Parliamentary questions

Road Projects

Carol Nolan

338. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if specific funding is available for local authorities in counties Laois and Offaly that wish to engage in road widening works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51032/21]

Tax Reliefs

Carol Nolan

369. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the cost of implementing schemes such as the special assignee relief programme and the key employee engagement programme in each year from 2018 to date; the employers and companies that have availed of these schemes during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50860/21]

Tax Code

Carol Nolan

370. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the rationale for increasing the VAT rate applicable to the hospitality sector from the current rate of 9% at the end of August 2022; if he will address concerns that this increase will undermine the capacity of the sector to rebound from the Covid-19-related loss of trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50861/21]

Commercial Rates

Carol Nolan

473. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will put in place an alternative income stream for Offaly County Council to compensate for the €1.65 million loss of commercial rates following the closure of Shannonbridge power station, particularly as this loss represents a 9% in the local authority’s funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51033/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Carol Nolan

474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Covid-19 related financial supports made available to Offaly County Council in 2020 will continue into 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51034/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Carol Nolan

616. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address concerns (details supplied) and consider extending the pandemic unemployment payment for self-employed persons in severely impacted cottage industries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50653/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Carol Nolan

621. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of a social welfare claim based on PRSI contributions is entitled to the fuel allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50917/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Carol Nolan

625. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of a full carer's allowance is entitled to a fuel allowance payment or any other additional social protection supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51035/21]

Gender Recognition

Carol Nolan

732. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) is still in receipt of funding from either the HSE or his Department; if it has had its funding suspended as was reported in July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50448/21]

Environmental Policy

Carol Nolan

101. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps being taken to ensure that hedgerows will be included in calculations relating to carbon sequestration figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50021/21]

Human Trafficking

Carol Nolan

178. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the actions her Department is taking to combat the trafficking of human beings into Ireland; if her Department has identified significant obstacles to the successful prosecution of those charged with such offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49940/21]

An Garda Síochána

Carol Nolan

179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the funding provided to the National Protective Services Bureau within An Garda Síochána; the number of staff currently assigned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49941/21]

Human Trafficking

Carol Nolan

180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to reports from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission that an emerging trend in human trafficking into Ireland involves the trafficking of pregnant women for the purposes of illegal adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49942/21]

Human Trafficking

Carol Nolan

181. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the details of the collaboration that exists between her Department and a group (details supplied) with respect to combatting human trafficking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49943/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Carol Nolan

319. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's benefit review will be processed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49210/21]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

492. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he or any official from his Department has held meetings or conducted correspondence with a company (details supplied) from 1 January 2017 to date; if his Department has engaged the services of the company for any purposes from 1 January 2017 to date; if so, the nature of such services and the costs incurred; if a tender process was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49211/21]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

493. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has held meetings or conducted correspondence with a company (details supplied) from 1 January 2017 to date; if the HSE has engaged the services of the company for any purposes from 1 January 2017 to date; if so, the nature of such services and the costs incurred; if a tender process was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49212/21]

Irish Aid

Carol Nolan

228. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the financial commitments his Department has made for 2022 and beyond to fund the UNESCO programme Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future O3; the monitoring or evaluation Irish Aid has carried out of the programme; if any monitoring or evaluation reports on Irish Aid funding of the programme will be made available publicly; if the funding agreement, memorandum of understanding or contract between Irish Aid and UNESCO will be made available publicly; the reason the planned funding of the programme in Ghana did not proceed following its launch in Accra in January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48954/21]

Human Rights

Carol Nolan

328. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions the Government is taking to ensure justice for the victims of atrocities committed by ISIS-Daesh in Iraq; if he plans to table a UN Security Council resolution referring this matter to the International Criminal Court; if not, if Ireland will commit to establishing an ad-hoc international tribunal to bring the perpetrators of atrocities committed by ISIS-Daesh to justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47472/21]

