Parliamentary questions

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

704. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many cost rental tenant-in-situ proposals have been completed to date; how many have been acquired by the Housing Agency; if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of referrals to the Housing Agency; the number completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15178/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

705. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many tenant-in-situ purchases were completed in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many from 2023 are still outstanding; how many purchases have been completed to date in 2024; how much funding is available for 2024; how many homes it is expected will be bought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15179/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ivana Bacik

731. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is considered a disability for disability payment purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13676/24]

Primary Care Centres

Ivana Bacik

1239. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of planned primary care centre projects that the HSE intends to lease which are currently stalled, suspended or otherwise in abeyance due to the need to review leasing costs; and the date that the HSE intends to initiate that review for each, in tabular form. [13711/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ivana Bacik

1240. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when a response will issue to an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13712/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ivana Bacik

1241. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when a formal response will issue to the application by the Royal Hospital Donnybrook to the HSE for capital funding toward a new public community nursing unit on its grounds (details supplied). [13713/24]

Childcare Services

Ivana Bacik

271. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of core funding provided in Budget 2022 which was used to uplift wages in the early years and school age childcare sector; the amount which has remained unspent; and if the balance is publicly available on an ongoing basis. [13419/24]

Hospital Staff

Ivana Bacik

304. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the status of the independent review of the radiation therapist profession, which was agreed between the HSE, his Department and an organisation (details supplied) under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Committee, which has been underway since December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13433/24]

Vaccination Programme

Ivana Bacik

305. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have participated in the Laura Brennan HPV vaccination catch-up programme to date; the targets set for the programme; if he will report on the programme extension review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13434/24]

Health Promotion

Ivana Bacik

306. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding to date which has been allocated to the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023 - 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13435/24]

Prescriptions Charges

Ivana Bacik

307. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges for all medical card holders. [13436/24]

Health Services

Ivana Bacik

308. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme to a €60 threshold per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13437/24]

Health Promotion

Ivana Bacik

309. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount of annual funding budgeted for the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 to conduct its annual activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13438/24]

Human Rights

Ivana Bacik

47. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 15 February 2024, the rationale for the Government’s position of non-intervention in the Gambia v. Myanmar case before the International Court of Justice. [11665/24]

Foreign Policy

Ivana Bacik

58. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the deteriorating situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. [12221/24]

Wind Energy Generation

Ivana Bacik

84. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of windfarms; the related installed capacity of these windfarms which have exited their support scheme contracts under the alternative energy requirement support scheme and, separately, the renewable energy feed-in tariff support scheme, in the years 2000 to 2023, in tabular form. [11609/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

86. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a noise abatement order under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 is granted; what responsibility does a local authority have to enforce it; what actions it can take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11671/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

87. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a noise abatement order under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 is granted; what responsibility does the EPA have to enforce it; and what actions it can take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

273. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to reports that applicants for the help-to-buy scheme who are still repaying Covid supports are being automatically rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13080/24]

School Accommodation

Ivana Bacik

360. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education the reason that funding sanctioned in June 2020, for four new classrooms for an ASD unit at a school (details supplied) has not yet delivered; when resources will be allocated for provision of autism classrooms at the schools; and if she will make a statement on the need for more provision for autistic and neurodiverse children in Dublin 2, 4, 6, 8 and Dublin 6W. [11664/24]

Schools Building Projects

Ivana Bacik

361. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite the tender process for construction of permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); if construction will be completed within the previously announced timeline; and if the permanent accommodation will be completed in advance of the start of the school year commencing 2024. [11666/24]

Departmental Policies

Ivana Bacik

611. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if allowing for publication of election candidates' home addresses is mandated in statute; and, if not, if he has given consideration to issuing a memorandum or statutory instrument, ending the practice of publication of home addresses of election candidates. [11747/24]

Housing Policy

Ivana Bacik

613. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the tripartite agreement on the delivery of social and affordable housing in the Poolbeg SDZ will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11766/24]

Electoral Process

Ivana Bacik

658. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a circular issued to staff at polling centres which would, in certain circumstances, prevent some disabled people from accessing assistance in casting their ballot in the final two hours of voting; if he will end the practice of such advice issuing; his plans to ensure that voting in referendums or elections is accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12457/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

699. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has carried out a review of his Department's voids programme to take account of construction inflation; if not, his plans to do so; the average cost of a void turnaround in each local authority area; and the average time taken to convert a void in each local authority area, in tabular form. [13082/24]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

1088. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of beds for international protection applicants which were empty in each week of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11669/24]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

1089. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason emergency measures to temporarily house international protection applicants who are sleeping rough were lifted; and the method used to determine when such measures should be ended. [11670/24]

Childcare Services

Ivana Bacik

1195. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on conditions for international protection applicants sleeping in tents in congregated areas of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13153/24]

Vaccination Programme

Ivana Bacik

1250. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his plans to include pharmacists in the MMR catch-up programme, given the current GP shortage, which may delay the provision of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11705/24]

Bereavement Certificate

Ivana Bacik

1298. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his views on recent legislation passed in Westminster to create an optional bereavement certificate for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks' gestation; and his plans to introduce a similar initiative here. [11946/24]

State Properties

Ivana Bacik

147. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to ensure that housing in barracks around the country is used. [10214/24]

Bus Services

Ivana Bacik

204. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the implementation of the next phase of the Dublin Network Redesign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10637/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

404. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make a statement on the need for additional social and affordable housing in Rathmines and surrounds, including by way of Part V housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10215/24]

Tourist Accommodation

Ivana Bacik

413. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has made representations to the EU Commission in respect of the need for regulation of online short-term tourist letting companies; and if he will report on the preparations his Department is making for when legislation to regulate such companies is passed and implemented. [10426/24]

Housing Policy

Ivana Bacik

414. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make a statement on the need to support older persons to downsize. [10427/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

415. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of private houses that local authorities are renting and subletting as social housing by local authority; the annual cost of renting these houses in each of the years 2018 to 2023 and to date in 2024, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10429/24]

Rental Sector

Ivana Bacik

416. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make a statement on the adequacy of enforcement powers within the Residential Tenancies Board; and his plans to establish an enforcement bureau within the organisation to ensure that those who subvert legal protections for tenants are addressed. [10430/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

417. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide additional funding to deal with issues surrounding maintenance of social housing, particularly flat complexes. [10431/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

418. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing levels in each local authority, compared with 2018. [10433/24]

State Bodies

Ivana Bacik

419. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing levels in An Bord Pleanála, compared with 2020 and 2018; and the staffing levels in the same period in each division of the organisation, in tabular form. [10434/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

423. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available to councillors with disabilities when they are elected; if local authorities are required to provide supports; what provisions are in place; if statutory requirements are in place; the additional measures he intends to introduce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10630/24]

Legislative Measures

Ivana Bacik

449. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on recent legislation which passed in Westminster to create an optional bereavement certificate for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks’ gestation; and her plans to introduce such a similar initiative here. [10428/24]

Social Welfare Code

Ivana Bacik

456. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection how income (details supplied) is assessed when an individual is elected to a local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10631/24]

Health Services Staff

Ivana Bacik

719. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the timeline for lifting the HSE recruitment freeze; his plans to reinstate recruitment for nursing home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10372/24]

Departmental Properties

Ivana Bacik

721. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on progress to convert into use vacant properties under the ownership of his Department and the HSE; and if he will list the units in respect of which such work has commenced, in tabular form. [10432/24]

Prescriptions Charges

Ivana Bacik

759. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his plans to remove prescription fees for medical card holders; and his views on the affordability of prescription medications for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10683/24]

Climate Change Policy

Ivana Bacik

102. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport his views on the report by the Climate Change Advisory Council; if he will report on his engagement with the Minister for Finance in respect of the recommendation on taxation policy and transport emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8762/24]

Job Losses

Ivana Bacik

173. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged with management at a company (details supplied) since it was announced that the firm would be making a portion of its workforce redundant; and if he will make a statement on job losses in the technology sector more generally. [8756/24]

Employment Rights

Ivana Bacik

180. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his engagement with external stakeholders in respect of the provision of paid leave for persons who have experienced a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks' gestation, or to facilitate access to reproductive healthcare treatments; if he will list the stakeholders which have made representations to him on the matters; and the position of his Department in respect of the measure. [9311/24]

Fire Service

Ivana Bacik

268. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average wait time for fire brigade attendance at a scene, following a call to emergency services, in each county. [8754/24]