Parliamentary questions

Vacant Properties

Catherine Connolly

268. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units refurbished under the voids stimulus programme announced in May 2021 in the area covered by Galway County Council; the number of these refurbished social housing units which have been re-let as social homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12171/22]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

269. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the promised national town centre first office; the timeline for the establishment of the office; the number of staff allocated to the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12207/22]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

270. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the recruitment of a national director for town centre first; when he expects the position to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12208/22]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

271. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the national oversight and advisory group for town centre first; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; if the group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12209/22]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Connolly

353. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the designation of pathfinder towns pursuant to the town centre first policy; the details of the towns designated to date; when all pathfinder towns will be designated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12205/22]

Housing Provision

Catherine Connolly

103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 25 January 2022, the status of the review by his Department and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the local authority Housing Delivery Action Plans; the number of plans that have been received by his Department to date by local authority; the number of plans reviewed to date; the number of plans approved to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11948/22]

Housing Provision

Catherine Connolly

104. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing and affordable housing projects under construction in Galway city and county by the location address, the number of units, project status and the expected completion date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11949/22]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Connolly

105. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 16 February 2022, the engagement he or his Department has had with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications with regard to the roll-out of decarbonisation zones in each local authority; his Department's role in the development of the promised guidelines for the implementation of the decarbonising plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11950/22]

Defective Building Materials

Catherine Connolly

106. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the work of the working group to examine defects in housing; when he expects the final report to be completed; his plans for the publication of the final report; the details of interim reports received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11951/22]

Local Authorities

Catherine Connolly

107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of plans to appoint a permanent CEO of Galway County Council; the status of the recruitment campaign; when he expects the new CEO to be in position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11952/22]

Official Engagements

Catherine Connolly

244. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of any engagement her Department has had with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the proposal for the development of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11989/22]

Coastal Protection

Catherine Connolly

73. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 20 January 2022, the timeline for the expected completion of the report of the Interdepartmental Group on Managing Coastal Change; if the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11402/22]

Flood Risk Management

Catherine Connolly

91. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 62 of 23 September 2021, 108 of 16 November 2021 and 210 of 20 January 2022, the expected timeline for stage 2 of Coirib go Cósta, namely the submission of planning documentation to An Bord Pleanála and the completion of all environmental assessments and consents; the status of the Coirib go Cósta flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11403/22]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Connolly

185. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 16 February 2022, and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the status of the promised statutory guidelines on the development of local authority climate action plans; if the guidelines have been finalised to date; when these guidelines will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/22]

Environmental Schemes

Catherine Connolly

186. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s role in the roll-out of decarbonisation zones in each local authority; the engagement that he or his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2021 and to date in 2022 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11662/22]

Legislative Reviews

Catherine Connolly

272. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a review of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11469/22]

Overseas Development Aid

Catherine Connolly

393. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports that the administration in the United States of America is freeing $3.5 billion of more than $9 billion in frozen Afghan government assets, which belong to the Afghan people, to be diverted to a fund for victims of 9/11 at a time that the United Nations says that one million Afghan children could die from starvation or cold this winter with 24 million Afghans facing acute hunger and 8.7 million Afghans facing famine; the steps he has taken to satisfy himself that none of that amount includes aid given by Ireland to support humanitarian agencies operating in Afghanistan; the representations he has made to his United States, European Union, United Nations and other international counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/22]

Court Procedures

Catherine Connolly

602. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the basis of the trial currently under way on the grove in Castlerea (details supplied). [11691/22]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Connolly

41. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 99 of 20 January 2022, the expected timeline for the opening of the basic income pilot scheme for artists; the number of submissions received in the public consultation; the status of the review of the public consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10316/22]

Pleanáil Teanga

Catherine Connolly

55. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminteach Uimhir 136 an 20 Eanáir 2022, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar stádas phlean teanga Oileáin Árann; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10319/22]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

56. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminteach Uimhir 111 ar an 20 Eanáir 2022, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar athbhreithniú atá idir lámha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir leis na córais agus leis an gcur chuige atá i bhfeidhm ag an Údarás faoi láthair chun tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sna cliantchuideachtaí agus ar na bealaí ina ndéantar an t-ábhar a bhaineann leo a riaradh; stádas an taighde atá idir lámha ag an gcuideachta taighde Brioclage; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10318/22]

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Catherine Connolly

67. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar stádas an phlean oibre atá faoi chaibidil ag a Roinn chun Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 a chur i bhfeidhm; cathain a fhoilseofar an plean; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10317/22]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Connolly

75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 5 October 2021, the way in which the remaining €1 million in departmental funding will be spent; the role her Department has had in the legacy planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10315/22]

