Written answers
Wednesday, 29 May 2024
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Cabinet Committees
22. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland will meet next. [22708/24]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Foreign Birth Registration
33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a foreign birth register application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24198/24]
- Middle East
34. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who invited the Israeli ambassador to the national famine commemoration on 19 May 2024; his views on whether this was appropriate given the...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Renewable Energy Generation
35. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment what supports are available for businesses to install solar energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24205/24]
- Energy Conservation
36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an application for the warmer homes scheme can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, in view...
- Climate Change Policy
37. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware that community groups have been told they must pay for works granted under the Climate Action Fund and...
- Department of Defence
- Tribunals of Inquiry
38. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when engagement with a group (details supplied) can be expected from the tribunal of inquiry into certain matters relating to the complaints...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Tolls
42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of deferring an increase in toll costs for a further 12 months. [24177/24]
- Public Transport
43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of making the current 20% reduction on public transport fares permanent. [24178/24]
- Dublin Bus
45. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of increasing the Dublin bus fleet by 10%. [24180/24]
- Bus Éireann
46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of increasing the Bus Éireann bus fleet by 10%. [24181/24]
- Rail Network
47. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of building and operating the national train control centre, including a breakdown of capital and current costs. [24182/24]
- Aviation Industry
49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by his Department to date and during 2024 in relation to regional aviation;...
- Airport Policy
51. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the main sectors of analysis his Department is applying to the present Waterford airport runway extension review; the number of similar...
- Road Safety Authority
53. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there are two vacancies on the Board of the Road Safety Authority that arose on 1 January 2024, given the alarming increase in...
- Road Safety
54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will urgently review the practice of switching off sections of motorway junction lights in the interest of public safety, given...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Data
55. To ask the Minister for Finance the expected revenue yield from an increase in the vacant homes tax to ten times the annual local property tax rate in a full year; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Data
57. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of expenditure items that are derived from sources other than the central fund, and as such, do not impact on the net expenditure...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Living Wage
58. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of introducing a living wage set at €14.80 per hour for public and civil service workers. [24137/24]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Employment Rights
59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a new Employment Regulation Order for workers in the security sector is under discussion; if there is engagement at JLC level; and...
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Funding
62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full year cost of increasing the capitation grant at primary and secondary level by 5%. [24126/24]
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by 1 point at primary level. [24127/24]
- Special Educational Needs
65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in mainstream primary schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing...
- Educational Disadvantage
71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected cost of extending the Junior Certificate School Programme Demonstration Library Project staffed by a qualified librarian to all DEIS...
- Special Educational Needs
73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to specific concerns raised by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24149/24]
- School Transport
74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will guarantee a school bus service as opposed to a community based local link service (details supplied) which is recommended under the...
- School Staff
75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the full list of available teaching positions in secondary level schools in Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a request to sanction the summer programme for one week for eight classes was refused in the case of a person (details supplied); if...
- School Enrolments
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new class for a school (details supplied). [24167/24]
- School Transport
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 24 April 2024, if she will reply to an email submitted to her office (details supplied) regarding...
- School Staff
80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if cleaning staff employed directly by schools should be paid for 7 June 2024, even if their school is being used as a polling station on that...
- Special Educational Needs
81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will work with the board of management of a school (details supplied) to establish an ASD unit, when their change of status to a...
- National Educational Psychological Service
82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for clarification on a matter (details supplied); if changes will be implemented to improve services; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Capitation Grants
83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department has cut the annual grant for primary schools from €96 a year per pupil to €80; and if she will make a...
- School Staff
85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the primary payroll division of her Department can register the teaching work being undertaken by an individual (details supplied) on the...
- School Textbooks
86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department entered into any negotiations with a book provider to reduce the cost, rather than passing it over to the parent, considering...
- Special Educational Needs
87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when schools will receive their SNA allocation this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24235/24]
- School Staff
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24281/24]
- State Examinations
89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline, when an error is made by a school processing RACE applications, which results in the student being denied RACE, what the...
- School Transport
90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24332/24]
- School Enrolments
91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projects planned to increase the number of school places at both primary and secondary level in an area (details supplied) where there is huge...
- Schools Building Projects
92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status and expected starting time of works on the development of a new building for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay with...
- Special Educational Needs
93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of the 36 special classes sanctioned by the NCSE for Dublin that will be opened in time to welcome pupils in September 2024; and if she...
- School Patronage
95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 21 May 2024, to outline the ownership of the property referred to in her reply as the "former...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- National Cultural Institutions
96. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to list the tours of towns across the country by the National Cultural Institutions which she has facilitated since taking office...