Human Rights

Carol Nolan

329. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assessment he has made of the fourth report to the UN Human Rights Council by the UN Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen (details supplied) which suggests the International Criminal Court examine the situation in Yemen as a priority; if he plans for Ireland to either table or support a UN Security Council resolution referring the situation in Yemen to the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47473/21]

Human Rights

Carol Nolan

330. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role that freedom of religion and belief plays in Ireland’s international human rights advocacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47474/21]

Abortion Services

Carol Nolan

703. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1364 of 24 March 2021, the names of the individuals and groups from whom he received representations in relation to lobbying for the introduction of the remote provision of abortion services telemedicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48328/21]

Vaccination Programme

Carol Nolan

343. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme for vulnerable persons; the way in which appointments will be issued; the basis upon which vulnerable patients are being decided; the criteria being used to determine the higher risk category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47261/21]

Vaccination Programme

Carol Nolan

344. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if cardiac patients will be contacted in the early stages of the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme for vulnerable persons; if heart failure patients will be considered as vulnerable patients given their high-risk category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47262/21]

Vaccination Programme

Carol Nolan

345. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the timelines for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme for all vulnerable persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47263/21]

Ambulance Service

Carol Nolan

229. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the National Ambulance Service to determine the significant delays in ambulance response time in counties Laois and Offaly; if he will establish the standard response time from call-out to arrival on the scene in those counties in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46971/21]

Departmental Communications

Carol Nolan

188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if he has deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications at any point since January 2020 to date. [45047/21]

Cabinet Confidentiality

Carol Nolan

190. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the position regarding Cabinet confidentiality; if his attention has been drawn to any member of Cabinet who has contravened Cabinet confidentiality since the formation of Government; and if so, the measures he has taken to address such a breach. [45114/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

195. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; and the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen. [46191/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

201. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46192/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

217. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46193/21]

Electricity Supply Board

Carol Nolan

218. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the ESB is obligated to notify his Department of the number of reported power faults that take place on a national, regional or county level; if his Department will seek such information from the ESB for 2020 and to date in 2021, including the duration times for such faults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46238/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

252. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46194/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

288. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46195/21]

Appointments to State Boards

Carol Nolan

299. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the most recent guidance issued by his Department regarding State appointments. [44309/21]

Departmental Properties

Carol Nolan

306. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the length of time an organisation (details supplied) has had use of the buildings at a location free of charge; the reason such an arrangement was permitted; the reason the organisation was accommodated in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46190/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

307. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46196/21]

Planning Issues

Carol Nolan

324. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the revised rural housing guidelines for planning authorities; the number of times the working group established to examine rural housing, including one-off-housing has met physically or virtually since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46007/21]

Departmental Schemes

Carol Nolan

355. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support a ring-fenced funding allocation of the disabled persons grant scheme and improvement works for use when adapting housing to bespoke requirements of an applicant who is blind or vision impaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46484/21]

Housing Schemes

Carol Nolan

356. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request that the publication of annual figures by the Housing Agency related to those availing or requesting housing support are segregated by disability or specialised housing need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46485/21]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

357. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has invested in revised digital transformation to facilitate an online application system for housing support and transfers for persons with sight loss in accordance with the EU Web Accessibility Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46486/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

407. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 348 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46197/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

426. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 371 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46198/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46199/21]

Special Educational Needs

Carol Nolan

461. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will support the adoption of a national transition year programme for students who are blind or vision impaired with ring-fenced funding of an additional €150,000 per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46487/21]

Special Educational Needs

Carol Nolan

462. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide continuity funding and access to July provision for children who are blind or have a vision impairment beyond 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46488/21]

Teacher Training

Carol Nolan

463. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a part of career guidance training, information and understanding of the challenges that face students with sight loss will be included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46489/21]

Special Educational Needs

Carol Nolan

464. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will take steps to introduce access to immediate assistive technology, similar to the proposal by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46490/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

500. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46200/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Carol Nolan

504. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide €68.5 million to increase weekly carer payments by €8, the carer’s support grant to €2,000 and the carer’s allowance income disregards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46290/21]