Written answers
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Climate Change Policy
40. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the number of briefings he received from the Climate Change Advisory Council in 2023. [3187/24]
- Flexible Work Practices
41. To ask the Taoiseach to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an...
- Irish Sign Language
43. To ask the Taoiseach the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of adult and child passports issued in 2023, in tabular form. [3190/24]
- European Union
45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on work being done to prepare for Ireland’s presidency of the EU in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- International Bodies
46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland’s allocation for the International Criminal Court in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3207/24]
- Foreign Birth Registration
47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); if there is a reason for the delay with it; when...
- Departmental Staff
48. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the...
- Middle East
50. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the Minister for Finance in relation to Irish State investment in companies which derive income...
- Ukraine War
52. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the aid provided by Ireland to Ukraine in 2023 and that allocated under Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on...
- Foreign Conflicts
53. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the efforts of the Irish Government and his engagements with his European counterparts regarding alleviating civil...
- Foreign Birth Registration
55. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a decision will be made on an application for foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the...
- Visa Agreements
56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he can provide support to a person (details supplied) who cannot get an ESTA due to having previously visited Cuba. [3294/24]
- Passport Services
57. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the new passport design will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3317/24]
- Irish Sign Language
58. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and...
- Middle East
59. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to advocate at EU level for the suspension of trade with Israel, in light of its ongoing actions in Gaza; and if he will make a...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Postal Services
66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will clarify the legal obligation on post and parcel delivery services to certify parcel delivery; and if he will...
- Irish Sign Language
75. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of...
- Department of Defence
- Departmental Staff
76. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the...
- Irish Sign Language
78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driver Licences
79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 17 January 2024, the reason drivers with medical issues on a three year licence must pay...
- Electric Vehicles
80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered plans to incentivise uptake of electric vehicles in rural areas. [3114/24]
- Public Transport
81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the delays in providing contact digital payments for Dublin Bus, the Luas, the Dart and Irish Rail services; and if he will...
- Cycling Policy
84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to encourage safer cycling at night-time in both rural communities and in cities. [3188/24]
- Bus Services
85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide assurances that the BusConnects project will not result in the removal of the 33 bus route, which serves as a direct bus from...
- Departmental Staff
86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week;...
- Bus Services
88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the exact reason that a bus (details supplied) was delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3356/24]
- Irish Sign Language
89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and...
- Department of Finance
- Media Sector
90. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the section 481 tax credit for film and television production in Ireland; if a similar initiative is under consideration for the...
- Departmental Staff
91. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of...
- Tax Exemptions
93. To ask the Minister for Finance how many farmers were granted VAT exemptions for purchase of fixed equipment between 1 November and 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Housing Policy
94. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering increasing the 10% rate of stamp duty with respect to the bulk purchase of certain residential property; his views and the views of his...
- Irish Sign Language
96. To ask the Minister for Finance the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Heritage Sites
97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason why Kilmainham Gaol has moved from a seven to five day a week opening hours; when this last took place (excluding closures for...
- Public Sector Pay
100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost to the Exchequer of an increase of 1.5% or €750, whichever is greater, for all public sector workers; and if...
- Departmental Staff
101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working...
- Irish Sign Language
103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Departmental Staff
104. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working...
- Brexit Issues
106. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his assessment of the likely impact of new United Kingdom import controls; the action taken by his Department in relation to this;...
- Irish Sign Language
107. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Admissions
108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary school spaces that are allocated for students from Newcastle, Dublin 22 primary schools in local secondary schools or...
- School Funding
110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review correspondence (details supplied); if she will address the issues outlined and provide an update as to when this school will receive...
- School Transport
111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the process for allocating school buses to schools or to areas within the greater Dublin area. [3120/24]
- Schools Building Projects
112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will fund the establishment of a special class building for a school (details supplied). [3138/24]
- School Accommodation
113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected timeline for a decision on an application for capital funding, under the additional school accommodation scheme, from a school...
- School Funding
114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 680 of 17 January 2024, when the next round of applications will open; and if she will make a statement on...
- Schools Building Projects
116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will receive approval for their building programme to move to the next phase; and if she will make a statement...
- Irish Language
117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the reintroduction of the allowance for teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools (details supplied). [3171/24]
- School Admissions
118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the existing capacity of second level schools in the Newcastle-Rathcoole school planning area to meet the demand for actual...
