Written answers
Wednesday, 19 June 2024
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Legislative Programme
1. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [25303/24]
- Covid-19 Pandemic
2. To ask the Taoiseach the date for the commencement of the Covid enquiry; if it will be before the Dáil Éireann summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26411/24]
- Cabinet Committees
3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will meet again. [26359/24]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on proposals (details supplied) from a constituent in respect of what they believe are a double payment for passport documents; and...
- International Relations
6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he last spoke with the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Ireland. [26477/24]
- Diplomatic Representation
7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of WTE staff, by job title, working in the embassies of Ireland based in Seoul, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok as of 4 June 2024,...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Broadband Infrastructure
8. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26367/24]
- Inland Fisheries
9. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason there is a deliberate campaign by Inland Fisheries Ireland officers preventing anglers from removing dace, an...
- Cybersecurity Policy
11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the budget allocation for the National Cyber Security Centre in the years of 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form....
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
12. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by the Defence Forces on purchasing military equipment from German-based companies in 2022, 2023 and for the first five months...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Safety
15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if lighting will be installed at junction 11 at Kilcullen, southbound on the M7, as this junction is extremely dangerous, and it is only a...
- Rail Network
16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request that Irish Rail include train services from Woodlawn on the Galway to Dublin route Monday to Friday, on either the...
- Departmental Bodies
21. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the pay and any other benefits, including any loyalty payments or bonus or other benefit in kind, of each CEO of State agencies under the...
- Bus Services
22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the proposed new Local Link bus route from Ballyshannon, County Donegal, via Ballintrillick, County Sligo to...
- Public Sector Pensions
23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make steps to ensure that CIÉ pensioners are paid a cost-of-living increase in their pension; and if he will make a...
- Ports Policy
24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of ports that receive incoming shipping containers; the number receive incoming Ro-Ro (trucks) freight; and if he will make a...
- Dublin Airport Authority
25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of WTE customer service staff employed by DAA working in Dublin Airport in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular...
- Department of Finance
- Illicit Trade
26. To ask the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce a new national anti-smoking strategy to tackle illicit trade in tobacco and alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Tax Data
28. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the number of residential properties deemed exempt from the local property tax in 2023 for reasons of being either unsuitable for use as...
- Revenue Commissioners
29. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of a mobile scanner used by Revenue for the detection of illegal goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26385/24]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- State Bodies
32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount IDA Ireland has spent on hiring a business development consultant on its behalf in Australia and in the US in 2022, 2023...
- Work Permits
33. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied) for a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Corporate Governance
34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the budget allocation for the Corporate Enforcement Authority in the years of 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [26464/24]
- Department of Education and Skills
- School Transport
35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of areas in Cavan-Monaghan covered by the school transport for children with special needs; the areas in Cavan-Monaghan not covered by...
- Special Educational Needs
36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special schools taking part in the summer programme special school pilot scheme; and the number of special schools not taking part....
- School Staff
37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the 30 September cut-off point for teacher allocations for the following primary school year; if this deadline can be...
- School Admissions
38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the newly planned school in the Donaghmede/Howth/D13/Baldoyle/Stapolin school planning area has been deferred; the number of students...
- School Facilities
40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the facilities in a school (details supplied); to provide a timeline as to when it can move to appropriately sized...
- Special Educational Needs
41. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the location for the new special school in Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26407/24]
- Schools Building Projects
42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans being put in place for a school (details supplied) in Monasterevin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26412/24]
- Legislative Measures
45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of section 29 appeals under the Education Act 1998 taken in 2023; a breakdown of the total number admissible/inadmissible; the...
- Trade Unions
47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a proposal by a teachers' union (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26437/24]
- Irish Language
49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a proposal by a teachers' union (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26439/24]
- Trade Unions
50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a new gaelcholáiste will be opened in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26440/24]
- Schools Building Projects
51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an emergency works application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26524/24]
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- State Bodies
52. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of requests her Department has received from Tourism Ireland seeking approval to recruit additional staff in 2023 and...
- Sports Facilities
53. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of capital funding Sport Ireland has put into a facility (details supplied) in 2023 and to date in 2024; and the...
