Written answers
Wednesday, 10 May 2023
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Economic Policy
32. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [21488/23]
- Departmental Consultations
33. To ask the Taoiseach his views of the function and purpose of public consultation processes. [22098/23]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
34. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [21888/23]
- Consular Services
35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the supports and contact available to a person (details supplied) in County Louth in the context of a return to work in Ireland from Sudan;...
- Passport Services
36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will work with the Passport Office to ensure that original documentation, supplied by applicants in respect of first-time passports, is...
- Departmental Meetings
38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the assistance being provided to a person (details supplied) by his Department regarding a complex case....
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence arising from replies to previous Parliamentary Questions on the matter, if progress has taken place in respect of cases whereby serving members...
- Maritime Jurisdiction
40. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures currently in place to monitor and protect subsea infrastructure, including communications infrastructure, under Irish-controlled...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Transport Policy
44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether local authorities in Ireland have the necessary powers to introduce a direct vision and HGV safety standard permit system similar...
- Road Safety
45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the location of the 17 high-collision locations in County Tipperary; the steps that have and will be taken to improve safety at these...
- Driver Test
46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of people waiting for a driving test in the country and per county; the number of driving testers currently employed; and the...
- National Car Test
47. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department is taking to alleviate the backlog of NCT appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21994/23]
- Driver Licences
48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated number of Ukrainian persons living in Ireland that hold a licence to drive a truck or bus; and if he will make a statement...
- Bus Services
49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will seek consideration for the extension of a bus service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22006/23]
- New Economy and Recovery Authority
50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the National Development Finance Agency in working alongside the New Economy and Recovery Authority and the Ireland...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Collection
51. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify whether the recently approved amendment to the Finance Bill 2023 to apply a zero per cent VAT rate for the supply and installation of solar...
- State Claims Agency
52. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide the claims on, and settlements made by, the State Claims Agency in each year since 2011, broken down by category; the amount and percentage...
- Revenue Commissioners
53. To ask the Minister for Finance the number and location of Revenue Commissioners offices with over-the-counter services open; how this number compares with the number of over-the-counter...
- Departmental Schemes
54. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline his responsibility in determining special regeneration areas under the Living City Initiative; the criteria that is used to define these...
- Departmental Data
55. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons' that have availed of the Living City Initiative in each eligible area to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21921/23]
- National Asset Management Agency
56. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount the National Assets Management Agency made available to an entity (details supplied) historically; if it continues to provide funds to it; and if...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Departmental Schemes
57. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the reopening of the Blasket Islands and Sceilg Mhichíl for the 2023 season; and if he will make a...
- Tax Yield
58. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Minister for Sport the way in which the...
- Office of Public Works
59. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on OPW project activities in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22099/23]
- Departmental Schemes
60. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details on the package of actions to enhance delivery of vital public projects that will allow for projects below the...
- Flexible Work Practices
62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 1 March 2023, the status of his Department’s work to date on the implementation of the...
- Flood Risk Management
63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a status update on the Claregalway flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22139/23]
- Climate Action Plan
64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date on the development of a model to assess the impact of infrastructure investment as contained in the 2023 Climate...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Workplace Relations Commission
71. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of a company (details supplied) offering rates below the minimum wage; if he will instruct the WRC to investigate...
- Business Supports
72. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any grants available to businesses that wish to expand or bring into use vacant commercial units which have been vacant...
- Departmental Correspondence
73. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his engagements or the correspondence that his Department has had with the owners or management of a hotel...
- Foreign Policy
74. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has any concerns with regards to trading with China due to its political stance on the Ukraine-Russia war; the measures Ireland...
- Trade Data
75. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 18 January 2023, if the IDA currently employs, or has under contract, an agent or...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Question Heading for question(s) 76
76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21889/23]
- Special Educational Needs
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the number of places that are available in the ASD class in a school (details supplied) for the 2023-2024 school...
- Grant Payments
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the situation of a late payment from the tuition grant section to a school (details supplied), as this has resulted in staff...
- Residential Institutions
80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide her response to the finding in a report (details supplied) concerning the priority need for end-of-life care for survivors of...
- School Textbooks
81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the free primary schoolbooks scheme allocation to a school (details supplied) factors in exceptional circumstances to...
- School Patronage
82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the proposal to reconfigure three primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Education and Training Boards
83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of public money that has been spent to-date in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) defending the actions of a WWETB...
- School Funding
84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the options available to a school (details supplied) to assist with running costs. [21993/23]
- School Transport
85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which children qualify for school transport to a primary school which is not their nearest school in situations where their...
- Special Educational Needs
86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received correspondence from a school (details supplied) in County Donegal relating to the provision of an ASD class; when a full...
- School Transport
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on phases two and three of the ongoing school transport scheme review, which began in February 2021; if the review...
- School Staff
89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will resolve an issue affecting CPD for guidance counsellors in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- School Transport
90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a response to communication from this Deputy can be expected in relation to school transport to a school (details supplied) in County...
- School Curriculum
91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is possible that a school (details supplied) in County Donegal retains their current full time EAL hours; if a review of the decision to cut...