- Departmental Schemes
97. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the support schemes she has established for amateur dramatics and musicals, as outlined in the Programme for Government. [24229/24]
- Culture Policy
98. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason she has not created a National Town of Culture competition, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she is...
- Tourism Promotion
99. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grants available through her Department to help promote tourism in areas of Cork; if a grant is available at national level or...
- Sports Funding
100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding given to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [24263/24]
- Departmental Funding
101. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 18 April 2024, the status of the drawdown of the €1 million in Galway 2020...
- Sports Funding
102. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on a sports capital application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24268/24]
- Tourism Policy
104. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has concerns relating to photo-stop tourism, as promoted by certain coach tour companies; how she proposes to cultivate...
- Sports Funding
105. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she expects an announcement in respect of sports capital grants to be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Gaeltacht Policy
106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the up to date position in advancing an urban area (details supplied) as a Gaeltacht service town; and if she will make a...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Schemes
109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the housing adaptation grant review will be complete; when it will be published; the reason for the delay; and if he will...
- Emergency Accommodation
110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of providing family hubs for the 1,981 families currently accessing emergency homeless accommodation; and...
- Housing Schemes
111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of expanding the Housing First programme to the 1,981 families currently accessing emergency homeless...
- Departmental Budgets
112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount in the capital budget as set out in table 10 of the Stability Programme Update 2024 that is designated for housing...
- Derelict Sites
113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the expected revenue yield from an increase in the vacant site levy to 25% in a full year. [24143/24]
- Vacant Properties
115. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason no penalty system is in place for property owners who are leaving their properties unoccupied long-term, leaving...
- Defective Building Materials
117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to list the recommendations made by the steering group comprised of officials from the relevant local authorities, his...
- Housing Schemes
119. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will examine the inclusion of housing association/body properties in the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied)....
- Septic Tanks
120. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason a person cannot avail of the septic tank grant on a universal basis, given its part of their planning permission;...
- Housing Policy
121. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 645 of 9 April 2024, the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines;...
- Wastewater Treatment
122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to launch a multi-annual scheme for providing sewage schemes in unsewered small villages and towns; and if he...
- Departmental Schemes
124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications that were received in 2022 and 2023 under the renewal or repair of thatched roof grant scheme for...
- Wildlife Regulations
125. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ensure that there is proper consultation with all stakeholders when consideration is being given to amendments to...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Paternity Leave
126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending paternity leave by two weeks. [24135/24]
- Parental Leave
127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending parental leave by two weeks. [24136/24]
- Departmental Data
128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly...
- Social Welfare Payments
129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32, 40 and 52 weeks per annum. [24153/24]
- Legislative Measures
131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will confirm that no legislation exists to allow certain precedential group/class decisions to be made (details...
- International Protection
132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the payment method of the daily expenses allowance to applicants of international protection in Ireland; whether the...
- Social Welfare Payments
133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the circumstances in which the maintenance for a child (details supplied) will not be assessed in the means test; and if she...
- Social Welfare Appeals
134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied can be reviewed for a support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24207/24]
- Social Insurance
135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason legislation was introduced in 2013 to deprive a person of class S contributions from rental income due to the fact...
- Social Welfare Benefits
136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the invalidity pension; the criteria necessary to qualify; and to provide a breakdown of the number...
- Social Welfare Payments
138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if disability allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [24255/24]
- Social Welfare Appeals
139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who was declined a carer’s allowance in January 2024 and...
- State Pensions
140. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who is eligible for a reduced rate of State pension (contributory) due to not meeting the level of PRSI...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Coroners Service
141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the ongoing review of the coroner’s service following the closure of the public consultation in...
- Theft of Animals
142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of thefts of domestic dogs and/or pets reported to An Garda Síochána in the past three years to date....
- Northern Ireland
143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if all formal requests from An Garda Síochána and the Government since 2021 for intelligence and other co-operation...
- Naturalisation Applications
144. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in progressing an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she...
- Road Traffic Offences
145. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed charge notices and penalty points issued for driving in cycling lanes in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022...
- An Garda Síochána
146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total overtime paid to Garda members and to gardaí at sergeant rank in each of the years between 2020 and 2023; and...
- International Protection
147. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider extending the hours of operation of the International Protection Office on Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2 to...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Schemes
148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding TAM applications are due for payment; and to provide an indicative date for when these payments will be...
- Public Sector Pensions
149. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will receive an increase to their pension. [24247/24]
- Agriculture Schemes
150. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will receive a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24328/24]
- Public Sector Staff
151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of vacant TAO and SAO positions; the breakdown of same across the divisions per county; and if he will make a...
