Written answers
Thursday, 7 December 2023
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Grant Payments
4. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to increase the grant awards allowable for local authority housing adaptation grants to meet the increased building costs; and...
- Housing Provision
7. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the number of housing commencements and completions in Carlow to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement...
- Rental Sector
15. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will comment on a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54167/23]
- Cumarsáid Aireachta
17. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government cur síos a dhéanamh ar an ról atá, má tá, ag a Roinn in ullmhúcháin do...
- Defective Building Materials
18. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on engagements he has had with the engineering sector with respect to certification of specific options...
- Housing Provision
20. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to report on the progress of the cost rental delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54223/23]
- Regeneration Projects
21. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government why the regeneration of a local authority housing complex in Dolphin House in Dublin 8 has been dogged and continually...
- Flood Risk Management
22. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what additional supports his Department provided to Cork City Council and Cork County Council following the floods caused by...
- Rental Sector
24. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will bring in a ban on no-fault evictions during winter months given that homeless services in Galway are currently...
- Housing Schemes
25. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the changes that took place to the tenant purchase scheme in recent months; and if he will make a statement...
- Energy Conservation
26. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding available for the Energy Efficiency Social Housing Retrofit Programme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on...
- Housing Provision
27. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which he can avail of modern housing production methods to facilitate the provision of supply of homes to the...
- Housing Schemes
28. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to advise what affordable housing schemes are planned for counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the...
- State Bodies
29. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for the restructuring and resourcing of An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53917/23]
- Housing Policy
30. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he would introduce a weighted system into the scheme of letting priorities for allocations of local authority homes; if as...
- Housing Schemes
31. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government To ask the Minister for Housing for an update on the number of successful applications for the First Home Scheme, and a...
- Housing Policy
33. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the key targets for 2024 under Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53974/23]
- Defective Building Materials
34. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will publish written confirmation from the Banking and Payments Federation that homes remediated or rebuilt under the...
- Planning Issues
36. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he is taking to increase certainty across the planning system through the introduction of statutory timelines for...
- Rental Sector
37. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the Residential Tenancies Board Rent Index Report Q2 2023, which showed that Galway City had...
- Grant Payments
38. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the report reviewing housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability; to...
- Homeless Accommodation
39. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider emergency housing measures to increase the supply of housing to those counties particularly affected by the...
- Departmental Data
41. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has any information on how many first-time buyers have purchased homes to date in 2023; how this compares to 2021 and...
- Housing Schemes
42. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his target for assistance to restore properties through the vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a...
- Housing Provision
43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide details of all approved housing projects for both Cork City Council and Cork County Council from 1 January 2020 to...
- Housing Schemes
44. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if consideration will be given to extending the timeline for completing works under croí cónaithe scheme; and if he...
- Housing Policy
45. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will increase the HAP limits in line with rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54222/23]
- Water Services
48. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the multi-annual rural water programme 2024 – 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Rental Sector
49. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of delays with Residential Tenancies Board issuing confirmation letters to tenants on notice of terminations...
- Environmental Policy
50. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when Ireland’s new National Biodiversity Action Plan will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Septic Tanks
51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of the increase in septic tank grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53930/23]
- Housing Provision
52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding available to support the delivery of social homes in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53934/23]
- Traveller Accommodation
54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action he will take to ensure local authorities increase the number of Traveller accommodation units; and if he will make a...
- Vacant Properties
56. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to advise when data from each local authority in relation to the properties entering the vacant homes action plan programme and...
- State Bodies
57. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the work of Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54062/23]
- Housing Schemes
58. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on developments under the croí cónaithe cities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Defective Building Materials
60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline why defective concrete block homeowners in counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick have been offered support...
- Departmental Schemes
61. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on plans to include Broadford and Cooraclare, County Clare in a pilot sewerage scheme for unsewered villages....
- Housing Schemes
62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to extend access to local authority home loans to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a...
- Housing Policy
63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline his plans to develop housing on State-owned lands in line with the principles of the transit-oriented development in...
- Housing Schemes
65. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what consultation or discussions he has had with stakeholders in relation to the help-to-buy scheme; and if he will make a...
- Legislative Measures
66. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to commence parts 4 and 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022; the barriers in doing so to date; and if he will make a...
