Written answers
Wednesday, 9 October 2024
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue to a person in County Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing said passport given that the...
- Middle East
2. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to Israel's attempted invasion of Lebanon, its deliberate targeting of civilians and healthcare workers; if Ireland has or will...
- Foreign Conflicts
3. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts to bring about the implementation of United Nations resolutions regarding self-determination for the Sahrawi...
- Foreign Policy
4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the Cuban government; his efforts to bring an end to the illegal blockade of Cuba; the efforts to...
- Northern Ireland
5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his most recent discussions with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland and with the British foreign secretary in relation...
- Emigrant Support Services
7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total funding provided in 2024 for the emigrant support programme; the allocation for 2025; if any new measures will be supported through...
- Military Aircraft
8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times his Department was contacted by the Department of Transport and or the Department of Justice in relation to determining if...
- Middle East
10. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he had any discussions or engagement with any Israeli counterpart or any person with regard to preventing the passage of the Control of...
- Military Aircraft
11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the responsibilities of his Department in terms of ensuring that aircraft which land on Irish soil are not carrying arms, weapons,...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Energy Conservation
12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the targets for each of the SEAI's retrofitting schemes for heat pump installations in each of the years between 2020 to...
- Renewable Energy Generation
13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the Government's directive regarding the development of solar farms in Ireland, particularly in relation to...
- EU Directives
14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware that the European Commission has decided to open an infringement procedure against Ireland for failing to...
- National Broadband Plan
15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the provision of fibre broadband to Birr, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces
18. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence with regard to the boarded-up houses and disintegrating buildings on the Curragh Military Camp, to state with certainty if any of the additional...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Road Projects
22. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on funding for the north ring road for Cork city. [40562/24]
- Coast Guard Service
23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the up-to-date position regarding the provision of a new Coastguard building at Howth; and the amount that has been spent on this project...
- Rail Network
24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review and seek answers to the ongoing issues with overcrowding and timetable related issues on the northern line (details supplied);...
- Public Transport
25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority’s once-off grant scheme for rural transport, which ended in 2020, will be reinstated; if there...
- Bus Services
26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the provision of evening bus services between Galway city and Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Budget 2025
29. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide further details of his Department’s plans announced in Budget 2025 relating to ‘investing in electric and...
- Pension Provisions
32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on an increase in the CIÉ pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40418/24]
- Budget 2025
33. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in light of the carbon tax increases announced in Budget 2025, the reason he misled the public in a recent interview with a radio station...
- Driver Licences
34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an Irish citizen returning from Ethiopia, and only holding a driving licence issued in Ethiopia, can drive in Ireland under that...
- Road Projects
35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the route and commencement date of the northern distributor road. [40560/24]
- Public Transport
36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when additional capacity will be provided on a route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40611/24]
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
37. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the lower rate of VAT on gas and electricity to natively produced renewable and sustainable fuel, where the proceeds go back into...
- Tax Credits
39. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will increase the tax credits for widows/widowers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40373/24]
- Tax Data
40. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of taxes taken from fuel tax, VAT excise and carbon tax associated with petrol, diesel and home heating in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in...
- Tax Code
42. To ask the Minister for Finance the rationale for the significant increase in excise duty on cigarettes in Budget 2025 given the concerns set out in the Tax Strategy Group paper regarding the...
- Fiscal Policy
44. To ask the Minister for Finance if the ongoing development of the framework for allocation of the windfall receipts will consider the potential to invest in acquiring equity to finance the...
- Tax Data
47. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount collected in local property tax in County Cavan in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [40428/24]
- Tax Code
50. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider reducing the VAT on e-bikes to 9%; and the first- and full-year costs of such a measure. [40478/24]
- Tax Data
51. To ask the Minister for Finance the first- and full-year cost of the measure to increasing the 2% USC ceiling by €1,622; the number of people that would benefit from this measure; and...
- Tax Code
76. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the details and rationale for extending the rent relief to pre-letting expenses announced as part of Budget 2025; the number of people that will...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Expenditure Policy
78. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of carbon tax revenue allocated to each Department, in each year from 2020 to 2024; the amount unspent in each Department, in...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Small and Medium Enterprises
82. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Budget 2025 included any additional supports for small businesses seeking to develop their digital skills or their use of AI. [40411/24]
- Work Permits
83. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a work permit application has been received and processed for a person (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Business Supports
84. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the qualifying criteria for the second grant payment under the increased cost of business scheme; the reason an applicant (details...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the concerns raised by the principal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40436/24]
- School Curriculum
86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied). [40340/24]
- School Accommodation
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the status of the portacabins remaining on the grounds of a building (details supplied). [40370/24]
- School Funding
89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she could reply to a follow-up email in relation to a national school (details supplied), which has a number of queries in relation to a...
- Special Educational Needs
91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and behaviour therapy supports which have been put in place to support Waterford...
