Written answers
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Covid-19 Pandemic
24. To ask the Taoiseach if he will include an examination of long Covid in the terms of reference for the Covid inquiry. [8326/24]
- National Security
25. To ask the Taoiseach if he will develop a national security strategy and functioning security agency to deal with future security events. [7942/24]
- Social Dialogue
26. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [7941/24]
- An Garda Síochána
27. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the work of the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [7940/24]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Policy
29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 25 October 2022, for an update on the engagement he has had with his Algerian, European and UN...
- Death Certificates
31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will engage with the South African Embassy concerning a death certificate application (detail supplied) submitted in 2018. where the...
- Foreign Birth Registration
32. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a decision will be made on a foreign birth register application (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the...
- Ukraine War
33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the current situation in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; if any further measures against Russia are...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Departmental Schemes
34. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of the situation whereby the SEAI will not disburse grants from its better homes scheme to holders of...
- Broadband Infrastructure
35. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of situations whereby a broadband distribution box is fitted at a residential property to serve a number...
- Electric Vehicles
36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is legislative provision in place to require management companies to take reasonable steps to provide EV...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, the dates and duration of all road closures in the vicinity and surrounds of the Curragh Camp and firing...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Electric Vehicles
41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the support schemes for EV charging networks developed by local authorities can cover the installation of chargers in multi-unit...
- Active Travel
43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total amount of funding allocated to the Innishmore active travel scheme in Ballincollig, Cork. [8181/24]
- Public Transport
44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will consider accelerating proposals for a 24-hour public transport system in Dublin inclusive of the Luas, DART and...
- Active Travel
45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding his Department has made available to facilitate active travel solutions in and around Youghal, County Cork; the corresponding...
- Transfer of Undertakings
46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the tender application for the national SAR service from a company (details supplied), whereby a transfer of undertakings,...
- Road Projects
53. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on funding for Killarney bypass (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8359/24]
- Road Tolls
54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to confirm when the contract with CRG for the M1 and Drogheda-Donore Road tolls will conclude; what plans he has for the toll when the...
- Road Projects
55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify when or if the budget will be provided to Kildare County Council to address the rapidly deteriorating condition of the...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
56. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide clarity on the exemptions from the residential zoned land tax for landowners actively farming their lands (details supplied); and if he will...
- Financial Instruments
57. To ask the Minister for Finance to confirm regulations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8124/24]
- Insurance Coverage
58. To ask the Minister for Finance what measures the Government is taking to tackle age discrimination amongst travel insurance providers; if individuals under the age of 66 can get health cover...
- Tax Reliefs
59. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will give due consideration to restoring the higher rate of tax relief for expenditure on GPs, consultants and prescriptions; and if he will make a...
- Insurance Coverage
60. To ask the Minister for Finance the efforts his Department is making to increase the proportion of dog owners who engage with pet insurance providers; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Tax Rebates
62. To ask the Minister for Finance if there is any avenue to reclaim VAT paid on solar panels that were purchased and installed prior to May 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Primary Medical Certificates
63. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has completed the review of the financial supports for mobility for those with a disability and, in particular, the criteria for a primary medical...
- Tax Avoidance
64. To ask the Minister for Finance if he or his Department have received any correspondence from the Revenue Commissioners or any other body regarding section 22 of the Finance Act 2022 and the...
- Tax Code
65. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the application of relevant contracts tax as it applies to subcontractors from the North which operate in the South; how the charge is deducted and...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- National Development Plan
67. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made in delivering National Development Plan 2021-2030 projects for County Galway for each year of the lifetime of the...
- Department of Education and Skills
- State Examinations
68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the abolition of the assessment a child has to do in order to get a scribe for examinations; if she agrees that this decision...
- Special Educational Needs
69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on special education teachers, SETs, following changes to the SET hours allocation model; if consideration has been...
- Education Schemes
71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address delays in the home tuition grant which are causing dire financial difficulties for a school (details supplied). [8161/24]
- Special Educational Needs
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if assistance, including funding, can be provided to a special school (details supplied) so it can create additional classes for students with...
- School Accommodation
73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide accommodation at a school (details supplied) for use as a special class for autistic students with complex and severe...