- Housing Provision
69. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide in tabular form a list of all completed cost-rental housing schemes delivered to date by the Land Development Agency...
- Local Authorities
70. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his proposals for strategic ten-year development plans for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Water Quality
71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he is taking to ensure that the water from private wells is of a safe standard, given that since Uisce Éireann...
- Vacant Properties
73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline details of the Voids Programme for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54190/23]
- Departmental Funding
75. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when emergency funding for interim fire safety and other measures for homeowners and OMCs with Celtic tiger era building...
- Mayoral Election
77. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the proposals that he plans to table for consideration by the citizens of Dublin of future governance for...
- Housing Schemes
78. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline when he intends to bring forward the promised "first refusal" legislation with regard to the tenant in situ scheme;...
- Housing Policy
81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what measures he is going to put in place to address those families and individuals in homeless services who are above the...
- Housing Schemes
83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of money paid out under the vacant property refurbishment grant in each month since it was established; if he will...
- Traveller Accommodation
84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he intends to bring forward legislation to give effect to the planning recommendations of the Expert Group on Traveller...
- Gaeltacht Policy
85. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline for the publication of the draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Housing Schemes
86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his assessment of the impact of affordable purchase initiatives on increasing home ownership; and if he will make a statement...
- Water Pollution
89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he can outline what measures his Department will be putting in place with Uisce Éireann to reduce the levels of raw...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Payments
102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection why approved carer's allowance applicants are waiting weeks to receive their first payment; and if she will make a statement...
- State Pensions
104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that benchmarking of the State pension will be included in Budget 2025 as per the Roadmap for Social Inclusion...
- Employment Rights
105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the SCOPE investigation into RTÉ; how many cases have concluded; and what the verdicts were....
- Social Welfare Rates
106. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is her intention to reduce payment rates for recipients of social welfare engaged in criminal behaviour; and if she...
- Social Welfare Benefits
107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will look at extending the Households Benefits Package and the Living Alone Allowance to single parent...
- State Pensions
108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her Department’s plans for a public awareness campaign to alert long-term carers to changes in their pension...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the fact that, standard disregards for maintenance that apply in the means testing of other payments, do...
- Social Welfare Benefits
110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a ‘cost-of-disability’ payment will be introduced in Budget 2025 (details supplied). [53989/23]
- Social Welfare Payments
112. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if provision will be made to have child benefit paid in respect of students in full-time education who reach the age of 18...
- Departmental Consultations
113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide details of her plans following the public consultation stage on document (details supplied); and if she...
- Social Welfare Benefits
114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide details on her Department’s efforts to reform jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a...
- Industrial Disputes
115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of plans to close the pay gap between Tús supervisors and CE supervisors; and if she will make a statement on...
- Social Welfare Code
116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any measures under consideration by her Department to reduce poverty levels among those with disabilities that...
- Public Procurement Contracts
117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the tender for EmployAbility which was due to be published in April 2023; and if she will make a...
- State Pensions
119. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider opening a scheme in the near future for those who are missing PRSI contributions to receive a State...
- Parking Provision
120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has been contact with the OPW in relation to the loss of car parking facilities by Social Protection staff...
- Food Poverty
122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress in relation to the implementation of the pilot scheme to support people experiencing food poverty based on a...
- Departmental Schemes
123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection about the free travel scheme and the introduction of booking fees of between €2-€10 by private transport...
- Social Welfare Code
124. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any measures under consideration by her Department to reduce poverty levels in single parent families that were...
- Departmental Data
125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how many people availed of the Activation and Family Support Programme in 2022 to fund the cost of training supports and...
- Social Welfare Benefits
126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to indicate whether consideration might be given to an easier system of transfer to disability allowance or other form of...
- Social Welfare Payments
128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she believes the level of social welfare payments is adequate to prevent child poverty; and if she will make a statement...
- Legislative Measures
129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when legislation to remove child maintenance as household means for lone parent payments will be introduced; and if she will...
- Employment Schemes
130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps which she is taking to increase part-time employment participation levels among those in receipt of...
- State Pensions
131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to make provision for pension contributions for foster carers where they are unable to take-up other...
- Social Welfare Benefits
132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection what work is being done to reduce the processing time for disability allowance applications which have increased by two weeks...
