Written answers
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Enterprise Support Services
34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider extending the supports available to small and medium enterprises under the Green Transition Fund; and if he will...
- Workplace Relations Commission
35. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour inspectors currently employed at the Workplace Relations Commission; how this compares with the allocated number...
- Employment Rights
36. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he will honour the terms of the employment regulation order for the security industry; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
37. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital projects undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will make a...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Postal Services
38. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Energy Conservation
39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a person who is in receipt of an invalidity pension (details supplied) did not qualify for funding through...
- Electricity Generation
40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 23 February 2023, the independent environmental evaluations and assessments...
- Departmental Bodies
41. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the work of the District Energy Steering Group; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Energy Prices
42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will take action to ensure district energy customers are charged at residential rates, rather than the more...
- Postal Services
44. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an Eircode postcode will be assigned to a rowing club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
45. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Ports Policy
46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the establishment of a collaborative forum, including his Department, the Department of Justice and representatives of...
- Trade Data
47. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total tonnage of throughput at Dublin Port; the total of which was agricultural produce for the years 2017 to date, in tabular form;...
- Ports Policy
48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of Dublin Port having reduced the number of days for which product can be held at the port from ten to two; the reason for...
- Driver Test
50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are any exemptions for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in sitting an examination; and if he will make a statement...
- Public Sector Pensions
51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the CIÉ 1951 Pension Scheme, which has now met minimum funding standards and is solvent; if he...
- Public Transport
53. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total number of scheduled weekly departures that will be provided as a result of the recently announced improvements in rural...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he...
- Rail Network
55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will increase the number of carriages on the Sunday train services from Limerick to Galway and vice versa, in view of the fact it is...
- Bus Services
56. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure all public buses serving Bantry, County Cork, have the facility to accommodate mobility scooters for individuals who...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Data
57. To ask the Minister for Finance his intentions regarding Recommendation 16.1 of the report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare; the steps he intends to take to ensure adequate...
- Tax Credits
59. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline the reason tenants who have a formal rental agreement that is registered with the RTB, but who are renting off a family member such as a...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Road Network
61. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will replace a bridge in treacherous condition with a new bridge (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a...
- Irish Language
62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 15 November 2022, the status of his Department's work to date on the implementation of the...
- Court Accommodation
63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the completion of the design and planning of the family law court at Hammond Lane; and if he will make a statement on...
- An Garda Síochána
64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the construction of new Garda stations at Clonmel and Macroom have not commenced, notwithstanding that they have planning...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he...
- National Development Plan
66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the implementation of Chapter 17 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Sports Organisations
67. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she or persons within any statutory agencies under her remit have met with an organisation (details supplied). [10467/23]
- Capital Expenditure Programme
68. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the capital projects that have been undertaken by her Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Departmental Investigations
69. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if any investigations into the Meenbog landslide, caused by wind farm construction in County Donegal in November 2020, have...
- Legislative Measures
70. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the proposed amendment to the Planning and Development Act 2020, currently before Dáil Éireann, will impact in any...
- Housing Schemes
71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will clarify the position on clawback in respect of a dwelling purchased via the affordable housing scheme (details...
- Housing Provision
73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the output target for 2023, and subsequent years respectively, in terms of the number of social housing units to be delivered...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government of the €1.9 billion capital provision for housing for 2023 that is not voted Exchequer funding, how much is to come from...
- Housing Provision
75. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of affordable purchase and cost-rental homes, respectively, that will be delivered through LDA investment in 2023;...
- Departmental Expenditure
76. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of voted current funding that has been allocated for 2023, and estimated for subsequent years respectively, for...
- Water Services
77. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 28 September 2022, the discussions his Department has had with Cork City Council...
- State Bodies
78. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the protocols in place with the Residential Tenancies Board to respond to property owners who contact the board (details...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
79. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year;...
- Legislative Measures
80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when measures (details supplied) in the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 will be enacted;...
- Housing Provision
81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide full details on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10579/23]
- Grant Payments
83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the grants of up to €5,000 announced for biodiversity and nature recording in 2022 will be made available again this...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Birth Registration
84. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a decision will be made in respect of an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in...
- United Nations
85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if funding was provided to UNFPA supplies, the thematic programme of UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, dedicated to...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
86. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total number of officers in the Defence Forces who have been seconded since 2014, and specifically to the European Defence Agency and his...
- Derelict Sites
91. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of derelict homes on the Curragh Camp in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10484/23]
- Capital Expenditure Programme
93. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made by her Department to ensure a person (details supplied) obtains a school place suitable to their specified educational...