- Schools Building Projects
92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding confirmed date for delivery and installation of an approved modular building for a school (details supplied) which is...
- School Meals Programme
93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will make necessary upgrades to a school (details supplied) which was approved for the hot meals scheme but deemed unable to...
- School Transport
94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that transport is provided to a child with additional needs attending a school (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- School Discipline
95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the ‘Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free’ initiative will be extending to both public and private post-primary schools; and if she...
- Schools Building Projects
98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to undertake upgrades or building works for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40553/24]
- School Staff
99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how school secretaries have migrated under her Department since being added to payroll services with effect from 1 September 2023; and if she will...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Creative Youth Plan
100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated full year costs of increasing the number of schools on the Creative Schools Programme to include 50 extra schools....
- Arts Policy
101. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will implement all of the recommendations and or provide an update on her work on same (details supplied). [40475/24]
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Derelict Sites
103. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated revenue that could be raised by increasing the derelict site tax to 7%; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Energy Conservation
104. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of heat pumps that have been installed as part of his Department's local authority retrofitting scheme; the targets...
- Rental Sector
105. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on the ‘housing for all’ commitment to examine the creation of a system of deposit...
- Wildlife Conservation
106. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to the response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 128, 129, 130 and 131 of 2 October 2024, to provide a breakdown of the...
- Local Authorities
108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the baseline allocation to County Cavan from the Equalisation Fund in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [40428/24]
- Housing Schemes
109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to disregard half-rate carer’s allowance as means for the differential rent scheme. [40472/24]
- Meteorological Services
111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will clarify the rationale for Met Éireann not providing flood forecasts or warnings for floods to the public via...
- Housing Schemes
112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason, under the tenant purchase scheme, it is stated that only occupants of three-bedroom houses can purchase their...
- Local Authorities
113. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of local authority biodiversity officers currently employed; the funding provided by his Department; and if...
- Heritage Schemes
114. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding provided to the community monuments fund, the historic structures fund and the built heritage investment scheme...
- Architectural Heritage
115. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost of employing an architectural conservation officers. [40627/24]
- National Parks
117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the average cost of purchasing and designating a new national park since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Departmental Policies
118. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if cross-departmental plans are being developed to alleviate the pressure on the retail industry; and if he will make a...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Social Welfare Schemes
119. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there will be an increase to the standard eye examination payments claimed by dispensing opticians and optometrists under...
- Social Welfare Payments
120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the matters raised in the enclosed correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on...
- State Pensions
121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how a person (details supplied) who has a retirement pension from the HSE (Mercy Hospital, Cork) after 40 years' employment...
- Social Welfare Payments
122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of invalidity pension and whose husband is on supplementary welfare...
- Social Welfare Appeals
123. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will take steps to ensure that the carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) which was...
- Social Welfare Payments
126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on a living alone allowance application for a person (details supplied). [40391/24]
- Social Welfare Eligibility
134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to examine a matter regarding means tests for carers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Fuel Poverty
135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands' Report entitled...
- State Pensions
136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will outline the pension entitlements due to a person (details supplied). [40515/24]
- Social Welfare Payments
137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application which has submitted further information (details supplied). [40548/24]
- State Pensions
138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the rights and entitlements a person made in respect of pension contributions (details supplied). [40580/24]
- Social Welfare Appeals
139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person in County Cork (details supplied). [40609/24]
- Social Welfare Eligibility
140. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are any plans to change the eligibility for fuel allowance and the household benefits package for those on State...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Crime Prevention
141. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the regulations in respect of the establishment of community safety partnerships will be issued to local authorities; and...
- Courts Service
142. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures in place, or planned in the future, to make the family court system more accessible and more transparent for...
- Citizenship Applications
144. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to intervene to assist to resolve a person's situation (details supplied). [40365/24]
- Immigration Policy
145. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he can offer any assistance to a person seeking to travel from Israel to work in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will...
- An Garda Síochána
146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí in each division in Leinster, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40503/24]
- Citizenship Applications
147. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of citizenship applications (details supplied). [40550/24]
- Prison Service
148. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the old Cork Prison site; and the work that has taken place to consider using the site for housing,...
- An Garda Síochána
149. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, by rank, as of 4 October 2024. [40591/24]
- Departmental Staff
150. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of full-time staff working in the border management unit of her Department, by grade, as of 4 October 2024, in...
- Legal Aid
151. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the review regarding income thresholds for the purpose of qualifying for civil legal aid is due to be complete; and if she...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Fishery Harbour Centres
152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capital works projects that are currently ongoing under the Fisheries Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development; the...
- Animal Diseases
153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be paid to a sheep farmer who had to destock their ewes due to MV being present in the flock; and if he will...
- Agriculture Schemes
154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2024 area of natural constraints payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied) for the remainder of their...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Disability Services
155. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the projected costs of increasing the number of in-school therapy pilot scheme to include an additional ten...