- Scam Communications
133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection about the recent increase in scam text messages and phone calls concerning the lump sum payments from her Department; what...
- Social Welfare Rates
134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that core social welfare rates will be raised to at least the rate of inflation since 2013 when once-off...
- Social Welfare Payments
135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the “working week” for working age payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Schemes
136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications received for the humanitarian assistance scheme after flooding in Cork City and Cork County in...
- Departmental Reports
137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made with the report on means testing in the social welfare system; when it is hoped it will be published; and...
- Social Welfare Code
138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any measures under consideration by her Department to reduce child poverty that were not announced in the...
- Social Isolation
139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered the scope of a partnership with a body like An Post to continue the sort of well-being support offered...
- Social Welfare Benefits
140. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures that are being taken to reduce the current processing times by the appeals department; and if she will make a...
- Pension Provisions
142. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the progress on the auto-enrolment pensions scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54060/23]
- Social Welfare Code
143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection about the recent changes to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme and what these will...
- Departmental Data
144. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how many complaints her Department has received this year regarding social welfare inspections. [54182/23]
- Employment Rights
145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she thinks it is acceptable that the SCOPE investigation will take fifteen years to complete; and what steps she is taking...
- Departmental Data
146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance in each of the past ten years, 2023 inclusive. [53694/23]
- Departmental Programmes
147. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered the development of programmes to support people approaching retirement to better prepare for the...
- Departmental Data
150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the number of successful applicants for fuel allowance in 2023, and how this compares to the previous five...
- Bereavement Leave
151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has looked into providing a statutory bereavement leave and the costs associated with this; and if she will...
- Departmental Data
152. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the disability allowance in each of the past ten years, 2023 inclusive. [53695/23]
- Social Welfare Code
153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has given consideration to a submission from Family Carers Ireland on the introduction of a non-means-tested...
- Legislative Measures
154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the proposed legislation on child maintenance system changes; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Social Welfare Payments
155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the Guardians payment, specifically where a relative is approved for child benefit, that this would then...
- Departmental Consultations
156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the consultation of the ‘working age payment’ model mentioned in the Green...
- Social Welfare Rates
157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that the cost of disability is taken into account in setting the level of social welfare payments; and if...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
159. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if passports will issue on time for children (details supplied) who applied for in October; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Foreign Birth Registration
160. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a foreign birth registration for a person (details supplied); the timeframe in which it will be processed; and if he will make...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Environmental Policy
161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how he intends on making eco-friendly products such as laundry products more affordable and accessible in Ireland over...
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Policies
162. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54288/23]
- Defence Forces
163. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will make a statement about the contents of the article in a newspaper (details supplied) on 4 December 2023 about a serving soldier...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Public Transport
165. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how much funding is being provided in 2024 for rail services to provide extra trains on busy routes. [54254/23]
- Road Projects
168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when TII will conclude an agreement in relation to goodwill payments to landowners along the route of the proposed new road from Limerick...
- Road Safety
169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to introduce legislation to make it mandatory for the users of e-scooters to wear helmets and protective gear while...
- Driver Test
170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide the current average waiting time to sit a driving test for each test centre; what steps are being taken to reduce the wait...
- Public Transport
171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the catering trolley will return to the Galway to Dublin train line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54341/23]
- Rail Network
173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made with the provision of a passing loop at Oranmore to allow for more frequent services on the Galway to Athenry rail...
- Military Aircraft
174. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the grounds on which aircraft on contract to the US military transportation command are being allowed by his Department to transit...
- Bus Services
176. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether the Saturday service for the 209 bus in Cork has been suspended or reduced; whether this change is permanent; and if he will make...
- Coast Guard Service
178. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how he intends to proceed implementing seven recommendations in the Irish Coast Guard following an inquest (details supplied); and if he...
- Departmental Strategies
180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the key initiatives taken to improve transport services in both urban and rural Ireland since 27 June 2020. [54399/23]
- Department of Finance
- Departmental Policies
181. To ask the Minister for Finance the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54290/23]
- Tax Reliefs
182. To ask the Minister for Finance if an individual who has agreed to purchase farm land, and who has the contracts signed in December 2023, but with a sale that will close in January 2024,...