- Sports Organisations
54. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next meeting with the Sport Ireland CEO is scheduled. [26483/24]
- Raidió Teilifís Éireann
55. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she became aware of a consideration before the RTÉ board concerning a proposed severance package for a senior member of...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Derelict Sites
58. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if all local authorities have furnished the details on the total number of derelict properties currently on their registers;...
- Planning Issues
60. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the number of notifications of change of use from commercial use to residential use issued to planning...
- Traveller Accommodation
62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the PSEHRD assessment his Department has undertaken regarding reported difficulties by Travellers to open housing applications...
- Departmental Correspondence
63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons registered on the electoral register in each local authority area; and the number of persons who were...
- Electoral Process
64. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to calculate the amount payable to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26436/24]
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
65. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated full-year cost to recruit thirty additional WTE conservation rangers for the NPWS. [26481/24]
- Special Areas of Conservation
66. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a small area on the boundary of a special protection area in County Kerry (details supplied) will be removed given its...
- Local Authorities
67. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, in line with his obligations under Section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001, he will provide a breakdown of the number...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Benefits
68. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision will be expedited on an appeal for a supplementary allowance payment and a decision on a carer’s...
- State Pensions
71. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if it is the case that currently, to receive the full State pension (contributory), a person requires 980 A1 stamps,...
- Gender Recognition
73. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 11 June 2024, for an update on the implementation of recommendation 6A of the...
- Social Welfare Payments
74. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware that in many cases, bereavement grant applications are taking six to eight weeks to be paid to those who are...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
75. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to abolish the means test for those applying for carer's allowance. [26410/24]
- Social Welfare Benefits
76. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the telephone support allowance increased to €5 per week. [26470/24]
- Rural Schemes
78. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of participants on the rural social scheme, broken down by administering company; the number of vacancies on the...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Coroners Service
80. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the reductions made in and to salaries and payments to a sector (details supplied) under the provisions of the Financial...
- An Garda Síochána
82. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of steyr rifle refresher courses held for armed Garda personnel to date in 2024. [26325/24]
- Probation and Welfare Service
83. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time probation officers, by grade, that are based in each Probation Office in Dublin in 2023 and to date in...
- Youth Services
85. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to detail the funding provided to youth diversion projects in each of the years 2012 to 2024, in tabular form. [26426/24]
- Probation and Welfare Service
86. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to detail the funding provided to the Probation Service in each of the years 2012 to 2024, in tabular form. [26427/24]
- Crime Prevention
90. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the establishment of community safety partnerships across the country; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Reports
91. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Review of Prison Visiting Committees; and if she...
- An Garda Síochána
92. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of discharging a firearm offences that were notified to gardaí within the Meath division in the years of 2023...
- Work Permits
96. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on an employment permit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
99. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the work of Cuan to oversee the Government’s implementation of the actions set out in the Third National...
- Departmental Policies
100. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has considered, as advocated for by an organisation (details supplied), the alternatives to incarceration for...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Animal Welfare
101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of the recent RTÉ findings on the appalling treatment of horses, he will make a commitment to improve animal...
- Aquaculture Industry
102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an aquaculture foreshore license application (details supplied) on Lough Swilly; when a final decision will be made on...
- Animal Welfare
103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a television report (details supplied) related to the welfare and treatment of horses; the action...
- Agriculture Schemes
104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ACRES payment will issue to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26370/24]
- EU Meetings
105. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will attend the next EU Agricultural Council Meeting of Ministers. [26484/24]
- Bord Bia
106. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has received the 2023 annual report from Bord Bia. [26485/24]
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Ukraine War
107. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will give details of the recent changes announced regarding the social welfare benefits for Ukrainian...
- Traveller Accommodation
108. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to include an assessment on difficulties Travellers experience in accessing and retaining open...
- Disability Services
109. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of student placements in CDNTs based within CHO7 in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26328/24]
- Ukraine War
111. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on his Department's plans to close accommodation sites in County Clare which are...
- Disability Services
113. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide transport to a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26352/24]
- School Funding
116. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail all capital funding that is available for afterschool only facilities for this coming academic school...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
117. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of increasing the ECCE capitation grant by 15% with effect from 1 January 2025. [26479/24]
- Children in Care
118. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals and couples currently registered as foster carers with Tusla; and the number of foster...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Staff
119. To ask the Minister for Health if he will honour his predecessor's commitment to provide five additional clinical practice tutor posts for radiation therapy to increase the number of college...
