Parliamentary questions

Climate Change Policy

Alan Farrell

95. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on his Department’s efforts to support climate action projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4005/24]

EU Meetings

Alan Farrell

124. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on his engagements at the most recent ECOFIN meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4006/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Farrell

45. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach to report on his engagements at the World Economic Forum. [2788/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Farrell

52. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagement with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. [2789/24]

Ukraine War

Alan Farrell

16. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on his Department’s engagement with Ukrainian counterparts in the context of the ongoing war with Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/24]

Trade Promotion

Alan Farrell

77. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the impact of the Global Ireland 2018 – 2025 strategy to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3165/24]

Energy Production

Alan Farrell

98. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on his Department’s plans to build on strong wind energy generation in Ireland in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3162/24]

Waste Management

Alan Farrell

134. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail his Department’s plans to provide brown bins to every home in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3163/24]

Departmental Bodies

Alan Farrell

9. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach his views on the outcomes of his recent meeting with the shared island youth forum. [1438/24]

Naval Service

Alan Farrell

61. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on his Department’s efforts to increase accommodation for Naval personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2786/24]

Defence Forces

Alan Farrell

63. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on his Department’s efforts to increase gender balance within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2787/24]

Hospital Overcrowding

Alan Farrell

29. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the positive figures that showed a 20% drop in trolly numbers in the last six months of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1441/24]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Alan Farrell

55. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the use of home STI testing kits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1442/24]

Research and Development

Alan Farrell

114. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of efforts to progress the Research and Innovation Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1440/24]

Further and Higher Education

Alan Farrell

115. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the progress being made with regard to the Swords College of the Future project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1439/24]

Tax Code

Alan Farrell

164. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if overseas pension investors are entitled to avail of lower stamp duty charges if they purchase houses in bulk and make them available for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2123/24]

Tax Code

Alan Farrell

166. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance if overseas pension investors are subject to higher stamp duty if they purchase houses in bulk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2116/24]

House Sales

Alan Farrell

194. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can confirm that a large percentage of houses in the Belcamp housing development were purchased by an overseas investor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/24]

Vacant Properties

Alan Farrell

195. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant property refurbishment grant applications that were made nationwide in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2117/24]

Vacant Properties

Alan Farrell

196. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant property refurbishment grant applications that were made to Fingal County Council in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2118/24]

Vacant Properties

Alan Farrell

197. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant property refurbishment grant applications that were successful nationwide in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2119/24]

Vacant Properties

Alan Farrell

198. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant property refurbishment grant applications made to Fingal County Council that were successful in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2120/24]

Housing Provision

Alan Farrell

199. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of commencement notices that have been accepted by Fingal County Council in quarter 4 of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2121/24]

Housing Provision

Alan Farrell

200. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on Fingal County Council's social housing list who were housed in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2122/24]

Fire Service

Alan Farrell

201. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the outcome of discussions between Meath Fire Service and Dublin Fire Brigade to address how fire cover and the provision of emergency services can be improved for boarder communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2124/24]

Sentencing Policy

Alan Farrell

240. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the status of her Department’s review of enactments providing for the imposition of minimum mandatory sentences, in accordance with section 29 of the Judicial Council Act 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2125/24]

Construction Industry

Alan Farrell

343. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what role his Department can play in easing the labour shortage in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49042/23]

Defence Forces

Alan Farrell

151. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to report on his Department’s assessment of the sonar capabilities of the Defence Forces; what plans his Department is considering to improve sonar capabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56767/23]

Defence Forces

Alan Farrell

152. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on his Department’s efforts to develop primary radar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56768/23]

Courts Service

Alan Farrell

1029. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on her Department's engagement with An Garda Síochána on the court presenter allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56769/23]

Teagasc Activities

Alan Farrell

8. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the development of the centre for sustainable animal and grassland research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55511/23]

Food Industry

Alan Farrell

41. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department’s efforts to improve food production sustainability in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55512/23]

Child Poverty

Alan Farrell

80. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his Department’s efforts to tackle child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55513/23]

Departmental Projects

Alan Farrell

101. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his Department’s work with regard to the Growing Up in Ireland study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55514/23]

Climate Change Negotiations

Alan Farrell

27. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on his engagements at COP28. [55145/23]

Policing Authority

Alan Farrell

55. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to outline her engagement with the Policing Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55144/23]

An Garda Síochána

Alan Farrell

67. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice her views the fast-tracking of Garda attestation in Templemore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55143/23]

Planning Issues

Alan Farrell

11. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the work of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54063/23]

State Bodies

Alan Farrell

57. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the work of Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54062/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Alan Farrell

114. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on her Department’s efforts to reform jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54064/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Alan Farrell

148. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the long-term carers contribution scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54065/23]

Health Services Staff

Alan Farrell

618. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health when, applicants (details supplied) will have their applications processed to finality by CORU, given the need for health and social care professionals in the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53900/23]

Rail Network

Alan Farrell

31. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on progress with regard to electrification of the rail network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52876/23]

Dublin Airport Authority

Alan Farrell

50. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on engagements with DAA with regard to noise abatement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52877/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Alan Farrell

106. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education her views on the solar for schools scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52874/23]

Online Safety

Alan Farrell

138. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on engagements with schools and parents groups on banning smart phones in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52875/23]

Middle East

Alan Farrell

195. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department's efforts to ensure that Irish citizens in Gaza can leave the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49604/23]

Middle East

Alan Farrell

201. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of humanitarian aid his Department is providing to citizens of Gaza; how much of that aid is getting through; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49605/23]

School Admissions

Alan Farrell

337. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many children are still awaiting a school place in the Dublin Fingal constituency for the 2022/2023 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52903/23]

Schools Building Projects

Alan Farrell

338. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of plans to develop an additional post primary school in Swords, County Dublin given the consistent over subscription of school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52904/23]

