry
211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he has undertaken to reinstate the European Commission derogation for Ireland in relation to weigh fish once they have...
- Agriculture Industry
213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of cross-Border agriculture trade in 2020 and 2021; and the measures being considered to boost cross-Border agricultural...
- Agriculture Schemes
214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59259/21]
- Fishing Industry
215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific actions his Department is taking to support the fishing industry and ensure that they have adequate supply to sell to...
- Common Agricultural Policy
219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the livestock schemes proposed in the CAP Strategic Plan that will require Bord Bia Quality Assurance membership; the ones that will...
- Agriculture Schemes
222. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Baccalauréat Professionnel level 4 on the European Qualifications Framework is recognised as fulfilling the need for a...
- Agriculture Industry
223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of seed potato produced in the State; the amount imported to the State from Scotland by year in each of the years 2016 to...
- Common Agricultural Policy
225. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated for young farmers under Pillar 1 of the CAP in each of the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a...
- Agriculture Schemes
226. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to resume convergence in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59291/21]
- Forestry Sector
229. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of forestry planting licences issued by his Department in 2021; the total number of hectares involved; the total...
- Departmental Reviews
232. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the review by his Department of the 2011 and 2017 European Impact Assessment Regulations (Agriculture) and their implementation is...
- Forestry Sector
233. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to address the issues in his Department in dealing with forestry applications (details supplied); and...