- Health Service Executive
120. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the HSE primary care reimbursement service is not answering emails or phone calls to public representatives on the TD REPS email and phone line...
- Care Services
121. To ask the Minister for Health the locations of HSE-funded dementia day care centres within CHO9; the capacity of each of these day care centres; and the days of the week each of those day...
- Hospital Staff
122. To ask the Minister for Health if a consultant ophthalmologist and or ophthalmologist registrar is on call at the Mater Hospital on a 24-7 basis. [26322/24]
- Health Services
123. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on perinatal services currently in the CHO7 area. [26323/24]
- Home Care Packages
124. To ask the Minister for Health to provide assurance that the general scheme for a statutory home care scheme will be published in 2024; the reason progress has been slow in the past two...
- Medicinal Products
125. To ask the Minister for Health if the supply of a medication (details supplied) can be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26346/24]
- Tobacco Control Measures
126. To ask the Minister for Health if he intends to take steps to inform the public of the dangers associated with buying tobacco through unauthorised retail outlets; and if he will make a...
- Medicinal Products
127. To ask the Minister for Health the national laws and regulations that give effect to the clinical trial of an investigational medicinal product reporting requirements set out in the EU...
- Health Services
131. To ask the Minister for Health if a person in County Kerry (details supplied) will be approved for a pair of replacement glasses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26372/24]
- Home Care Packages
132. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people in County Meath who are currently waiting on the physical provision of homecare hours, by waiting times, by month, in tabular form; and if...
- Healthcare Policy
133. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 29 May 2024, the reason the eye exam is not paid by the local areas of CHO7, 8 (Meath only) and 9; if there are...
- Child Safety
134. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a seven-year-old child (details supplied) does not reach the criteria for CAMHS intervention in Cherry Orchard. [26393/24]
- Gender Recognition
137. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 11 June 2024, the particular paragraph of the mentioned 388-page report that outlines the risk as indicated by the...
- Health Services
138. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 11 June 2024, the level of decline in mental, social, and/or occupational function that has been found in the...
- Gender Recognition
140. To ask the Minister for Health the practices of the National Gender Service that a conversion therapy ban "could have negative implications on", as stated in its October 2023 clinical...
- Health Services Waiting Lists
141. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of people under 18 are currently waiting on audiometry tests in CHO7. [26405/24]
- Hospital Appointments Status
143. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on an operation (details supplied). [26417/24]
- Health Services Staff
144. To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health nurse posts in each LHO, in tabular form. [26418/24]
- Addiction Treatment Services
145. To ask the Minister for Health to detail the funding provided to each Drug and Alcohol Taskforce in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26420/24]
- Health Services
146. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the allocation of the additional €4 million for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy as announced in...
- Health Services Staff
148. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of podiatrists currently employed across the Health Service Executive; and the total number of approved posts which are currently unfilled;...
- Healthcare Policy
150. To ask the Minister for Health the legislative and regulatory measures required to enable podiatrists to access and administer a restricted list of prescription-only medicines; the actions...
- Health Services
151. To ask the Minister for Health the locations outside Dublin where emergency out-of-hours eye walk-in clinics are based; and if there are plans to increase this number. [26465/24]
- Mental Health Services
152. To ask the Minister for Health the budgetary allocations to CAMHS psychology in CHO8 in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [26466/24]
- Regulatory Bodies
153. To ask the Minister for Health when HIQA last inspected Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. [26467/24]
- Official Engagements
154. To ask the Minister for Health if he has spoken formally with his Australian counterpart to date in 2024. [26468/24]
- Hospital Staff
155. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant vascular surgeons based at Beaumont Hospital in the years 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26469/24]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Youth Services
156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current number of Youthreach centres in Dublin; and the number of students attending Youthreach centres within Dublin, in tabular form [26324/24]
- Teacher Training
157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26371/24]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Departmental Contracts
158. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of contracts a company (details supplied) has had with her Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the nature of...
- Harbours and Piers
159. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 9 May 2024, for a status update on the development of Inis Oírr pier; and if she will...
- Island Communities
160. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 9 May 2024, to provide an update on the work of the monitoring committee for the...
- Harbours and Piers
161. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 9 May 2024, the status of the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the...