Parliamentary questions

Oideachas Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

29. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán soiléiriú a thabhairt ó thaobh na bpleananna atá beartaithe maidir le coláistí samhraidh i mbliana, agus go háirithe na fadhbanna maidir le lóistín; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [22176/22]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

37. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte 10318/22, cathain a chríochnófar an tríú gné den obair athbhreithnithe 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; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [22177/22]

Culture Policy

Catherine Connolly

45. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 24 February 2022, the details of the legacy framework arising from Galway 2020; the way that the remaining €1 million will be spent under the legacy framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22179/22]

Housing Provision

Catherine Connolly

62. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to the minutes of a meeting (details supplied) which identified the ongoing challenges faced by the approved housing body sector in the delivery of its targets in Galway county the details of his plans to address these challenges and a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22189/22]

Housing Provision

Catherine Connolly

67. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to the minutes of a meeting (details supplied) which highlighted an increase in the number of families and persons presenting for homelessness services in Galway city and county as well as a notable increase in Traveller homelessness, the engagement he or his Department has had in 2022 with Galway City and County Councils with a view to addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22190/22]

Tax Code

Catherine Connolly

133. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the VAT rates payable in Ireland on books imported to Ireland from outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22508/22]

Tax Code

Catherine Connolly

134. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the customs duty rates payable in Ireland on books imported to Ireland from outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22509/22]

Magdalen Laundries

Catherine Connolly

195. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all State records on the Magdalen laundries from the McAleese archive will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22470/22]

Driver Licences

Catherine Connolly

137. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the analysis his Department has carried out into providing for an exemption from the driving licence renewal fees in respect of emergency service personnel who require a group 2 vehicle licence in order to carry out their work particularly in view of the related requirement for a medical examination every five years and the financial costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22314/22]

Local Authorities

Catherine Connolly

219. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 2 March 2022, the status of the review by his Department and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the local authority Housing Action Plans; the number of plans yet to be published; for a timeline for the publication of the plan in respect of Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22365/22]

Departmental Data

Catherine Connolly

220. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to commence the reporting of the deaths of homeless persons on a per county basis; the reason this information is not currently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22366/22]

Departmental Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

402. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the inquiry into the conduct and adequacy of the investigations conducted by An Garda Síochána into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22232/22]

Departmental Programmes

Catherine Connolly

405. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of immigrant investor programme applications received, by year, since 2012; the number of successful applications, by year, since 2012; the number of visas granted in respect of each application, by year, since 2012; the value of the investment or donation in respect of each successful application; the details of the enterprise, fund, real estate investment trust and-or registered charity in which each of these investments, donations or endowments were made; the number of visas granted in respect of which no investment, donation or endowment was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22338/22]

Departmental Programmes

Catherine Connolly

406. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the criteria applied when assessing applications under the immigrant investor programme; the membership of the evaluation committee that examines the application and enterprise, fund or project in which the applicant wishes to invest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22339/22]

Departmental Programmes

Catherine Connolly

407. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the details of all evaluations or reviews carried out or commissioned by her Department into the immigrant investor programme since 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22340/22]

Departmental Programmes

Catherine Connolly

408. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the details of the legislative or policy basis for the immigrant investor programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22341/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Catherine Connolly

535. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the pandemic recognition payment to clerical staff working on the frontline vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22263/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Catherine Connolly

539. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the pandemic recognition payment to caretakers and cleaners working in health centres around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22279/22]

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

37. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 22 February 2022, the status of the promised review of the help-to-buy scheme; the terms of reference of the review; the person or body carrying out the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20077/22]

Vacant Properties

Catherine Connolly

55. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 22 February 2022, 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 to date; when he expects to bring proposals for the vacant property tax before Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20078/22]

Flood Risk Management

Catherine Connolly

90. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 1 March 2022, the status of the Coirib go Cósta flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20080/22]

Ethics in Public Office

Catherine Connolly

114. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the review of ethics in public office legislation; when he expects to receive the final review report; the details of any interim reports received by him to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20079/22]

Fuel Poverty

Catherine Connolly

155. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the review of the implementation of the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty 2016-2019; when the review will be published; his plans for the development of a new energy poverty strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21636/22]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Catherine Connolly

111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 3 March 2022, the progress made to date on the roll-out of park and ride facilities in Galway; the expected timeline for the completion of the site options analysis and feasibility studies for each of the areas identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/22]