Climate Action Plan

Catherine Connolly

121. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 16 September 2021, the engagement he has had over the past six months with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action, particularly in relation to Galway city and county; the engagement he or his Department has had directly with Galway city and county councils in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 4 November 2021, the status of the deployment through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland of capacity-building supports for community-owned RESS project development and in particular the trusted intermediary and advisor services and financial grant supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10254/22]

Data Centres

Catherine Connolly

135. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 3 November 2021, the engagement he or his Department has had to date with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the review of the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10255/22]

National Broadband Plan

Catherine Connolly

147. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the analysis that has been carried out into accelerating the roll-out of the national broadband plan in 2022 in order to catch up with the recently missed revised target of 60,000 homes by end-January 2022; the analysis that has been carried out by his Department into the impact of the missing of this revised target on the overall timeline for the roll-out of the plan; the number of homes that have been passed to date in Galway city and county; if the January 2022 target was reached in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10256/22]

Climate Action Plan

Catherine Connolly

166. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has made a request to date to Galway city and county councils for the preparation of their local authority climate action plans pursuant to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10253/22]

Wind Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

65. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the finalised terms and conditions for the first offshore wind-specific RESS auction, ORESS 1, will be published; when he expects his Department to complete its review of the submissions received in the public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10283/22]

Energy Policy

Catherine Connolly

66. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 14 December 2021, the status of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems; if the technical analysis has been completed and published to-date; the timeline for the public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10284/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

67. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the seven renewable electricity community-led projects selected for support under RESS-1; the timeline for when all projects will be up and running; the locations of all seven projects; for details of the milestones which remain for each of the seven projects to meet in order for them to be eligible for support under RESS-1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10285/22]

Climate Action Plan

Catherine Connolly

68. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the local authorities to whom he has made a request to-date for the preparation of their local authority climate action plans pursuant to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10286/22]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Catherine Connolly

101. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Uimhir Pharlaiminteach 71 ar an 20 Eanair 2022, stádas an ghasra oibre, an bhfuil an gasra bunaithe fós; soiléiriú a thabhairt ar na téarmaí tagartha; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10295/22]

Departmental Meetings

Catherine Connolly

102. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 20 January 2022 and correspondence (details supplied), if she will provide a copy of the minutes taken in respect of the fortnightly meetings between her Department and Galway 2020; the reason for the delay in the provision of these minutes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10296/22]

Health Strategies

Catherine Connolly

222. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the Women’s Health Action Plan; when he expects the plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/22]

Medicinal Products

Catherine Connolly

223. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to include treatments for hyperemesis in the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10212/22]

Disease Management

Catherine Connolly

226. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a working group under the auspices of the National Dementia Office and the HSE integrated care programme to determine the service requirements of persons with Huntington’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10230/22]

Disease Management

Catherine Connolly

227. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the establishment of dedicated specialist Huntington’s disease clinics in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10231/22]

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

11. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 16 December 2021, the status of the promised review of the help to buy scheme; the terms of reference for the review; the person or body carrying out the review; the timeline for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9688/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Catherine Connolly

18. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the status of the study by his Department into SME survival, recovery and investment following Covid-19; when this study will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9680/22]

Tax Code

Catherine Connolly

23. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the status of the research and collection of data on property vacancies by his Department with a view to introducing a vacant property tax; if the data collection has been concluded; when this data will be published; when he expects to bring proposals for the vacant property tax before Government; the estimated timeline for the expected introduction of the tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9681/22]

Tax Reliefs

Catherine Connolly

247. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 16 December 2021, his plans for the phasing out of the special assignee relief programme, which has a sunset date of 31 December 2022; the total cost to the Exchequer of the programme in 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9725/22]

Tax Reliefs

Catherine Connolly

248. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the status of the review of the primary medical certificate system; the engagement he or his Department has had with the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth in this regard; the timeline for the review; the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/22]

Credit Unions

Catherine Connolly

249. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the status of the review of the policy framework for credit unions; the timeline for the publication of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9728/22]

Tax Code

Catherine Connolly

372. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the analysis his Department has carried out into the reintroduction of a non-principal private residence tax on second homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9726/22]

School Staff

Catherine Connolly

462. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of discussions with school secretaries regarding pensions, conditions and pay equality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9645/22]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

5. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 7 December 2021, the status of the new policy for the islands; if she will report on the work of the interdepartmental committee for the islands; if the minutes of the meetings of the interdepartmental committee are taken and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8496/22]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

6. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 7 December 2021, the status of the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; the overall expected cost of the development project; the total cost to date of the project; the status of the development of the updated simulation by the National Maritime College of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8495/22]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

12. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 811 of 14 December 2021, the status of the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; when she expects the pre-construction issues to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8494/22]

Urban Development

Catherine Connolly

16. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 812 of 14 December 2021, when the 26 Town Centre First plans will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8497/22]