School Admissions

Alan Farrell

339. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many section 29 appeals were submitted for students trying to access a school place in Fingal for the school year 2022/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52905/23]

School Accommodation

Alan Farrell

340. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she can provide an update on the project to deliver a new school building for a national school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52906/23]

School Accommodation

Alan Farrell

341. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she can provide an update on the project to deliver a school building for a Gaelscoil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52907/23]

School Accommodation

Alan Farrell

342. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she can provide an update on the project to deliver additional classrooms at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52908/23]

Schools Administration

Alan Farrell

343. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for an update on the discussions her Department is conducting with patron bodies and school authorities in Fingal to expand the school network to cater for the growing population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52909/23]

Disability Services

Alan Farrell

452. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will be called for an assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52910/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Farrell

7. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his engagement with French Prime Minister. [50884/23]

Trade Missions

Alan Farrell

11. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the outcomes of the recent trade mission to South Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51293/23]

Labour Market

Alan Farrell

25. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on his efforts to tackle labour market shortages, in a time of full employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51294/23]

Financial Irregularities

Alan Farrell

92. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance to report on his Department’s efforts to tackle money laundering within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51296/23]

Banking Sector

Alan Farrell

97. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance to report on his Department’s efforts to increase innovation and competition in Ireland’s banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51295/23]

Defence Forces

Alan Farrell

44. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on his Department's efforts to increase the number of permanent personnel within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50886/23]

Defence Forces

Alan Farrell

51. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on efforts to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50885/23]

Energy Conservation

Alan Farrell

20. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the development of one-stop-shops with regard to retrofitting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49606/23]

Energy Conservation

Alan Farrell

25. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details on the roll-out of the home energy upgrade loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49607/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Farrell

1. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach his engagement with European leaders as regards the Israel-Gaza conflict. [49603/23]

Departmental Funding

Alan Farrell

13. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the Social Innovation Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49609/23]

Regeneration Projects

Alan Farrell

37. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49608/23]

Departmental Data

Alan Farrell

266. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of thatched buildings, both private and public, within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49598/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Alan Farrell

26. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health to outline his Department’s efforts to reduce the number of patients on hospital trollies this Winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49045/23]

Vaccination Programme

Alan Farrell

46. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health to report on the take-up of vaccinations under the Autumn vaccination programme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49044/23]

Housing Policy

Alan Farrell

162. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consideration his Department has given to the role long-term leases, or ‘life-leases’, can play in the Irish rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49043/23]

Marine Protected Areas

Alan Farrell

226. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consideration his Department is giving to further marine protected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33502/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Farrell

8. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach to report on his engagements during his attending of the European Political Community [45073/23]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Alan Farrell

14. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with the UK Prime Minister during the European Political Community meeting [45074/23]

Air Quality

Alan Farrell

36. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work, if any, his Department is carrying out in monitoring aircraft fumes in the housing estates surrounding Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46775/23]

Legislative Process

Alan Farrell

49. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the implementation of legislation on scrambler bikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46765/23]

Air Quality

Alan Farrell

50. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the work, if any, his Department is carrying out monitoring aircraft fumes in the housing estates surrounding Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46776/23]

Driver Test

Alan Farrell

51. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the current wait time for driving tests in the driving test centres that service the Dublin Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46778/23]

Bus Services

Alan Farrell

52. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport for an update on phase 9 of BusConnects, which will service the Fingal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46780/23]

Local Authorities

Alan Farrell

106. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the number of biodiversity officers appointed to each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46767/23]

Housing Provision

Alan Farrell

111. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have the appropriate sanction through Circular: NRUP 02/2021 to permit lower densities than 30 units per hectare for serviced sites (ready-to-build scheme) on the edges of towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46878/23]

Housing Provision

Alan Farrell

112. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the appropriate density for serviced sites on the edges of towns will typically be lower than a standard greenfield residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46879/23]

Housing Schemes

Alan Farrell

113. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of developments that are currently being developed or have been developed by each local authority under the ready-to-build scheme (serviced sites scheme), and their location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46880/23]

Passport Services

Alan Farrell

131. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice to outline the process of how a UK citizen married to an Irish citizen obtains an Irish passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46781/23]

Health Strategies

Alan Farrell

172. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of the national sexual health strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46766/23]

Legislative Reviews

Alan Farrell

246. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the status of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46089/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

247. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many additional autistic classes were opened for the 2023-2024 school year nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46090/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

248. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for a geographical breakdown of the number of new autistic classrooms that were opened for the 2023-2024 school year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46091/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

249. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many mainstream schools nationwide now have autistic classes included on their campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46092/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

250. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for a geographical breakdown of the number autistic classes that are included on mainstream school campuses, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46093/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

251. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many new special schools were either opened or expanded for the 2023-2024 school year nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46094/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

252. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for a geographical breakdown of the number of new special schools that were opened or expanded for the 2023-2024 school year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46095/23]

School Staff

Alan Farrell

253. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of teaching posts that are vacant nationwide in primary and post-primary schools for the 2023-2024 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46096/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

254. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if her Department is undertaking a review for the criteria a child needs to meet for access to an SNA with a view to widening this criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46097/23]

Grant Payments

Alan Farrell

255. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the timeframe for when primary schools can expect to receive their ICT grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46098/23]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Alan Farrell

256. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the details of the capital projects that have been undertaken by her Department in Dublin Fingal since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46099/23]

Special Educational Needs

Alan Farrell

257. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of the SNA positions budgeted for in 2023 that were filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46100/23]

Schools Building Projects

Alan Farrell

258. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the status of the master plan for the new build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46101/23]

School Accommodation

Alan Farrell

285. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of the planned additional classrooms for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46431/23]