- Site Acquisitions
74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Department site at St. Finian’s National School, Newcastle, County Dublin, is big enough to accommodate a post primary school or...
- Schools Building Projects
75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the timeline of the delivery of a new special school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why a person (details supplied) cannot get assistive technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8259/24]
- School Accommodation
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 13 February 2024, if the school has been told that the information is with the Department’s...
- Special Educational Needs
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to acknowledge that a rural school in County Mayo (details supplied) is being unfairly impacted by the methodology change in allocating special...
- School Admissions
87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place could be urgently offered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8298/24]
- School Staff
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what plans are in place to ensure school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar deal as school secretaries; when an...
- Special Educational Needs
89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8328/24]
- Schools Building Projects
90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the review of the second tender report for a school (details supplied); when the school can expect to be contacted on this issue;...
- School Enrolments
91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will look into enrolment challenges currently being experienced by a school (details supplied) where, even though it has the physical space...
- Schools Building Projects
92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify if there are any plans for the possible construction of a secondary school in the area around Prosperous-Clane-Derrinturn and...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Sports Funding
93. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for assistance with a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8133/24]
- Departmental Correspondence
95. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to correspondence sent to her office from a person (details supplied) concerning the prestigious...
- Broadcasting Sector
96. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on correspondence she has received (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8300/24]
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Departmental Functions
97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of his Department’s role in the national agricultural inspection programme; the details of any engagement...
- Septic Tanks
98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of septic tanks inspected, by county, since the inspection scheme was introduced in 2013; and if he will make a...
- Local Authorities
99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the revenue raised by each local authority from local property tax for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement...
- Waterways Issues
101. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current position in regard to the introduction of by-laws or regulations that impact against the interest of a person...
- Regional Assemblies
106. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will reconsider his local government ministerial nomination to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly in view of...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Code
107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she would consider reviewing the means test for non-contributory and part-contributory pensioners who may rent their home...
- Social Welfare Benefits
108. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if any changes to provide children's benefit payments to 18-year-olds in full-time education will be backdated for the school...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the ruling concerning the free fuel allowance, which states that a household payment can only be paid when the residence...
- Social Welfare Code
110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider increasing the hours a person in receipt of the full rate of carer’s allowance is permitted to...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details provided) who has been denied a benefit payment recently has sufficient contributions to be eligible for...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- International Protection
114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the decision on an international protection application will be made for a person (details supplied); the reason...
- Electric Vehicles
115. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is legislative provision in place to require management companies to take reasonable steps to provide EV charging...
- Citizenship Applications
116. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a decision will be made on an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing...
- An Garda Síochána
117. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of front-line gardaí trained to drive in emergency situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Judicial Appointments
118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how a person (details supplied) was appointed as a State solicitor and then as a judge when there were serious complaints to...
- Immigration Status
119. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the significant delays impacting working applicants on securing GNIB renewal appointments in Cork county and...
- Departmental Data
120. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of arrests effected in the vicinity of the Curragh Camp and firing range,...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Forestry Sector
121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a licence is required to import goods into Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8135/24]
- Agriculture Supports
122. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schemes available to compensate farmers who have suffered substantial losses due to ash dieback; and if he will make a statement...
- Hen Harriers
123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of a campaign (details supplied) in light of stark hen harrier decline; if he will give a Government commitment to the...
- Live Exports
124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of two complaints (details supplied) submitted to his office; if he will ensure that his Department processes these...
- Animal Welfare
125. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s position on banning the use of shock collars for dog training; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Fisheries Protection
129. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 14 December 2023, the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the...
- Agriculture Schemes
130. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on a payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8352/24]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Disability Services
131. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a respite centre for adults will be provided in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Library Services
135. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that the lift in the recently opened library in Portlaoise is not suitable for most wheelchair...
- International Protection
136. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on a case (details supplied). [8268/24]
- Department of Health
- General Practitioner Services
139. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on when the registrations office in the health centre in Tullamore will reopen. [8117/24]
- Hospital Staff
140. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update with regard to the staffing of the new community hospital in Ballyshannon; if he is aware that the delay in the opening of this...
- Mental Health Services
141. To ask the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the submission from an organisation (details supplied); if he plans to publish a roadmap for service improvement, as has been done for...