- Departmental Data
121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department possesses data on the number of reported incidents of LGBTQ+ bullying in 2023. [3189/24]
- School Admissions
122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a thorough update on the issue with school-places in north Kildare, in particular in bottleneck areas previously notified to her, and in...
- Departmental Staff
123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in her Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the...
- Air Safety
125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills where primary schools can get support if carbon dioxide monitors are showing high levels of carbon dioxide in the school building; and if she...
- Departmental Data
126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average, median, maximum and minimum primary school class sizes for the Cork city and Cork County Council area from 2019 to date in 2024, in...
- Irish Sign Language
127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of social media videos posted on her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Road Projects
128. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been brought to the fact that the local improvement scheme offered by Galway County Council will not be...
- Departmental Staff
129. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in her Department who work from home/remotely as part of their...
- Irish Sign Language
131. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the percentage of social media videos posted on her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Provision
132. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 811 of 17 January 2024, if he will publish the report compiled on the viability and...
- National Monuments
133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government given the recent announcement that exhumations are to take place in Mountjoy Prison to recover the remains of executed...
- Housing Schemes
134. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a specific scheme is in place to assist older people obtaining a mortgage; and if so, the details of this scheme. [3107/24]
- Housing Policy
135. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will lift the mandatory 90-day period for being declared homeless for HAP tenants if the tenant finds a property before...
- Energy Conservation
136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of air to water heating systems installed by Kildare County Council, in council owned properties in for 2019, 2020,...
- Departmental Staff
137. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their...
- Housing Provision
139. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of new social housing dwelling completions in each of the periods May 2021 to end 2021, 2022 and 2023, including...
- Housing Policy
140. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the cohort of middle-income earners who earn just above the threshold to qualify for social...
- Irish Sign Language
141. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Appeals
142. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for details of the average social welfare appeals processing times in weeks for summary decisions and oral hearings, by...
- School Meals Programme
143. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the school meals programme will be extended to a school (details supplied) as a matter of urgency. [3105/24]
- Social Welfare Benefits
144. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the arrears of the living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- Departmental Staff
148. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in her Department who work from home/remotely as part of their...
- Pensions Reform
150. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the proposed auto enrolment scheme. [3306/24]
- Social Welfare Benefits
151. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actual number and the percentage of working family payment claimants, respectively who are also claiming the one parent...
- Social Welfare Appeals
153. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for a breakdown of the average wait time for a decision on an appeal, for each social welfare payment; and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
154. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the qualified adult case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3321/24]
- Irish Sign Language
155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of social media videos posted on her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public...
- Departmental Schemes
156. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Review of the Reasonable...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Legislative Programme
157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality why the historical disregard legislation is absent from the spring legislative programme; and the timeline for the introduction...
- Peace Commissioners
158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if applications to become a justice of the peace can be accepted by email or if there is an online mechanism for application;...
- Sentencing Policy
159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality what measures have been taken to reduce the number of people serving a custodial sentence of 12 months or less in line with the...
- Immigration Policy
160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how many files were prepared for the DPP in respect of suspected offences contrary to section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 in...
- Departmental Staff
162. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in her Department who work from home/remotely as part of their...
- Immigration Policy
164. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how many persons fingerprints were checked against the Schengen Information System in 2023; and if she will make a statement on...
- Work Permits
168. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when decisions will be made in respect of visa applications for nurses who have already obtained work permits to work in the...
- Irish Sign Language
169. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of social media videos posted on her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Animal Welfare
170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether electronic training collars should be banned for dogs, as is being discussed by the Advisory Council for...
- Wards of Court
171. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review correspondence (details supplied) and offer advice in this case. [3170/24]
- Departmental Staff
173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in agencies and bodies directly under his aegis who work from...
- Brexit Issues
174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his assessment of the likely impact of new United Kingdom import controls; the action by his Department in relation to this; and if...
- Irish Sign Language
175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Nursing Homes
176. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what mechanisms are in place for families to access funds needs for the care of a person (details supplied); and...
- Disability Services
177. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number on waiting lists (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Parental Leave
180. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will bring forward the regulation to extend the duration of parental leave as was announced as part of...
- Heritage Projects
181. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the plans for the development of the Sean McDermott Street Magdalene Laundry; the timelines for...
