Parliamentary questions

Third Level Education

Ged Nash

102. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work he and his Department are undertaking, if any, to ensure all students have fair and equitable online access to further and higher education in light of the ongoing student accommodation crisis; if he agrees that high-level institutions must be proactive and flexible in providing online and remote opportunities to students where possible in view of the fact that the difficulties students have in securing appropriate accommodation; his plans, if any, to issue updated guidance to higher level institutions regarding remote learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46115/22]

Healthcare Policy

Ged Nash

123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his plans, if any, to extend the provision of free condoms to all persons under 25 years, regardless of gender, as part of the State’s existing free contraceptives scheme; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46172/22]

Equality Issues

Ged Nash

243. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to issue a formal circular to all Government Departments and all public bodies in relation to their responsibilities and statutory obligations under the Public Sector Equality & Human Rights Duty under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission Act of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45806/22]

School Transport

Ged Nash

312. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will consider an application for school transport for a person (details supplied) in Louth in view of the unique circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45469/22]

Health Services

Ged Nash

537. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on a policy issue raised by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the closure of sexual health services in the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45805/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

240. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she plans to reintroduce the extended Covid leave for school staff who cannot attend work as a consequence of long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45297/22]

Tax Reliefs

Ged Nash

167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the remote working from home relief from €3.20 per day to €5 per day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44705/22]

Flexible Work Practices

Ged Nash

14. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the right to request remote working Bill 2022; if he expects the Bill to be enacted in quarter 4, 2022; if not, if he will provide an intended deadline for the enactment of the Bill; the consideration, if any, he and his departmental officials are giving to reducing the number of grounds upon which employers will be able to refuse an employee's request to work remotely under the proposed new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42710/22]

Job Losses

Ged Nash

17. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or the employment agencies under the aegis of his Department have undertaken an assessment of the number of jobs that may be at risk across the economy, in the energy-intensive manufacturing sector in particular, in the context of escalating gas prices; if so, if he will provide the details of any such assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43089/22]

Job Losses

Ged Nash

18. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the prospect of the loss of a considerable number of manufacturing jobs in energy-intensive industries as a result of escalating gas prices; if his attention has been drawn to any analysis undertaken across Government in terms of the potential numbers of job losses in exposed sectors in 2022 and 2023; if he will provide any costings undertaken by his Department on the introduction of a furlough scheme to help protect at-risk jobs and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43091/22]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

20. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will take a legal challenge to a High Court injunction secured on 24 August 2022 to block the enforcement of the new employment regulation order for the security sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43175/22]

Enterprise Support Services

Ged Nash

22. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details of all grants under the various scheme headings and the value of such grants paid by the IDA to a firm (details supplied) in each of the years 2012 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43276/22]

Data Centres

Ged Nash

73. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated revenue that would be raised by an additional surcharge of €1 per unit megawatt hour, €5 per MWh or €10 per MWh on data centre electricity consumption within the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42576/22]

Electricity Generation

Ged Nash

79. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a policy issue raised by a person (details supplied) pertaining to microgeneration; when the scheme to allow microgenerators to sell up to 30% of excess electricity produced for export to the national grid will be in place; the price at which the electricity will be sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42845/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Ged Nash

109. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the approval for an increase in the pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme by 2% per annum; if he will provide an update on the timeline for the agreed pension increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43554/22]

Electricity Generation

Ged Nash

127. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the monthly generating costs per €mwh and retail price per €mhw of ESB power plants in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43953/22]

Electricity Generation

Ged Nash

128. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide figures on the quarterly wholesale energy price for gas per €kwh paid by energy suppliers operating within the State in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the quarterly retail price charged to gas customers per €kwh in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43954/22]

Energy Prices

Ged Nash

129. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage increase in quarterly and annual wholesale energy price for gas per €kwh paid by energy suppliers operating within the State in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the percentage increase in quarterly and annual retail energy prices paid by retail customers per quarter in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43955/22]

Transport Costs

Ged Nash

207. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the young adult Transport for Ireland Leap card to all persons under 26 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42719/22]

Transport Costs

Ged Nash

208. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the 50% fare reduction for students and young adults aged 19 to 23 years to all inter-city services in tabular form; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the 50% fare reduction for students and young adults to include those under 26 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42720/22]

Transport Costs

Ged Nash

209. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the estimated total passenger revenue per month received across all modes and each individual mode of transport, i.e. bus, rail and light rail services, for the periods 1 October 2018 to 31 March 2019 and 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42722/22]

Transport Costs

Ged Nash

210. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to the Exchequer of waiving fare revenue, i.e. cash, Leap card revenue and prepaid ticket sales including Taxsaver tickets, on all public service obligation services for a three-month period between 1 October 2022 and 31 December 2022, and a six-month period between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42723/22]

Transport Costs

Ged Nash

211. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to the Exchequer of subsidising the waiving of all fares on commercial bus services for a three-month period between 1 October and 31 December 2022, and a six-month period between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023, in tabular form with reference to pre-Covid 19 baseline figures, i.e. 2019 and Q1 of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42724/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

345. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of complaints that have been received by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman pertaining to the exit of banks (details supplied) to date, by month and by bank, in tabular form; the number of additional staff the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman has hired during this same period; if he satisfied the Ombudsman is adequately resourced and staffed to deal with any potential increase in the volume of complaints as a result of banks exiting the Irish banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42549/22]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

349. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of removing stamp duty applied to ATM withdrawals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42577/22]

Tax Yield

Ged Nash

350. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised by extending the 1% stamp duty on the purchase of shares to all share buy-backs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42578/22]

Tax Yield

Ged Nash

351. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue that would be raised from removing the current VAT exemption for private schooling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42579/22]

Tax Yield

Ged Nash

352. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue that would be raised from increasing the rate of capital gains tax to 40% for persons earning over €250,000 and €500,000, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42580/22]

Tax Yield

Ged Nash

353. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated additional revenue that would be raised from a 1% surcharge on all taxable income above €250,000, €500,000 and €1 million, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42581/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

364. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the compliance programme for the employment wage subsidy scheme; the number of employers that have been inspected; the number of cases requiring further investigation; the number of employers that have been sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42725/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

365. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the tax liabilities issued to workers whose employer wrongly availed of the temporary wage subsidy scheme; the number of firms and workers affected, respectively; the total tax repayment by workers in such circumstances and the average tax liability issued per worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42726/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

366. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of employers that availed of the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme and the employment wage subsidy scheme that have been contacted by the Revenue Commissioners regarding repayments; the total amount of repayments due from employers under each scheme; and the total amount collected to date in tabular form. [42727/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

367. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on dividend withholding tax returns filed by temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme and the employment wage subsidy scheme claimant companies in respect of distributions made in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42728/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

368. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 28 April 2022, the number of companies that availed of the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme and the employment wage subsidy scheme that filed dividend withholding tax returns; the number of companies in receipt of State support that filed DWT returns; the total gross subsidy payment received by companies that filed DWT returns; the number of companies to date which have fully or partially returned subsidies and the total amount returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42729/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the compliance programme for the Covid-19 restrictions support scheme; the number of employers that have been inspected; the number of cases requiring further investigation; the number of employers that have been sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42730/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

370. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies that availed of the Covid-19 restrictions support scheme which subsequently filed dividend withholding tax returns; the number of companies in receipt of State support that filed DWT returns; the total gross subsidy payment received by companies that filed DWT returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42731/22]

Employment Schemes

Ged Nash

384. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the Government will introduce a new short-time work furlough scheme based on the principles of the employment wage subsidy scheme to maintain manufacturing jobs at risk of being lost as a result of escalating gas prices, especially in view of the risk to all of the jobs at companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43090/22]

Office of Public Works

Ged Nash

450. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost to the Exchequer of waiving entrance fees to all OPW sites for students and young adult Transport for Ireland Leap card holders; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of waiving entrance fees for students and young adult TFI Leap card holders to include those under 26 years respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42721/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Ged Nash

462. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the approval for an increase in the pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme by 2% per annum; if he will provide an update on the timeline for the agreed pension increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43555/22]

Housing Policy

Ged Nash

575. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a policy issue raised by a person (details supplied) regarding the current price limit for first home scheme applicants in County Louth; his plans, if any, for an adjustment in the house price threshold for the Drogheda urban and rural LEAs in line with the price limit for County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42913/22]

Departmental Bodies

Ged Nash

656. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of formal complaints made to the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Body to date; the broad nature, subject matter of the complaints; the actions taken by the Body in relation to each complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43884/22]

Special Educational Needs

Ged Nash

1003. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when a special educational needs transport application for a child (details supplied) will be processed by her Department; when the proposed new service will be put out to tender; the timeframe for the delivery of this urgent service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43880/22]

Pensions Council

Ged Nash

1100. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the Pensions Council’s proposed cost-transparency initiative in respect of the costs and charges applied to the management of private pensions; if she will outline the details of the promised response (details supplied) that she has received, if any, on the issue from the Pensions Council; her views on the Pensions Council’s findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42715/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ged Nash

1220. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1327 of 26 July 2022, if he will consider a proposal to insert an interim measure at section 4.3.1 in the early childhood care and education programme rules allowing for choice of start date for parents of multiple births, pending the outcome of the upcoming 12-month review of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42582/22]

Education and Training Provision

Ged Nash

1301. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of trainee dental places that have been on offer in the State each year since 2016; the number of those places that are being offered through CAO and to non-European Union students respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42361/22]

Education and Training Provision

Ged Nash

1302. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of trainee doctor places that have been on offer in the State each year since 2016; the number of those places that are being offered through CAO and to non-European Union students respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42362/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Ged Nash

1325. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to an issue with the applied social care programme at a university (details supplied) receiving CORU accreditation; his views on same; if he believes that a full refund should be offered to affected students; his plans, if any, to engage with officials from the university, CORU and other relevant institutions regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43177/22]

Departmental Funding

Ged Nash

1344. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated surplus in the National Training Fund for 2022, based on revenue received and projected expenditure; the total surplus in 2021; the total accumulated reserve; the projected surplus for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43753/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

1345. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the main areas of expenditure funded by the National Training Fund in 2022; the organisations which received funding in 2022; if the Higher Education Authority receives funding from the NTF; if so, the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43754/22]

Departmental Funding

Ged Nash

1346. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated additional yield to the National Training Fund from a 0.1% increase in the NTF levy in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43755/22]