- Healthcare Policy
142. To ask the Minister for Health if a scoliosis unit, or task force in relation to same, has been set up within the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8123/24]
- Medical Internships
143. To ask the Minister for Health for an update and details on medical internships and English language courses for Ukrainian doctors; the number of doctors who have been able to access this...
- Dental Services
145. To ask the Minister for Health the number of Ukrainian dentists who have been able to secure dental-related positions in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8128/24]
- Hospital Appointments Status
147. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital,...
- Health Promotion
148. To ask the Minister for Health if he will commission a report on the commercial determinants of health; if, like the CMO in Wales, his Department will examine the strategies and approaches...
- Food Industry
150. To ask the Minister for Health if, and which, industry trade bodies have signed up to the Roadmap for Food Product Reformulation in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Obesity Levels
151. To ask the Minister for Health what work is under way in his Department on the successor to the Obesity Policy and Action Plan; if he can outline what reviews and evidence gathering is under...
- Disease Management
153. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is involved in JA PreventNCD, an EU initiative bringing together 25 participating nations to tackle non-communicable diseases; if so, which...
- Nursing Education
154. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a student nurse (details supplied) is not entitled to the accommodation allowance to facilitate their work placement; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Appointments Status
155. 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. [8173/24]
- Primary Care Centres
156. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Ballyhaunis primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8177/24]
- Vaccination Programme
157. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1797 of 18 April 2023, the progress of the vaccine injury compensation scheme for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will...
- Hospital Procedures
158. To ask the Minister for Health if he will invest in appropriate communication technologies to ensure that hospital e-discharges are delivered using Healthmail to support a standardised...
- General Practitioner Services
159. To ask the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to provide funding and support to assist younger GPs to establish practices by providing purpose-built GP premises,...
- Substance Misuse
162. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to conduct drug harm-reduction campaigns aimed at people attending Irish music festivals this summer; his plans to roll out the use of ‘back...
- Medical Aids and Appliances
163. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is having issues with hearing aids can get an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/24]
- Hospital Appointments Status
164. To ask the Minister for Health if a date will be given to a person (details supplied) for an eye operation given that the person has been waiting an inordinate length of time to be called to...
- Vaccination Programme
165. To ask the Minister for Health if free HPV vaccine is available for first-year students only; if funding for this measure ended in December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Care of the Elderly
166. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to the issues raised in the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs report: Taking Stock (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Dental Services
167. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 31 January 2024, for a breakdown of the number of dentists who left the dental treatment services scheme, by year...
- Hospital Facilities
170. To ask the Minister for Health the numbers of patients seen in the Cashel minor injury unit each year for the past three years; the number of staff available at the unit; the reason the...
- Nursing Homes
171. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which it is intended to facilitate the family of a person (details supplied) in respect of fair deal scheme charges; and if he will make a...
- Medicinal Products
172. To ask the Minister for Health if he will support the provision of melatonin on the list of drugs available under the medical card scheme for people with disabilities; and if he will make a...
- Protected Disclosures
173. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied). [8263/24]
- Vacant Properties
174. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 662 to 664, inclusive, of 15 February 2022, 378 of 10 March 2022 and 796 of 22 March 2022, the number of vacant,...
- Primary Care Centres
175. To ask the Minister for Health the operational and planned primary care centres, by county; the stage at which each planned centre is at and the timeframe for delivery. [8292/24]
- Hospital Services
176. To ask the Minister for Health if a treatment plan for a medical condition at Galway University Hospital or another public hospital in this State will be put in place for a person (details...
- General Practitioner Services
177. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a service is restored to its former level at an early date (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8344/24]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Public Sector Pensions
178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has made any progress on allowing researchers at technological universities access to the single pension scheme; and if he will...
- Third Level Fees
179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a college fee waiver will be given to a person (details supplied) in order that they can continue their studies; if not, how their college...
- Medical Research and Training
180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies to advance a specific rural curriculum and pathway within undergraduate...
- Student Accommodation
182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review correspondence (detail supplied) and advise a student regarding her rental property; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Legislative Reviews
183. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on her Department’s efforts to conduct a review of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, as detailed...
- Voluntary Sector
184. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline any plans to develop a successor strategy for the community and voluntary sector, given the expiration of the...