- School Staff
92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) regarding guidance counsellor supervision. [22135/23]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Radio Spectrum Management
94. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the decision by RTÉ to cease the broadcast of long-wave radio; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Irish Language
95. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the recently published report on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and the impact it will have on the...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Traveller Accommodation
96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will supply a breakdown, by local authority, of the funding allocated and the funding drawdown under the Traveller...
- Departmental Funding
97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if grant funding is available from the State for the removal of asbestos; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Housing Provision
98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the targets set out in appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then...
- Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan
100. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide his response to the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) regarding offshore windfarm planning;...
- Housing Schemes
101. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the tenant-in-situ scheme will apply to mixed tenancies, joint tenancies and tenancies in common; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Schemes
105. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the circular with details of the changes to the vacant property grant of 1 May 2023 will issue to local authorities; and...
- Heritage Projects
106. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the State will purchase an estate (details supplied) in County Meath given its significant heritage value and tourism...
- Urban Development
107. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the long-awaited and much-delayed Westgate vision plan for Drogheda; the expected key project...
- Departmental Schemes
108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the local authority home loan; and the number of applications across each county versus the...
- Departmental Data
109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a list of all organisations and individuals consulted in advance of the publication of the general scheme...
- Housing Schemes
110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will confirm the allocation of the affordable housing fund for the cost rental homes to be delivered by Dublin City...
- Departmental Schemes
111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the maximum level of affordable housing funding under the latest iteration of the scheme; and if he will list which projects...
- Housing Provision
115. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the 14 AHB housing units under an association (details supplied) in July 2015 have finished construction; if so, their...
- Electoral Process
122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to amend the Electoral Acts to allow voting at 16 years of age for local and European elections, to bring...
- Local Authorities
123. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the interest rates charged for the local authority home loan are set on the date one draws down one’s loan...
- Housing Provision
124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the 24 local authority housing units approved for construction in an area (details supplied) in May 2015 have finished...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Cost of Living Issues
125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the reason that a cost-of-living payment was not awarded to a person (details supplied). [21877/23]
- Rent Supplement Scheme
127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to rent assistance. [21890/23]
- Cost of Living Issues
128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons in receipt of the adult dependent allowance are entitled to payment under the recent cost-of-living social welfare...
- Care Services
129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 868 of 18 April 2023, if she will provide the specific developmental milestones which a...
- Pension Provisions
130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is any mechanism that allows a person in receipt of a civil service or local authority pension and also in receipt...
- Disability Services
131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current situation regarding a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Applications
132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- Cost of Living Issues
133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the cost-of-living payment can be awarded to a person (details supplied). [22000/23]
- Social Welfare Appeals
135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22047/23]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Visa Applications
137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of the appeals for visas in the case of the family of a person (details supplied);...
- Domestic Violence
138. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of domestic violence incidents reported to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date...
- Legislative Process
139. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the legislative progress of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022; his intentions...
- Departmental Schemes
141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on community alert schemes in Waterford, following his visit there (details supplied); and if he...
- Travel Documents
142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the process that must be followed to enable a person (details supplied) to obtain a travel document; the options open to them...
- Departmental Correspondence
143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a response to correspondence (details supplied) can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22010/23]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Schemes
144. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a Glas payment for 2022 will issue to a person (details supplied) given the delay; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Animal Welfare
145. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to regulate the use of horses for drawing vehicles for commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement on...
- Agriculture Industry
146. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking examine the impact of Brexit on the Irish sheep sector and the resultant eligibility for sheep farmers to...
- Agriculture Schemes
147. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase the budget for the national liming programme to meet demand and ensure that farmers who applied in good faith do...
- Departmental Schemes
148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight that is in place within his Department on the collection, distribution and operation of the Horse and Greyhound Racing...
- Agriculture Schemes
149. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2023 horticultural grants will be opened for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22075/23]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Youth Services
150. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he and his Department have to address the crisis in recruitment and high staff turnover in...
- Mother and Baby Homes
151. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will indicate the eligibility for redress/compensation as part of the mother-and-baby homes redress scheme...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
152. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of creche workers supervising children who do not hold qualifications; how many non-compliance issues...
- Residential Institutions
153. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to appoint a special advocate for survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a...
- Child and Family Agency
154. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the total number of successful family reunifications facilitated by Tusla, the Child and...
- Disability Services
155. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on HSE funding for adult transition supports for young adolescents transitioning from...
- Child and Family Agency
158. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will challenge the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and...
- Mental Health Services
159. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regard to the serious mental health issues facing young people today and the significant benefits of the...
- Voluntary Sector
162. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he and his Department have had with community and voluntary organisations in Kildare with regard...
- Department of Health
- Pension Provisions
164. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a HSE pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21875/23]
- Mental Health Services
165. To ask the Minister for Health when appropriate urgent assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21879/23]
- Departmental Policies
166. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on how Irish patients can access every European Reference Network for Rare Diseases; if Ireland is a full member of each ERN; if...