- Housing Schemes
183. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address the issues raised in correspondence regarding the help-to-buy scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Credit Availability
184. To ask the Minister for Finance if measures will be introduced to assist in the provision of better credit facilities for small and medium enterprises as many businesses, particularly small...
- Economic Policy
185. To ask the Minister for Finance what action has been taken to boost Ireland's economic competitiveness since 27 June 2020. [54395/23]
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Office of Public Works
186. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a light will be turned on at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54252/23]
- Departmental Priorities
187. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform what action he has taken to enhance and expand public investment since 27 June 2020. [54393/23]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Departmental Strategies
188. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions taken to boost jobs and businesses since 27 June 2020. [54389/23]
- State Bodies
189. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to confirm what action will be taken to recruit additional legal staff to the Health and Safety Authority to assist the coronial...
- Business Supports
190. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the measures that will be made available to assist small and medium enterprises with the challenges that have arisen for...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Transport
191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will intervene and provide funding for a school bus (details supplied) and ensure that the service continues for the rest of the school...
- School Funding
193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether there is any funding stream available to assist a school in purchasing additional land for a safe drop-off area when existing conditions...
- School Staff
194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when arrears in school secretaries pay will be paid to people who are now retired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54259/23]
- School Enrolments
195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail, in tabular form, on a county-by-county basis, as of 30 November 2023, the number of Ukrainian pupils enrolled in Irish...
- School Admissions
197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that can be taken to facilitate a move for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54302/23]
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the pupil/teacher ratio in primary schools in County Meath; the ten schools with the highest ratios in County Meath; her plans to reduce this...
- School Accommodation
199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the approval process for additional school accommodation and toilets which is awaiting financial review to allow the works to...
- Special Educational Needs
200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when payments for the July Provision will be made to those who provided the service; the reason the payments have not been made; if she will...
- School Curriculum
201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a review of the current well-being curriculum in order to ensure that students are receiving comprehensive education in...
- Special Educational Needs
202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if autism units/classes will be provided for 2024 in school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54320/23]
- School Enrolments
203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a plan to establish a new Irish-speaking secondary school in the Swords area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54332/23]
- School Admissions
204. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail her policy in relation to secondary school-aged student who have not been offered a place in a secondary school; and if she will make a...
- School Enrolments
205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the catchment area criteria for English medium and Irish medium secondary schools both for voluntary schools and ETB schools; and if...
- School Funding
206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name and location of all the schools that applied for funding under the summer works scheme in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; if she will provide...
- School Transport
207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the review into school transport commenced; when it will be completed; whether it is intended to publish the report; and if she will make a...
- School Admissions
208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether parental alienation, a highly contested condition, being used as a means to support one or other side in family law cases, is also being...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Media Sector
209. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the progress of the working group to develop a National Disinformation Strategy; the expected...
- Sports Funding
211. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on a club’s (details supplied) sports capital grant; and when the club can expect to receive a...
- Social Media
213. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional measures that will be introduced to deal with the spread of misinformation on social media platforms; and if she...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Policy
214. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to clarify what changes, if any, can be made to the sustainable housing policy to ensure that individuals choose to locate...
- EU Regulations
215. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department will undertake an assessment to determine whether or not EU proposals for rewetting the bogs may lead to...
- An Teanga Gaeilge
216. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government cad is cúis leis an moill ar an eolas a theastaíonn ón Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus...
- Commercial Rates
217. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the current system for determining business and commercial rates for SMEs that are challenged with rising...
- Housing Schemes
218. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what actions he has taken to expedite the process of issuing payments under the croí cónaithe scheme to applicants...
- Local Authorities
219. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what actions he has taken to expedite the issuing of clarification on unvouched expenditure that has been submitted with...
- Departmental Policies
220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54291/23]
- Housing Schemes
221. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications received, the number of grants approved and the number of grants completed and paid out under the...
- Housing Provision
225. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of local authority housing starts recorded on a monthly basis over the course of the past five years; and if...
- Housing Schemes
231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which he might authorise the reintroduction of the rural housing programme, with particular reference to those...
- Homeless Accommodation
233. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which the number of families deemed homeless in County Kildare are likely to achieve accommodation in the near...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Industrial Disputes
235. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to address the ongoing issue of the 15% pay gap between Tús supervisors and community employment supervisors within...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
236. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that people who are suffering from long Covid and can no longer work are not been...