- Renewable Energy Generation
95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the announced scheme to install solar panels on all schools. [10585/23]
- Information and Communications Technology
96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 426 of 18 October 2022, if she will provide an update on the installation of the Internet at a school...
- Schools Building Projects
97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 18 October 2022, if she will provide an update on the status of a project for a school (details...
- School Funding
98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding from her Department's grants is due to be provided to a school (details supplied); and, if so, when it can be expected. [10286/23]
- Renewable Energy Generation
99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following the announcement in budget 2023, if she will provide an update on the roll-out of solar panels for school buildings; how solar panel...
- School Transport
100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will consider advising Bus Éireann's school transport section to move a student collection point in (details supplied) in...
- School Staff
101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide for student teachers to be paid for the hours they work while on placement; the details of any analysis carried out by her...
- School Enrolments
102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the school planning area in which a household is located (details supplied); if there are enough primary school places available in this school...
- Special Educational Needs
104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if schools can refuse a child a place in a special class for children with autism based on continence issues, despite a recommendation for a...
- School Enrolments
105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are initiatives to promote the switch of any of the single-sex schools at primary level to co-educational in a school planning area...
- Schools Building Projects
107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has an opening date for the new build for a school (details supplied) at a location in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on...
- School Enrolments
108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her advice for parents whose children have been refused a school place in all of their local primary or secondary schools due to...
- Information and Communications Technology
109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Internet access will be provided throughout an entire school (details supplied); when this will be provided; and if she will make a statement...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the capital projects that have been undertaken by her Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if she will...
- School Enrolments
111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional resources will be provided to a school (details supplied) to help it tackle the huge waiting lists it is facing and allow for a...
- Traveller Education
112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, if she will provide for the effective implementation of 'reduced...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Transport Costs
117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 81 and 83 of 22 February 2023, the oversight and accountability measures she applies...
- Social Welfare Benefits
118. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her advice on a matter (details supplied) in relation to extending the working family payment for single parents; and if she...
- Departmental Reviews
119. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will advise on the reviews carried out by her Department with regard to disability allowance recipients; if she will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 23 February 2023, if she will publish communications with the European...
- Public Services Card
121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the process for a person with a disability to renew their public services card if they can make an appointment in their local...
- Social Welfare Appeals
122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is still waiting on an appeal decision for carer’s allowance; and if she will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if Covid-19 will be deemed an occupational illness as recommended by the EU Advisory Committee. [10427/23]
- Transport Costs
124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is permissible for bus companies that are part of the "free travel scheme" of her Department to charge an online...
- Departmental Expenditure
125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of the "free travel scheme" to her Department in each year since 2010; the number of persons each year over the same...
- Social Welfare Appeals
126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10489/23]
- Social Welfare Benefits
127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- International Protection
129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend legislation to ensure properties held in trust can receive payment for accommodating...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
130. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on an early years service withdrawing its part-time service with very little notice, despite being in...
- Maternity Leave
131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding a survey carried out by his Department that was sent to Members of the Houses of the...
- Departmental Projects
132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in light of his Department’s plans to establish a national centre for research and remembrance, if he...
- Direct Provision System
134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 443 of 14 February 2022, if the information can now be provided; and if he...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
136. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding...
- Direct Provision System
137. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the funding provided to a direct provision centre (details supplied), which is over capacity...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Further and Higher Education
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will amend the qualifying criteria for individuals wishing to apply for Springboard courses in order that those who are in receipt of...
- Third Level Fees
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason returning emigrants who have established residency for over three years in Ireland cannot reclassify from non-EU to EU status...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Immigration Policy
141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will support the establishment of a collaborative forum, including his Department, the Department of Transport and...
- Naturalisation Applications
142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to the application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will...
- Immigration Policy
143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if recommendation 8 of the Interim Evaluation of the Immigrant Investor Programme (published July 2018) was implemented; the...
- International Protection
146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers seeking international protection who arrived in Ireland to date in 2023 having come from another...
- Residency Permits
147. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reduce the €300 annual fee for renewals of Irish residence permit cards for non-EEA students in view of the...
- Departmental Staff
149. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff within his Department working within the Immigration and Naturalisation Service; if recruitment of further...
- An Garda Síochána
150. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí assigned to each station within the DMR west and DMR south central areas; and if he will...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
154. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year;...
- Department of Health
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
155. To ask the Minister for Health given the paid leave for the public health service employees unfit for work post-Covid infection is due to finish in the coming months, if his Department has...
- Health Services Staff
156. To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health nurse posts in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10290/23]
- Care of the Elderly
158. To ask the Minister for Health if she will establish a commissioner for ageing and older people. [10295/23]
- Dental Services
159. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists who submitted claims under the dental treatment services scheme for each month in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by...