- Disabilities Assessments
157. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the ASD assessment for a child (details supplied). [40358/24]
- Child and Family Agency
158. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of habeas corpus applications made in circumstances in which Tusla was a respondent, in tabular form,...
- Disability Services
159. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of staffing 18 WTEs on the community neuro-rehabilitation teams in each of the six HSE health regions;...
- Disabilities Assessments
160. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of doubling the regional assessment hubs around the country; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Disability Services
161. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of aligning section 39 staff if aligned with HSE pay scales; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Youth Services
181. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding has been sourced, or put in place for the UBU – Your Place, Your Space scheme....
- Guardians Ad Litem
183. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amounts his Department and Tusla have has spent on guardian ad litem services, broken down by provider, in...
- International Protection
184. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the contract with a hotel (details supplied) for housing IP applicants and Ukrainian refugees in...
- Budget 2025
185. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of the money allocated to Programme E - Local Authority Integration Team Community Integration Forum...
- Childcare Services
187. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his estimate of the number of additional children who will benefit from the continued expansion of the national...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Services
188. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of 500 additional regional inpatient rehabilitation beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40447/24]
- Health Services Staff
189. To ask the Minister for Health the average cost of hiring 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40468/24]
- Hospital Appointments Status
190. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a 90-year-old woman (details supplied) has been left in excruciating pain and virtually housebound from an obliterated hip and has been told they...
- Nursing Homes
191. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 2 October 2024, the level of engagement, if any, which has been had between the head of older persons' services in...
- Hospice Services
195. To ask the Minister for Health when the current national policy on palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions will be updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Care of the Elderly
196. To ask the Minister for Health the respite services available, including capacity and hours of respite, in all community hospitals in Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services Waiting Lists
197. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people on waiting lists for home help in county Donegal, broken down by area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Hospital Staff
198. To ask the Minister for Health the current staffing levels, current vacancies, and how long these positions have been vacant, at Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form; and if he...
- Nursing Homes
199. To ask the Minister for Health regarding the public private partnership deal signed off by the Minister and his Department in 2022 for the provision of 530 public nursing home beds by a...
- Health Services Staff
201. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that section 39 workers have pay-parity with directly employed HSE staff, given that they do very similar work and are 97% funded by the HSE,...
- Primary Care Centres
202. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a primary care centre in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40399/24]
- Hospital Staff
203. To ask the Minister for Health the number of cardiologists working in Cavan General Hospital. [40401/24]
- Health Services Staff
206. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the urgent staffing and resource issues at Roscrea primary care centre (details supplied); if he is aware that a community-registered nurse...
- Medical Cards
207. To ask the Minister for Health if he is considering increasing medical card income thresholds in line with recent budgetary social welfare increases, in order that, for example, pensioners...
- Addiction Treatment Services
208. To ask the Minister for Health whether he is aware of emerging trends in increased need in hard-to-reach populations in the addiction service; and whether specific funding will be made...
- Hospital Facilities
209. To ask the Minister for Health the number of beds currently being utilised in Monaghan Hospital; if any of the beds available in Monaghan are not being utilised and the reasons for this; and...
- Hospital Appointments Status
213. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a patient (details supplied) is waiting over 15 months for a knee operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40498/24]
- Medical Aids and Appliances
214. To ask the Minister for Health the position in relation to the refusal of a Dexcom sensor for an adult with type 1 diabetes in Cork city (details supplied); and if he will make a statement...
- Primary Care Centres
215. To ask the Minister for Health when the primary care centre will commence construction in Glanmire, Cork. [40555/24]
- Hospital Facilities
218. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the new paediatric outpatient clinic area at CUH has no outpatient clinic room fitted with a ceiling tracker...
- Hospital Services
219. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore has been excluded from the expansion of elective surgery capacity procedures such as those planned for four...
- Mental Health Services
221. To ask the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the mental health funding announced in Budget 2025; for a breakdown of new measures funding; to comment on the increase in existing levels...
- Hospital Facilities
223. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2453 of 23 July 2024, if he will confirm the timeline for opening the Ennis haemodialysis unit; on what site will it be...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Departmental Expenditure
224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a full breakdown of the way the Brexit Adjustment Fund funding allocation to his Department was spent, by project, in tabular form....
- Further and Higher Education
225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the €1,000 fee contribution as announced in Budget 2025 will be given to a Monaghan student attending a college in County Derry; and if...
- Departmental Policies
226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how the Budget 2025 announcement regarding ‘€20 million for a skills package in employment-focused skills and training’ is...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Animal Welfare
227. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position Ireland is taking in relation to the European Commission proposals for a regulation on dog welfare; and if Ireland will...
- Departmental Expenditure
228. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an overview of capital funding allocations since 2020 in Kildare south; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40504/24]
- Rural Schemes
230. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to each town in the second phase of the Town Centre First Programme, in tabular form; and if she will make a...
- Control of Dogs
231. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department is engaging with the animal welfare charities on their preparedness for the restriction on XL bullies, which is due...