- Employment Support Services
238. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps which she is taking to increase part-time employment participation levels among those in receipt of...
- Social Insurance
239. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the timeline for the proposed future changes to the level of PRSI stamp that pensioners who are still in paid...
- Residency Permits
240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will get a decision on an application for habitual residency; and if she will make a...
- State Pensions
241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is on a reduced rate of pension (non-contributory); the reason this was reduced; and...
- Departmental Policies
242. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the main policy achievements of her Department in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54293/23]
- Social Welfare Benefits
244. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details on the total amounts of monies awarded to County Louth via the Humanitarian Fund for flooded homes; the total...
- Social Welfare Appeals
246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 709 of 7 November 2023, if precautions are in place to ensure that the deciding officer...
- Departmental Data
247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of the number of families in each county receiving the double child benefit payment; and the number of children...
- Social Welfare Payments
249. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) may qualify for appropriate payment such as domiciliary care allowance in respect of their...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
250. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which carer's allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- State Pensions
251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the degree to which efforts continue to be made to award State pensions to those men and women whose contribution record was...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
252. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current position in respect of restoration of a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she...
- International Agreements
253. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which her Department has direct contact with other jurisdictions with which a bilateral arrangement for social...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
254. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of carer's allowance whose allowance has been withdrawn for whatever reason in each of the...
- State Pensions
255. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for pension based on a combination of Irish and overseas contributions that have yielded a lesser...
- Social Welfare Appeals
258. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent, if any, to which time taken to determine appeals can be improved; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Social Welfare Payments
259. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments made to persons or families in other than bereavement circumstances in each of the...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
260. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average length of time taken to determine entitlement to disability allowance; the extent to which this has fluctuated in...
- Social Welfare Payments
262. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which any backlogs have been addressed in respect of various headings and payments operated; and if she will...
- State Pensions
263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of the State pension (contributory) that will apply to those who have an entitlement to the maximum rate of...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- An Garda Síochána
264. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 244 and 245 of 1 June 2023, the number of reported cases made to An Garda...
- Naturalisation Applications
266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria used by her Department to assess applications from foreign nationals who have become naturalised citizens, who...
- Deportation Orders
267. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, having regard to the provisions of the EU treaties, any non-Irish EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in Ireland have been...
- An Garda Síochána
268. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda recruits that completed phase 1, phase 2, phase 3 and phase 4 training, respectively, in the Garda College...
- Prison Service
269. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the large number of days that the school remained closed in Castlerea Prison this year up to 31 August 2023; the...
- Citizenship Ceremonies
270. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in light of recent events in Dublin city, additional security measures will be considered for upcoming citizenship...
- Prison Service
271. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons on remand in places of detention pending criminal trials as of 1 December 2023. [54360/23]
- Coroners Service
272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to confirm what action will be taken to recruit additional staff to provide support to coroners, particularly in light of the...
- Crime Prevention
273. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the key initiatives taken to fight crime and anti-social behaviour in both urban and rural areas since 27 June 2020. [54398/23]
- Residency Permits
274. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the likely future residency position in the case of a person (details supplied); if the current situation can be confirmed,...
- Immigration Status
275. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current or anticipated residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Residency Permits
276. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a stamp 4 status might be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); the extent to which they both qualify...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Inshore Fisheries
277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he is considering financial aid for a sector (details supplied) given the significant challenges being faced by the industry;...
- Agriculture Schemes
278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will commence for ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54233/23]
- Departmental Policies
279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54286/23]
- Forestry Sector
280. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Interim Standard for Felling and Reforestation - version October 2019, issued by his Department, is the current relevant...
- Agriculture Schemes
287. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the implementation of the index changes by an organisation (details supplied), in light of the fact that these...
- Forestry Sector
288. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 29 November 2023, if, with regard to the difference in premiums between the new Forestry...
- Agriculture Industry
290. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how the agrifood sector has been strengthened and developed since 27 June 2020. [54396/23]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Disability Services
291. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth about an application for a children's disability services grant (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Mother and Baby Homes
293. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the necessary resources can be made available to survivors of mother and baby homes to trace their records;...
