Parliamentary questions

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]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the national oversight advisory group in relation to the town centre first policy; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8498/22]

Rural Schemes

Catherine Connolly

76. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the successful projects under the 2021 town and village renewal scheme will be announced; the details of all towns and villages in respect of which applications were made by local authorities under the 2021 scheme; the estimated amount of funding available to each local authority under the 2021 scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8799/22]

Domestic Violence

Catherine Connolly

124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 25 November 2021, the status of the third national strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; when the strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8516/22]

Domestic Violence

Catherine Connolly

161. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the engagement she has had with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regard to the preparation of a time-bound action plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Tusla Review of the Provision of Accommodation to Victims of Domestic Violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8517/22]

Local Authorities

Catherine Connolly

116. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed decarbonisation zone in Westside, Galway city; the engagement he or his Department has had with Galway City Council with regard to their proposal; when a decision will be made in respect of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8760/22]

Local Authorities

Catherine Connolly

117. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the local authority decarbonisation zones; the number of local authorities that have submitted their proposals to his Department to date; the details of the plans approved to date including the location of the decarbonisation zones and the responsible local authority in tabular form; the timeline for the roll-out of each decarbonisation zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8761/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Catherine Connolly

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to create an entire short stay ward in Merlin Park Hospital community nursing unit which would deliver a minimum of 13 respite beds; the impact assessment his Department has carried out regarding the ongoing shortage of respite beds in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7964/22]

Emergency Departments

Catherine Connolly

129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 2 December 2021, the engagement he or his Department had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2021 and to date in 2022 with regard to the approval process for the construction of the new emergency department and women and children’s unit in University Hospital Galway; when this matter is expected to come before Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7963/22]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

401. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether that as long as Israel continues to illegally seize Palestinian land to build settlements, evict Palestinian families from their homes and intentionally, institutionally and systematically discriminate against Palestinians as has been detailed in numerous recent independent reports, there will be justified criticism of Israel and that such condemnation only seeks to defend and advance the cause of justice for Palestinians; his further views on whether this criticism cannot be described or defined as anti-Semitic in nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7748/22]

Middle East

Catherine Connolly

402. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a recent international report by an organisation (details supplied); his views on the conclusions in the report that Israeli officials commit the crime of apartheid against Palestinians, including ethnic cleansing; if he plans to bring any of the recommendations of this report to Government for approval in the near future; if there are recommendations in the report that he clearly rejects; if he plans to raise the contents of the report at European Union level with a view to tackling Israel's system of oppression and domination in Palestine; his further views on whether the International Criminal Court should consider the crime of apartheid in its current investigation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7749/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Catherine Connolly

515. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons including children seeking international protection who have been required to quarantine in hotels on arrival in Ireland from 1 January 2021 to 31 January 2022; the number of persons who have been required to quarantine beyond 14 days; if those who receive a negative PCR test no earlier than five days after arrival are permitted to exit quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7562/22]

Departmental Data

Catherine Connolly

516. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of emergency reception and orientation centres operating in the State in 2021; the capacity and occupancy of each centre as of 31 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7563/22]

Departmental Data

Catherine Connolly

517. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons living in direct provision and emergency accommodation who share a bedroom with a non-family member; the median length of stay in such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7564/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

564. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of return orders issued under section 51A of the International Protection Act 2015. as amended, in total and individually to the United Kingdom. [7565/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

565. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of cessations of refugee status and subsidiary protection status pursuant to sections 9 and 11 of the International Protection Act 2015 in 2021; and the number of persons excluded from refugee protection and subsidiary protection pursuant to sections 10 and 12 of the International Protection Act 2015. [7566/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

566. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection applicants who have been issued a final negative decision from the Ministerial decisions unit as per section 47(5) of the International Protection Act 2015 in each of the years 2016 to 2021. [7567/22]

International Protection

Catherine Connolly

612. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the total number of applications, the number of successful and unsuccessful applications made under section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [8259/22]

Emergency Departments

Catherine Connolly

624. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the engagement he or his Department had with the relevant stakeholders in 2021 and to date in 2022 with regard to the approval process for the construction of the new emergency department and women and children’s unit in University Hospital Galway; the status of the business case review report; when this report is expected to come before Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8059/22]

National Maternity Hospital

Catherine Connolly

784. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8052/22]

Primary Care Centres

Catherine Connolly

785. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 2 December 2021, the status of the development of a primary care centre on Inisbofin; if the procurement of the identified site has been concluded by the HSE; the timeline for the selection and appointment of a design team for Inisbofin primary care centre; the timeline for the delivery of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8053/22]

Health Services

Catherine Connolly

786. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of respite services in Galway city and county; when respite services will be fully restored to pre-pandemic levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8054/22]

Emergency Departments

Catherine Connolly

787. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 2 December 2021, if the final preliminary business case report has been issued to his Department to date for technical review; the expected timeline for the development of the new emergency department and women and children’s project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/22]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

788. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the cross-departmental strategic workforce advisory group which will examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes; when the group will be operational; the membership of the group; the terms and reference for the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8056/22]

Hospital Facilities

Catherine Connolly

789. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 2 December 2021, the status of the construction of the two orthopaedic theatres with ancillary accommodation for the provision of elective procedures in Merlin Park University Hospital; when the new theatres will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8057/22]

Primary Care Centres

Catherine Connolly

790. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 2 December 2021, the status of the proposed primary care centre for Galway city west; the location of same; if a planning permission application has been lodged to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8058/22]

Enterprise Policy

Catherine Connolly

9. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 9 December 2021, the status of the new west regional enterprise plan to 2024; when the plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6828/22]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

12. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 9 December 2021, the timeline for the next review of the employment permits occupations lists; the engagement he or his Department has had with the Department of Social Protection with regard to the ongoing exclusion of homecare workers from the critical skills list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6827/22]

Low Pay Commission

Catherine Connolly

13. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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 research report to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6826/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. to 159 of 9 December 2021, 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. [6824/22]

Data Centres

Catherine Connolly

90. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. to 96 of 9 December 2021, 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. [6825/22]