Parliamentary questions

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

91. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43152/22]

Energy Infrastructure

Carol Nolan

97. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the engagements, including in-person meetings and online meetings that he and officials in his Department have had with the ESB with respect to the closure of the ESB owned peat-fired power stations in Shannonbridge, County Offaly and Lanesborough, County Longford during the period 1 January 2021 to date; if it remains the policy of his Department to support the closure of these stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43447/22]

Regulatory Bodies

Carol Nolan

121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that only one body controls the governance of gas fitters and electricians in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43827/22]

Regulatory Bodies

Carol Nolan

122. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether European Union law to allow competition is being upheld given that only one body controls the governance of gas fitters and electricians in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43828/22]

Departmental Consultations

Carol Nolan

136. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm that the report on the review of Ireland’s energy security conducted by a consultancy firm (details supplied) will be published before the end of 2022; the total cost paid to the firm for services in compiling the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44043/22]

Haulage Industry

Carol Nolan

197. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he will support the measures needed to provide licensed hauliers with added supports to meet the cost of AdBlue as a consumable is an integral part of the modern low emissions exhaust treatment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42641/22]

Haulage Industry

Carol Nolan

198. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he will issue a clear statement of Government support for licensed hauliers upgrading their fleets to green trucks for example Euro VI and Euro VII standards via the European Investment Bank like the scheme offered to the shipping sector to help improve fuel efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42646/22]

Haulage Industry

Carol Nolan

199. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he will amend the scrappage incentive scheme to remove non-green HGV vehicles to run over a period of five years targeting the removal of older engines off our roads and including (details supplied) upon which the cost of a revised scrappage scheme can be calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42647/22]

Haulage Industry

Carol Nolan

200. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he will support the abolition of toll charges for green vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42649/22]

Aviation Industry

Carol Nolan

229. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the policy decisions that he is taking with respect to the tourism sector in relation to regional connectivity by ensuring that incentives for sustainable aviation fuel will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42954/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

244. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43161/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Carol Nolan

314. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will address concerns that small businesses are being penalised for fraudulent activity which they had no knowledge of or responsibility for, with reference to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41939/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Carol Nolan

315. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the steps that he will take to ensure that small businesses are protected from fraudulent activity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41940/22]

Budget 2023

Carol Nolan

357. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will maintain the 12.5% excise reduction rate in budget 2023 in order to assist the Irish road haulage and transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42639/22]

Tax Code

Carol Nolan

358. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will support measures aimed at tackling the increased cost of AdBlue reliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42640/22]

Budget 2023

Carol Nolan

359. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will retain and enhance the diesel rebate scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42642/22]

Tax Code

Carol Nolan

360. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to reform the taxation of HVO and biofuel for HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42644/22]

Tax Code

Carol Nolan

377. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if it is the policy of his Department to support the competitiveness of the tourism sector through the retention of the 9% VAT rate until full recovery is secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Carol Nolan

378. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will support policy measures to ensure that car hire supply can be increased by the restoration of the repayment of VAT on vehicle registration tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42952/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

385. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43156/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

454. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43159/22]

Equality Issues

Carol Nolan

484. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she or officials in her Department have engaged with a union (details supplied) regarding its recent decision to support reserving access to female-only teams and games to persons who are biologically female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42652/22]

Equality Issues

Carol Nolan

485. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if it is the policy of her Department to support the preservation of female sports as activities reserved to those who are biological females; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42653/22]

Tourism Promotion

Carol Nolan

490. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the policy measures that she is adopting to maintain tourism investment to support the marketing of Ireland through sustainability, digitisation, careers and skills and business support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42953/22]

Tourism Industry

Carol Nolan

491. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the policy measures that her Department is taking to address labour shortfalls in the tourism sector specifically measures relating to enhancing career awareness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42955/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

492. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in her Department in each of the years 2020,2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43162/22]

Sports Facilities

Carol Nolan

503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when her attention or that of the officials in her Department was drawn to the fact that the National Indoor Athletics Training Centre at Abbotstown was to be used for emergency refugee accommodation; if consideration had been given to the disruption that this decision would cause to clubs that depend on access to the facilities; the alternatives that are being put in place for those who normally train at Abbotstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44083/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

588. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43157/22]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

665. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that he or his Department have had with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding the selection of the National Indoor Athletics Training Centre at Abbotstown for use as emergency refugee accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44085/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

748. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43153/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

787. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43149/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

904. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in her Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43150/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

1133. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in her Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43160/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

1239. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43148/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Carol Nolan

1272. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) concerning the model that is being put in place with respect to core funding for the early years sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43933/22]

Emergency Accommodation

Carol Nolan

1278. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that the National Indoor Athletics Training Centre at Abbotstown was selected to be used for emergency refugee accommodation; if consideration was given to the disruption that this decision would cause to clubs that depend on access to the facilities; if he had engagement with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media prior to this decision being taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44084/22]

Student Accommodation

Carol Nolan

1316. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if financial assistance supports are available from his Department for third level post-leaving certificate students to cover the cost of rent; if such supports are available to students who have not qualified for the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42928/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

1323. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43154/22]

Anti-Terrorism Measures

Carol Nolan

1403. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the measures that are being taken by her Department to combat the illegal funding of Islamic terrorism within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42929/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

1416. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in her Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43158/22]

Asylum Seekers

Carol Nolan

1439. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have disembarked an aircraft at airports (details supplied) claiming asylum but who could not provide a passport from 1 January 2021 to date in 2022, in tabular form; the steps she is taking to address concerns that those who claim to have no passport are likely to be making false claims given that a passport would have been required to board the plane from the country or territory where their flights originated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43532/22]

Departmental Policies

Carol Nolan

1706. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the policy position of his Department concerning fetal alcohol spectrum disorder which is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability that can result from alcohol-exposed pregnancies; the reason that Ireland remains the only country in the developed world that doesn’t recognise FASD and does not have a pathway to diagnosis or the provisions of support to persons living with FASD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42737/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

1752. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults awaiting audiology appointments in counties Laois and Offaly; the length of time they have been waiting; the steps that are being taken by his Department to address the waiting lists for adult audiology services in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42930/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Carol Nolan

1774. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that front-line non-residential staff working in section 39 agencies are eligible for the pandemic bonus payment (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42990/22]

Hospital Admissions

Carol Nolan

1814. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate if, in 2021 any acute hospital in CHO areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 reached the target set out in The Emergency Medicine Programme for Ireland namely, that 95% of patients should be either admitted or discharged within six hours of arriving at an emergency department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43141/22]

Mental Health Services

Carol Nolan

1815. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to urgently assess the number of acute inpatient psychiatric beds required to ensure timely admission of patients presenting with acute psychiatric illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43142/22]

Hospital Admissions

Carol Nolan

1816. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to increase the number of rehabilitative care beds, long-term nursing home beds and the financing of homecare packages to free-up acute hospital beds for admissions from the emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43143/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

1818. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43155/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

1878. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Laois and Offaly who are on a waiting list for hip replacements; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43451/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

1879. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Laois and Offaly who are on a waiting list for knee replacements; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43452/22]