- Agriculture Schemes
154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ECO payment will be made to a person in County Mayo (details supplied) and ask that the Minister; and if he will make a...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- International Protection
155. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24216/24]
- Early Childhood Care and Education
156. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the ECCE capitation grant by 10%; and if he will make...
- Childcare Services
157. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the affordable childcare subsidy for children under...
- International Protection
158. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 16 May 2024, if, in view of the fact that compliance with planning...
- Disabilities Assessments
159. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting on an assessment of need, by each health area; the number of children for last...
- Departmental Data
160. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years assistants, room leaders, deputy managers, and centre managers in the childcare sector...
- Education Schemes
161. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 594 of 30 April 2024, the number of children currently based in designated...
- Department of Health
- Health Services
162. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the HSE pathfinder project associated with Tallaght University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24125/24]
- Disease Management
163. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider adding glaucoma to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24155/24]
- Medicinal Products
164. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of drug reimbursement recommendations contained within a report published in March 2023 (details supplied);...
- Nursing Homes
165. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has a role in upkeeping the houses which are falling into derelict especially in North Strand Dublin when the owners are in a nursing home as part...
- Medicinal Products
167. To ask the Minister for Health if he will approve the funding of a specific drug for a child, on compassionate grounds (details supplied). [24162/24]
- Home Help Service
168. To ask the Minister for Health if a person under the age of 65 years can qualify for home support services where they have great medical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Healthcare Policy
169. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 584 of 8 May 2024, the areas in which the discharge scheme has commenced (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Nursing Homes
170. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE can step in to take over/purchase two nursing homes (details supplied) following HIQA concerns, to prevent their closure and protect the 117...
- Health Services Staff
172. To ask the Minister for Health if an ex-gratia payment will issue to a widower of a former employee (details supplied) without the requirement of a grant of administration; and if he will...
- Hospital Services
173. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans in place to reduce the current level of service provided in the pain clinic at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on...
- Hospital Staff
174. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of full-/part-time consultants assigned to the pain clinic at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Hospital Waiting Lists
176. To ask the Minister for Health if plans are in place to alleviate the backlog of seeing patients at the pain clinic at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Health Services
177. To ask the Minister for Health the clinical lead, relevant acute settings and organisation of services in place in the provision of onco-genetic testing and counselling in the HSE; and if he...
- Cancer Services
178. To ask the Minister for Health the current provision for and future development of a genetic database for national cancer services and oncology treatment; and if he will make a statement on...
- Health Services
179. To ask the Minister for Health the number of genetic tests currently sent outside the State to public or private companies, from 2020 to 2024 inclusive; the location of those companies; and...
- Medicinal Products
180. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 296 of 1 May 2024, if an implementation group (details supplied) has completed its work; if the group has submitted its...
- Nursing Homes
181. To ask the Minister for Health if he can advise regarding correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24200/24]
- Hospital Services
182. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the availability of radiology and MRI services in University Hospital Limerick; to provide clarity on the reason outpatients have been...
- Health Services
184. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can receive a support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24206/24]
- National Treatment Purchase Fund
185. To ask the Minister for Health the level of expenditure on the National Treatment Purchase Fund’s commissioning of diagnostic testing to date, by month, since commencement, in tabular...
- Health Services Staff
186. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the opening of the register of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24211/24]
- Medical Cards
187. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the income thresholds for a medical card for people under 70 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24214/24]
- Home Care Packages
188. To ask the Minister for Health if he will undertake a comprehensive review of how home care services are provided in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Health Services
189. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a comprehensive newborn screening programme, which would ensure that all babies born in Ireland are screened for the European average of...
- Public Sector Pensions
190. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is still a significant delay for people who have retired from employment from section 38 voluntary organisations and voluntary...
- Vaccination Programme
191. To ask the Minister for Health the HSE expenditure on vaccines, excluding Covid-19 vaccines, for each of the years 2019 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24254/24]
- Charitable and Voluntary Organisations
192. To ask the Minister for Health the action his Department is taking to assist an organisation (details supplied) regarding its current staffing crisis, which has resulted in day services...
- Hospital Appointments Status
193. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24264/24]
- Hospital Services
194. To ask the Minister for Health if a person is entitled to attend a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24267/24]
- Health Services
195. To ask the Minister for Health when funding for an individual’s placement with resilience care to be provided by a charity will be approved by the HSE (details supplied); and if he...
- Hospital Staff
196. To ask the Minister for Health if a doctor will be replaced in Bantry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24333/24]
- Assisted Suicide
197. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether he has any role to play under section 9 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 arising from the removal of the restriction on euthanasia...
- Hospital Appointments Status
199. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24385/24]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Grant Payments
200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 23 May 2024, if the case and correspondence will be further reviewed (details supplied); if the...