- Disabilities Assessments
164. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have their assessment of need carried out. [10327/23]
- Departmental Correspondence
165. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10328/23]
- Health Services Staff
166. To ask the Minister for Health the number of FTE public health nursing posts in County Cavan; the vacancy rate 2018 to date by year; if additional posts were provided for through budget...
- Medical Cards
167. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the changes to income thresholds for medical card eligibility since 2013. [10357/23]
- Mental Health Services
168. To ask the Minister for Health the mental health day services that are currently operating in Thurles, County Tipperary; how an individual may avail of such services; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Services
169. To ask the Minister for Health the number of biopsy tests relative to cancer that were submitted to the laboratory at UHW for analysis from hospitals located in counties Kilkenny, Tipperary...
- Health Services
170. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards in bringing forward proposals to enable young people under the age of 17 years to access the free contraception scheme, as...
- Assisted Human Reproduction
171. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline what the eligibility criteria will be for publicly funded fertility care, as outlined in the programme for Government, in terms of age,...
- Medicinal Products
172. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to improve the speed and efficiency of health technology assessments for new treatments that have already been approved by the European...
- Alcohol Sales
173. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will publish an alcohol non-compliance list in accordance with section 31 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [10407/23]
- Eating Disorders
175. To ask the Minister for Health if he intends to develop a model of care for people with the eating condition of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder; if he intends to develop a model of...
- Abortion Services
179. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of telemedicine abortion; if it is intended to revert back to the pre-Covid practice in this regard, now the Covid pandemic restrictions are...
- Nursing Homes
180. To ask the Minister for Health if nursing homes that are part of the "nursing home subvention scheme" are entitled to charge a general daily "contribution charge" to the resident over and...
- Hospital Appointments Status
183. To ask the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10449/23]
- Health Services Staff
184. To ask the Minister for Health the reason priority is given to CEO entry applicants within the HSE Internship placement programme in addition to or instead of percentile marking; the reason...
- Home Help Service
185. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE home help carers in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10477/23]
- Health Services Staff
186. To ask the Minister for Health the reason it has taken so long to fill a social worker post for a hospice (details supplied) in the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement...
- Food Labelling
188. To ask the Minister for Health if the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 will see the introduction of warning signs on alcohol being provided in English and Irish; and if he will make a...
- National Children's Hospital
189. To ask the Minister for Health if the figures for all elements in relation to the construction of the national children’s hospital, both mechanical and electrical, that is, lighting,...
- Hospital Services
191. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to introduce a dedicated paediatric speech and language service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Care Services
192. To ask the Minister for Health the status of recommendation eight of the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants; and if he...
- Alcohol Advertising
193. To ask the Minister for Health if he will amend the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018 to include zero alcohol products in the restrictions on advertising and marketing; and if he will make a...
- Disability Services
194. To ask the Minister for Health if he will commission a full independent review of service provision by a provider (details supplied) since publication of the Assurance Review; and if he will...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
195. To ask the Minister for Health the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will make a statement...
- Hospital Procedures
196. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the cancellation of elective surgeries on a number of occasions in the past week at Ennis hospital; the contingencies he will put in place to...
- Patient Transport
197. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of funding for a service (details supplied) to bring patients from Cork South-West to CUH to receive cancer...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Supports
198. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider putting specific supports in place for the sheep sector, which is currently in crisis. [10294/23]
- Departmental Data
199. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of establishment grants and premiums paid, by county, in each of the years 2016 to 2022 from the State's afforestation...
- EU Funding
202. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has or intends to apply for European Union co-financing under EU Promotion Regulations published on 30 January 2023; his...
- Agriculture Schemes
203. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if construction costs associated with new milking parlours will be covered under a young farmer capital investment scheme in 2023;...
- Forestry Sector
205. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the target for the total forestry licences issued in 2023, by week, by type and by private or Coillte; and if he will make a...
- EU Regulations
207. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will specify when his departmental officials received drafts of the revised guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and...
- Agriculture Schemes
209. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment (details supplied), approved under the basic payment scheme will be issued; the reason for the delay; and if he will...
- Agriculture Industry
210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a further update on the implementation of the recommendations from the food vision beef and sheep group; and if he...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any proposals or plans in place regarding carbon credits valuation certificates for farmers and herd number owners; and...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and...
- Agriculture Schemes
214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on having a limit of 160 cows for young farmers applying to the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 3 (TAMS). [10581/23]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Library Projects
217. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a breakdown, by county, of the €33 million allocated by her Department to the public libraries capital...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
218. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital projects that have been undertaken by her Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if...