- Pension Provisions
167. To ask the Minister for Health if he will investigate a matter concerning the HSE pension of a person (details supplied). [21886/23]
- Medicinal Products
168. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Mayo only received a partial refund under the drug payment scheme; if he will provide a breakdown as to...
- Hospital Appointments Status
169. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can get an appointment in Drogheda Hospital as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21913/23]
- Hospital Staff
170. To ask the Minister for Health when a full-time paediatric neurologist will be appointed at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21914/23]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
171. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that healthcare workers in Section 39 organisations who worked in primary care in Covid-19 exposed healthcare environments with people with...
- Departmental Data
172. To ask the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, the number of second consultation claims were made in 2021 via the primary care reimbursement scheme for termination of pregnancy...
- Abortion Services
173. To ask the Minister for Health to provide the total number of surgical abortions carried out in the State, in tabular form, in the respective years 2019, 2020, and 2021; and if he will make...
- Health Services
175. To ask the Minister for Health if there are proposals to increase the illnesses covered on the long-term illness schemes in view of the fact that many illnesses requiring expensive...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
176. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 325 of 09 March 2023, if the present special leave with pay scheme will be extended for eligible staff beyond 30 June...
- Hospital Services
177. To ask the Minister for Health if all implants used in spinal surgery for patients with spina bifida and spinal muscular atrophy across Temple Street and Crumlin Hospitals are appropriately...
- Hospital Staff
178. To ask the Minister for Health whether he is aware of a recommendation from external reviewers to place a senior spinal surgeon from Temple Street Children's University Hospital on leave;...
- Departmental Data
180. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of full and partial lower limb amputations that were carried out in 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of these patients, by county, who had...
- Hospital Services
184. To ask the Minister for Health the number of bed days required by patients treated for foot ulcerations which did not require a full or partial limb amputation in the years 2020, 2021 and...
- Health Services Staff
188. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior podiatrists and WTE basic grade podiatrists employed by the Health Service Executive in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of...
- Hospital Services
189. To ask the Minister for Health the number of outpatient podiatry appointments delivered, by hospital group, in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of outpatient podiatry...
- Health Services
190. To ask the Minister for Health the number of podiatry appointments delivered, by CHO area, in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of podiatry appointments delivered, by CHO area, to...
- Health Services Staff
191. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical podiatry specialists, WTE senior podiatrists, and WTE staff grade podiatrists that have been recruited to date to staff the HSE ECC...
- Hospital Staff
192. To ask the Minister for Health the number of the planned WTE clinical podiatry specialists and WTE senior podiatrists posts for HSE acute hospital diabetes services that have physically...
- Health Services Staff
193. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE diabetes clinical nursing posts, and WTE dietitians that have been recruited to date to staff the HSE ECC specialist ambulatory care hubs...
- Health Services
194. To ask the Minister for Health if a person living with type 2 diabetes who does not have a GMS card or a GP-visit card will be seen free of charge when referred by a GP; and if he will make...
- Home Help Service
195. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) cannot get adequate home help hours to return home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21976/23]
- Nursing Homes
196. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a HSE nursing home bed costs €2,585 per week in County Laois, a cost far greater than nursing home beds in any other HSE facility in the...
- Hospital Staff
199. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify the current position in respect of Clonakilty Community Hospital; if there are sufficient staff in place to enable all beds to be occupied;...
- Dental Services
201. To ask the Minister for Health who a person (details supplied) can attend to get a dental problem resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21989/23]
- Health Services Waiting Lists
202. To ask the Minister for Health when physiotherapy will be scheduled for a person with spina bifida (details supplied) given that it is urgently required; and if he will make a statement on...
- Dental Services
203. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being taken to reduce orthodontic treatment waiting times for children, with particular reference to those whose current estimated treatment...
- Health Services
204. To ask the Minister for Health if a new primary care centre has been approved for Oranmore, County Galway; if so, when work will commence on this new primary care centre; and if he will make...
- Hospital Admissions
205. To ask the Minister for Health the average patient experience to admission via an emergency department for all patients for Naas, Tullamore and Portlaoise hospitals for all months in...
- Health Services
207. To ask the Minister for Health the bed occupancy rate for each week for Naas, Tullamore and Portlaoise hospitals of all months 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form; the national average;...
- Ambulance Service
208. To ask the Minister for Health the number and percentage of incidents responded to by the National Ambulance Service by clinical status and sub-status in January and February for each year...
- Mental Health Services
209. To ask the Minister for Health when he envisages that a residential setting will be available for a person (details supplied) and others in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Legal Cases
210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of public money that has been spent to date defending the actions of a person (details supplied) against serious accusations of...
- Adult Education Provision
211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made in resolving the situation of adult education tutors employed by education and training boards for whom a pay...
- Departmental Funding
213. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the process for allocating the approximate €1 billion surplus in the National Training Fund with the sanction of the...
- Public Sector Pay
215. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures she and her Department have to address the crisis in recruitment and high staff turnover in qualified professionals...
- Departmental Funding
216. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision on the community recognition fund for 2023 will be announced; if the date of 6 October for the first drawdown of funds...
