Written answers

Wednesday, 2 February 2022

  • Department of An Taoiseach
    • Official Engagements
      28. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [4808/22]
  • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
    • Flexible Work Practices
      29. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of implementation of the required legislation for the national remote working strategy; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Pension Provisions
      30. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the consultation process as provided for in response to the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension...
    • Work Permits
      31. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of work permits for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5374/22]
  • Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
    • National Broadband Plan
      32. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the National Broadband Plan roll-out in area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Waste Management
      33. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter regarding a waste collection company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
    • National Broadband Plan
      34. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 19 January 2022, if he will provide the number of completed connections and...
    • National Postcode System
      35. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of an Eircode application made by a person (details supplied); if he will ensure it is on the list to be...
    • Energy Conservation
      36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is obliged to change their property’s heating system from oil to...
    • Mining Industry
      37. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he intends to grant a mining licence for the purpose of mining for gold and silver and other minerals in the...
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Transport Policy
      38. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the list of refused applications under the active travel 2022 allocations in Cork city; and the reason for refusal in each case. [5231/22]
    • Road Projects
      39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be made available to progress to phase 3 of the N52 Tullamore Kilbeggan link road scheme in the context of having been...
    • Pension Provisions
      40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Ministerial approval has been given for the increase of 2.5% to Dublin Port pensioners; if another Department needs to approve the...
    • National Car Test
      41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the length of time persons must wait to secure an NCT booking; his plans to clear the backlog; and if...
  • Department of Finance
    • Tax Code
      42. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider amendments to the VAT rules for imports from registered UK charities into Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
    • Public Sector Staff
      43. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way that a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary can obtain consent from his Department to apply for the one person one...
  • Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • Television Licence Fee
      44. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of television licences that have not been paid; the number of legal proceedings initiated by An Post in the past two...
    • Sports Funding
      45. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an application by a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5255/22]
    • Departmental Expenditure
      46. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent to date on the Galway 2020 project; the amount that was Exchequer funding; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Film Industry
      47. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will seek advice and a meeting with officials in her Department to discuss possible funding and support avenues for a local...
    • Television Licence Fee
      48. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of revenue collected in 2021 in television licence fees; the way the revenue is allocated or spent; and if she will make...
  • Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
    • Departmental Advertising
      49. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated amount spent by his Department on the design, marketing and promotion of materials in relation to the current...
    • Housing Schemes
      51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 25 January 2022, the total expenditure on homeless Housing Assistance Payments in...
    • Housing Provision
      53. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the proposed housing delivery by each local authority in each of the years 2022 to 2026 by categories (details...
    • Rental Sector
      54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the powers that the Residential Tenancies Board has to protect tenants; and if legislative reforms of the Residential Tenancies...
    • Housing Provision
      55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount spent on social housing leasing from 2011 to 2021, by county in tabular form. [5237/22]
    • Planning Issues
      57. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide planning exemptions for farmers who are trying to develop their businesses in a sustainable way with regard...
    • Departmental Reports
      58. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason that his Department’s monthly homeless report no longer provides data on single parent family homelessness;...
    • Housing Schemes
      59. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the qualifying criteria for the new €30,000 derelict house refurbishment scheme; when the scheme will be open for...
    • Planning Issues
      60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will extend article 10(6) an exemption change of use from commercial to residential; if the classes that qualify for the...
    • Local Authorities
      61. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a requirement on the CEO of a local authority to respond to a person who makes a submission to a Draft County...
    • Defective Building Materials
      62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a support available for persons with a lack of means to pay for testing their homes which are potentially affected...
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Diplomatic Representation
      63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the correspondence or meetings he has had with the Russian Ambassador in relation to naval exercises conducted by the Russian military off of...
    • Northern Ireland
      64. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the heads of state with whom he has raised the British amnesty for crimes by British service members during the Troubles; the response of...
    • European Union
      66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the call by the President of France to include abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. [5245/22]
    • United Nations
      67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of funding provided by Ireland in 2020 and 2021 to the United Nations broken down by UN body and committee, to international...
    • Diplomatic Representation
      68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to expand the embassy network in Africa in the context of the Global Ireland Strategy; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Patent Applications
      70. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue in the case of persons (details supplied) whose applications were submitted via post a number of months ago; and...