Public Transport

Catherine Connolly

113. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 28 of 3 March 2022, the timeline for the upcoming review of the Galway Transport Strategy; the terms of reference for the review; the timeline and terms of reference for the promised feasibility study for light rail in Galway which will be undertaken as part of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20076/22]

Low Pay Commission

Catherine Connolly

190. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 10 February 2022, the status of the examination by the Low Pay Commission and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth into the introduction of a living wage in Ireland; if he has received the report to-date; the timeline for the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19723/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Catherine Connolly

191. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 10 February 2022, the status of his engagement at European Union and World Trade Organisation level with regard to the waiving of intellectual property rights in respect of Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19724/22]

Low Pay Commission

Catherine Connolly

192. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 9 February 2022, if he has received the report by the Low Pay Commission and the ESRI of a universal basic income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19725/22]

Official Engagements

Catherine Connolly

193. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of any bilateral engagement he has had with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia in 2021 and to-date in 2022; if, in the course of this engagement, he has raised issues relating to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and in particular the recent mass execution of 81 persons on 12 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19726/22]

Data Centres

Catherine Connolly

265. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a moratorium on data centre applications in the Dublin region; the position of Eirgrid on new data centre applications in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19892/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Catherine Connolly

1049. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend eligibility for the fuel allowance to persons employed through the job initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20371/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Catherine Connolly

1050. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of extending eligibility for the fuel allowance to persons employed through the job initiative scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20372/22]

Employment Support Services

Catherine Connolly

1051. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure all persons employed through the job initiative scheme are in receipt of a living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20373/22]

Employment Support Services

Catherine Connolly

1052. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of ensuring all persons employed through the job initiative scheme are in receipt of a living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20374/22]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

1118. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the acknowledgement that a number of survivors do not accept the accounts given in the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes as a true and full reflection of what they said to the confidential committee or the commission of investigation as agreed as part of the settlement of eight judicial review cases taken in relation to that report has been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19707/22]

Third Level Costs

Catherine Connolly

1182. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to extend the SUSI grant scheme to students of graduate-entry medicine; the expected timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19890/22]

Third Level Costs

Catherine Connolly

1196. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to assist graduate-entry medicine students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to avail of the medicine degree at the Royal College of Surgeons, against the backdrop of the removal of the one loan that exists in this field (details supplied). [20222/22]

Legislative Reviews

Catherine Connolly

1269. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the review of the operation of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017; if she has received the final review report to date; when she expects to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19972/22]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

5. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 10 February 2022, the status of the work to revise the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18723/22]

Low Pay Commission

Catherine Connolly

14. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 9 February 2022, if he has received the report by the Low Pay Commission and the ESRI of a universal basic income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18741/22]

Official Travel

Catherine Connolly

20. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he raised the ongoing war in Yemen with his Saudi Arabian counterparts during his trade mission to Saudi Arabia in November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18741/22]

Intellectual Property

Catherine Connolly

53. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 10 February 2022, the status of his engagement at European Union and World Trade Organisation level with regard to the waiving of intellectual property rights in respect of Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18741/22]

Low Pay Commission

Catherine Connolly

80. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 9 February 2022, if he has received the report by the Low Pay Commission and the ESRI of a universal basic income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18741/22]

Human Rights

Catherine Connolly

89. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of any bilateral engagement he has had with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia in 2021 and to-date in 2022; if, in the course of this engagement, he has raised issues relating to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and in particular the recent mass execution of 81 persons on 12 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18741/22]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Connolly

136. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 1 March 2022 , and his comments (details supplied), the status of the development of guidelines for the implementation of decarbonising zones; the timeline for the publication of these guidelines; the timeline for the incorporation of these guidelines into the promised statutory guidelines for Local Authority Climate Action Plans; the expected timeline of when the proposed decarbonising zones will be approved for implementation in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18820/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

138. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the RESS 1 projects which have reached commercial operation to-date; the number of projects which are community-led projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18821/22]

Infectious Diseases

Catherine Connolly

381. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the work of the infectious diseases clinical programme; the status of the establishment of a network of infectious diseases clinics; the number of such clinics established and operational to-date; the locations of all infectious diseases clinics, operational or planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18993/22]

Employment Rights

Catherine Connolly

5. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention 190, Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work; the status of the analysis by his Department of the legislative requirements for the ratification of this convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

10. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 14 December 2021, the status of the preparation of the finalised terms of reference for the Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme (ORESS 1); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18679/22]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Connolly

85. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the commencement of section 212 of the Local Government Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18685/22]