- Departmental Staff
182. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as...
- Emergency Accommodation
184. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has entered into any contracts with an accommodation provider (details supplied) to provide accommodation for...
- Irish Sign Language
185. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media...
- Department of Health
- Departmental Communications
186. To ask the Minister for Health how many times he has referred Parliamentary Questions to the HSE for response to Deputies directly in each of the past twelve months; how many times the HSE...
- Hospital Appointments Status
187. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and when they can expect an appointment with a surgeon in Tallaght University Hospital. [3110/24]
- Meals-on-Wheels Services
188. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the allocation of funding for 2024 to each meals on wheels service in receipt of HSE funding, by name of service and by county; and...
- Hospital Appointments Status
189. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not got the scans needed for their upcoming appointment in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Middle East
193. To ask the Minister for Health if, in light of the worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, the alarming rate of conflict-related injury and illness affecting children there, the...
- Health Service Executive
194. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to accelerate implementation of the HSE's integrated financial management system; the timeline he is working towards for full...
- Hospital Facilities
195. To ask the Minister for Health if he will now introduce a nurse led minor injuries clinic in the Community Hospital, Donegal town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Addiction Treatment Services
196. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the development of a recovery hub for individuals with substance misuse issues; when this is expected to be rolled out; the estimated cost of...
- Mental Health Policy
197. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the dual diagnosis pilot sites and cross-national training for mental health practitioners as mentioned in the model of...
- Addiction Treatment Services
198. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on €800,000 announced for dedicated recovery initiatives in Budget 2024 for the National Drugs Strategy; when the funding application will...
- Defibrillators Provision
199. To ask the Minister for Health the number of public defibrillators in each county. [3192/24]
- Vaccination Programme
200. To ask the Minister for Health if he has undertaken an assessment of the cost of providing the flu vaccine free of charge to all people over 18 years of age. [3193/24]
- Hospital Facilities
201. To ask the Minister for Health to detail the planned upgrades to Naas General Hospital, to include costings, timeframes for commencement of works and completion dates for works, working...
- Primary Care Services
202. To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacancies and the level of developmental assessment needs within services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3196/24]
- Health Services
204. To ask the Minister for Health the number of rapid reviews and health technology applications received in 2023; the number completed in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Data
205. To ask the Minister for Health the number of meetings of the HSE drugs group that took place in 2023; the number of medicines considered for recommendation at each meeting; and if he will...
- Departmental Staff
206. To ask the Minister for Health to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of...
- Community Care
208. To ask the Minister for Health if he can outline the funding that is available for non-acute patient supports for heart and stroke patients, by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Hospital Appointments Status
212. 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. [3285/24]
- Mental Health Policy
213. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3286/24]
- Hospital Appointments Status
214. To ask the Minister for Health if treatment will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in the Bons Secours Hospital in Kerry or in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Inquiries
215. To ask the Minister for Health for an update regarding the appointment of an independent chairperson to the sodium valproate inquiry; when he expects the chairperson to be appointed; and if...
- Health Services
217. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that urgent consideration is given to a request of a healthcare facility and ensure that this ongoing issue is resolved satisfactorily...
- Disease Management
219. To ask the Minister for Health if he will secure investment for prostate cancer treatment available in Ireland through the HSE; if he will ensure that high-intensity focused ultrasound...
- Hospital Services
220. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the closure of the endoscopy unit in Connolly Hospital and the postponement of the BowelScreen Programme; if his Department plans to mitigate...
- Mental Health Services
221. To ask the Minister for Health his spending plans for an additional €10 million investment to support the development of mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Health Services
222. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review into maternity services with specific reference to homebirth being unavailable to those who live more than 30...
- Irish Sign Language
223. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Third Level Fees
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to third level students who are unable to draw down the €1,000 one off support towards third level fees...
- Flexible Work Practices
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the...
- Departmental Staff
226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in agencies and bodies directly under his aegis who work from home/remotely as part...
- Irish Sign Language
227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Animal Welfare
228. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of animals held in pounds at year end for each of the past seven years and per local authority area; and if she will make a...
- Road Projects
230. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her attention has been brought to the fact that the local improvement scheme offered by Galway County Council will not be taking...
- Departmental Staff
231. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in her Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working...
- Irish Sign Language
233. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the percentage of social media videos posted on her Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies...