    • Passport Services
      72. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times the online passport service has gone down in each of the past 12 months; the number of complaints that have been received...
    • Patent Applications
      73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will be provided for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5478/22]
  • Department of Defence
    • Defence Forces
      74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5214/22]
    • Air Corps
      76. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; and the breakdown of the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in training,...
    • Naval Service
      77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service operations and patrols which have been cancelled to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5217/22]
    • Defence Forces
      78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5218/22]
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Education Schemes
      83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will provide guidance on the expected broadening of DEIS status for primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5203/22]
    • School Accommodation
      85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an additional accommodation scheme application by a school (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of the application; if her attention...
    • State Examinations
      86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding leaving certificate options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5259/22]
    • Home Schooling
      87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for home tuition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5260/22]
    • School Transport
      88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will assist in the case of a child (details supplied) to assist with transport to the nearest school with a suitable available place for...
    • Educational Disadvantage
      89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made regarding a new model to identify concentrated levels of disadvantage in schools; if a consultation has taken...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the requirement for children to wear masks in school can be lifted in the immediate future in view of the improved public health situation; and...
    • School Staff
      91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review correspondence (details supplied); and if she will address these concerns and provide an update on this matter. [5297/22]
    • School Facilities
      92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be prioritised on the energy retrofit of schools programme. [5304/22]
    • School Accommodation
      93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the number of children in cold prefabs having to wear extra clothes to keep themselves warm; and if she will...
    • Schools Building Projects
      94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is still actively considering a site (details supplied) for a new school build; if a decision has been made to look at a...
  • Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
    • Medical Cards
      96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if replacement dentures are covered for a person (details supplied) either by way of medical card or by dental benefit given...
    • Social Welfare Appeals
      97. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a social welfare appeal will be decided (details supplied) given the applicant is under severe financial pressure. [5206/22]
    • Social Welfare Schemes
      98. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the anticipated number of families who will benefit from the extension of the period from thirteen weeks to six months that...
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      99. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a jobseeker's benefit application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
      100. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if more time can be given to allow a requested employer letter to be submitted in support of a pandemic unemployment payment...
    • Social Welfare Payments
      101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has examined the possibility of index linking social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider free travel for all means tested social welfare recipients given the rising costs of living; and if she...
    • Social Welfare Payments
      103. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of social welfare payments that were suspended, cancelled or not awarded to lone parents due to failure to provide...
  • Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
    • Domestic Violence
      104. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the review by Tusla of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence will be published;...
    • Child and Family Agency
      105. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Tusla accommodation review will be published. [5227/22]
    • Childcare Services
      106. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Childminding Action Plan is on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5324/22]
    • Legislative Measures
      107. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the certain institutional burials (authorised interventions) Bill for second stage. [5325/22]
    • Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
      108. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider publishing the collaborative forum report given that the Birth Information and Tracing Bill...
    • Protected Disclosures
      109. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protected disclosures made to him in relation to his Department and all bodies under its remit by...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Institutes of Technology
      110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the bundle II public-private partnership building programmes promised to Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow campuses; and...
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • Work Permits
      113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of each application for volunteer work permits by persons (details supplied); and the estimated timeframe in each...
    • Prison Service
      114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners granted temporary release by gender in each of the years from 2010 to date in tabular form. [5191/22]
    • Departmental Data
      115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the trend in applications for visas, naturalisation and so on over the past five years; the trend in staff...
    • Prison Service
      116. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if female prisoners are now provided with period packs following the Inspector of Prisons 2021 Limerick report that this was...
    • An Garda Síochána
      121. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the request by this Deputy and the families to establish an independent review of the death of a person (details...
    • Immigration Policy
      122. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans with regard to the undocumented regularisation scheme to allow for financial hardship exemptions in cases in which...
    • An Garda Síochána
      123. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 25 January 2022, if she will request the authorities of An Garda...
    • Antisocial Behaviour
      124. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being taken to combat antisocial behaviour. [5479/22]
  • Department of Health
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      125. To ask the Minister for Health if he will approve the inclusion of contractors contracted directly through the HSE or through a third party in the Covid recognition payment; and if he will...