- Departmental Policies
294. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54287/23]
- Direct Provision System
295. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 540 of 28 November 2023, if he will provide a breakdown of each of the...
- Ukraine War
296. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on an offer of commercial accommodation for a person (details supplied); when this...
- White Papers
297. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of the White Paper on Ending Direct Provision; and the estimated timeframe for...
- Ukraine War
299. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an application has been made or is being considered being made for accommodation for international protection...
- International Protection
300. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify whether it is intended that the new International Protection child payment of €140 per month,...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
301. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 21 November 2023, answered by the Minister for Social Protection,...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Procedures
302. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the application/request for assistance towards hospitalisation/treatment for cataracts in the case of a person (details supplied); and if...
- Health Services
303. To ask the Minister for Health if respite will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54229/23]
- Hospital Services
304. To ask the Minister for Health if ophthalmology patients with age-related macular degeneration living in Donegal and travelling to Sligo for regular eye injections can have such injections...
- Hospital Appointments Status
305. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for a surgical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54251/23]
- Health Services Staff
306. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the new adaptation programme offered to overseas applicants by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on...
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
307. To ask the Minister for Health his views on concerns expressed in relation to assessment processes undertaken by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (details supplied); and if he will...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
308. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria for the pandemic special recognition payment; and the grounds on which a distinction between home and residential care assistants in an...
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
309. To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications received by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland from non-EU applicants, by country of training and in tabular for each year...
- Departmental Funding
312. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to milage subsistence for those providing palliative care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Appointments Status
313. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54272/23]
- Hospital Services
314. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can have treatment at the ophthalmology clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Healthcare Policy
316. To ask the Minister for Health whether his Department has articulated a policy on the roll-out of pulmonary rehabilitation for those patients suffering with lung fibrosis; and if he will...
- Regulatory Bodies
317. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the public consultation by CORU on its proposed standards of proficiency and criteria for training and the training of psychotherapists...
- Health Services Staff
318. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of a new paramedic training facility in Cork which was projected to open to trainees in January 2024; the current...
- Health Strategies
321. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline on the recruitment of a coordinator for the Cabra Finglas Drugs and Alcohol Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54330/23]
- Healthcare Policy
323. To ask the Minister for Health the rationale of the proposed educational level requirement for registration of psychotherapy and counselling through CORU; for an update on the registration...
- Medicinal Products
324. To ask the Minister for Health the process for pregnant women to obtain the medication cariban under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54346/23]
- Hospital Admissions
328. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of private patients in beds in public hospitals as a total percentage of all patients in public hospitals for the 12 months ending October 2021,...
- Hospital Services
330. To ask the Minister for Health the total amount of money collected from private insurers by public hospitals in the years in ending October 2021, October 2022 and October 2023; and if he...
- Health Services
331. To ask the Minister for Health if a company will be in a position to begin the diabetic retina screening programme in January 2024 (details supplied); if this organisation has signed its...
- Health Services Staff
332. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in making a permanent appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54383/23]
- Health Strategies
333. To ask the Minister for Health if the Government intends to become a signatory to the WHO Pandemic Treaty (details supplied); if he will commit to putting this matter to the people in a...
- Home Help Service
334. To ask the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to deal with the shortage of home support workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54400/23]
- Hospital Services
335. To ask the Minister for Health the current position in regard to the ongoing treatment at Blanchardstown Hospital in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement...
- Dental Services
336. To ask the Minister for Health if the eleven-year-old son of a person (details supplied) qualifies for dental benefit/assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54415/23]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Policies
337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the main policy achievements of his Department in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54292/23]
- Budget 2024
338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason NCEF courses are not included in the Government HEA cost of living package; the reason for their exclusion; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Strategies
339. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new International Education Strategy for Ireland is due to be published; and if he will make a statement on the need to have an...
- Currency Circulation
340. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of a number of third-level institutions which are refusing to accept cash on-site in college restaurants, shops, and other...
- Grant Payments
341. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether the excessive rent costs in the case of a person (details supplied) can be reconsidered on hardship grounds; and if he will make a...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Departmental Funding
342. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide funding for women's sheds; if so, when the scheme will be open for applications; and if she will make a...
- Departmental Policies
343. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the main policy achievements of her Department in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54289/23]