    • Nursing Homes
      128. To ask the Minister for Health when the plan to exempt rental income from the fair deal nursing home scheme will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5277/22]
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      130. To ask the Minister for Health the total budget towards the proposed tax free pandemic recognition payment of €1,000; and the number of eligible frontline workers expected to avail of...
    • Dental Services
      131. To ask the Minister for Health if replacement dentures are covered for a person (details supplied) either by way of medical card or by dental benefit given that they have a full medical...
    • Health Services
      132. To ask the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5223/22]
    • Medicinal Products
      133. To ask the Minister for Health the medicines available under the drug payment scheme to treat hyperemesis gravidarum; the medicines available on the medical card to treat same; and if he...
    • Vaccination Programme
      134. To ask the Minister for Health the way persons who received their primary course of the Covid-19 vaccine outside the State but received their booster dose in Ireland can obtain an updated EU...
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      135. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5257/22]
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      136. To ask the Minister for Health if workers in the adult disability services (details supplied) will be included in the once-off, tax free €1,000 bonus payment. [5258/22]
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      137. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment with a psychologist in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      138. To ask the Minister for Health if he has plans to set up a long Covid clinic in the South/Southwest Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5262/22]
    • Health Services
      139. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the programmes run by an organisation (details supplied) to assist those living with neurological conditions; and if he will make a...
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      140. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will expedite this appointment as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      141. To ask the Minister for Health if section 39 community health workers will be included in the pandemic bonus payments announced for other healthcare workers given the exceptional work...
    • Vaccination Programme
      142. To ask the Minister for Health the way that a person can apply for an exemption to the European Union booster requirement for travel if they are double vaccinated but have been advised by a...
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      143. To ask the Minister for Health the wait time for a person (details supplied) who is waiting over one year for cataract surgery at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a...
    • Dental Services
      144. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists that have left the dental treatment services scheme in County Louth in 2020 and 2021. [5291/22]
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      145. To ask the Minister for Health if the requirement for children to wear masks in school can be lifted in the immediate future in view of the improved public health situation; and if he will...
    • Legislative Reviews
      146. To ask the Minister for Health if the failure to publish the e-tender for the chair of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 contrary to assurances made...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      148. To ask the Minister for Health the position with regard to mask wearing in churches; if masks are still required; the relevant statutory instrument specifically citing churches as having a...
    • Medical Cards
      150. To ask the Minister for Health if the medical report required for the national driving licence could be included in the medical card scheme. [5303/22]
    • Legislative Reviews
      151. To ask the Minister for Health when the independent chair of the review of the operation of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is contracted to submit their final report to him...
    • Pension Provisions
      152. To ask the Minister for Health when the increase due to Health Service Executive pensioners, a backdated 2% pay increase due from 1 October 2020 under the 2018 Public Service Agreement will...
    • Vaccination Programme
      153. To ask the Minister for Health when the 12 to 15 years of age cohort who received their second dose over three months will receive their Covid-19 booster vaccination; and if he will make a...
    • Abortion Services
      154. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2191 of 27 July 2021, the names of the civil society organisations brought together by an organisation (details...
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      155. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for a hip operation in Castlebar Hospital; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Hospital Staff
      157. To ask the Minister for Health when a paediatric neurology consultant will be provided for the mid-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5377/22]
    • Health Services
      158. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has costed the recommendations made in the report of the review of the health services for persons with autism spectrum disorders; if the...
    • Mental Health Services
      160. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to launch a full public inquiry into the treatment of children attending South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service which would include a...
    • Covid-19 Pandemic
      162. To ask the Minister for Health if general practitioner practice nurses and administrative staff will receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Disability Services
      164. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the situation in regard to the review of children's disability network teams which was due to be completed for CHO8 and in particular for...
    • Hospital Services
      166. To ask the Minister for Health the number of operations and treatments that were cancelled in University Hospital Limerick in 2021; when these appointments will be rescheduled; and if he...
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Animal Welfare
      168. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details regarding the equine census currently being conducted by his Department; the obligation on horse owners in...
    • Fur Farming
      169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021; and when the legislation outlawing fur...
  • Department of Rural and Community Development
    • Flexible Work Practices
      170. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there will be additional grants for remote working hubs similar to the connected hubs scheme in 2022; and if she will make a...