Parliamentary questions

Rail Network

Gerald Nash

75. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the plans, if any, to reopen the train station in Dunleer, County Louth; the estimated cost of reopening the existing station; his views that Dunleer offers the potential for an improved rail service for the mid and south Louth areas and that a cost-benefit analysis should be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28239/22]

Sports Funding

Gerald Nash

89. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the attention of her Department has been drawn to the change in the ownership and company structure at an organisation (details supplied); her views on whether this changed structure means that the organisation is ineligible to draw down the Sports Capital Grant awarded to it in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28203/22]

Heritage Council

Gerald Nash

91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to take on any functions relating to the delivery of the Collaborative Town Centre Health Checks programme operated by the Heritage Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28201/22]

Vaccination Programme

Gerald Nash

206. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the status of the Covid-19 second dose booster programme for persons under 65 years of age; when this age cohort will be offered an additional Covid-19 booster vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28262/22]

Job Losses

Ged Nash

62. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total value of grants provided by the IDA to a company (details supplied) under all of the relevant IDA grant headings in each of the years 2012 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/22]

Job Losses

Ged Nash

63. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details on all of the engagement IDA has had with a company (details supplied) in 2022 in advance of its recent decision to propose 307 redundancies at its operations in Dundalk and west Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27772/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

180. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review his stated strategy to unwind the State’s shareholding in commercial banks (details supplied) in light of a recent European Central Bank paper which cites that a mixed composition consisting of foreign and domestic-owned banks that are controlled by the state and private owners is advisable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28056/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

181. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with his stated policy decision to unwind the State’s shareholding in commercial banks (details supplied) in light of a recent European Central Bank paper; if he agrees with the analysis that a fully-privatised banking sector may worsen the impact of crisis periods; if he agrees that Ireland is particularly vulnerable given the ECB paper’s assumptions regarding the small number of banks and lack of competition within the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28057/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

182. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider pausing the sale of the State’s shareholding in a bank (details supplied), in light of a recent European Central Bank paper which states that a mixed composition consisting of foreign and domestic-owned banks that are controlled by the state and private owners is advisable, in order to conduct a full review of the risks of a fully-privatised Irish banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28060/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Ged Nash

184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that retired civil servants with qualifying pensions have not yet received the 1% pay increase that was granted in October 2021 which current civil servants have already received; when he expects that all persons eligible for this pension increase will have their increase applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/22]

Ukraine War

Ged Nash

262. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that has taken place between a development company and his Department and or IPAS on an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27915/22]

Departmental Programmes

Ged Nash

458. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a community employment scheme (details supplied) that has been instructed by her Department to discontinue a long-established programme of environmental works in three estates in Ardee, County Louth; if she will provide documentary evidence from her Departmental officials outlining the policy basis for this decision; if this decision is being implemented evenly and consistently across all relevant community employment schemes in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27478/22]

Departmental Data

Ged Nash

512. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement that has taken place between a development company and his Department and or IPAS on an issue (details supplied); if agencies such as the HSE and the Department of Education have been consulted to ensure that local supports and service provision will be put in place to support such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27914/22]

Hospital Staff

Ged Nash

726. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when stakeholders will receive a letter confirming funding for the Sláintecare: Towards Self-Care in Headache project so that the participating hospitals can retain and recruit vital staff, as per his Department’s announced roll-out (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27766/22]

Fishing Industry

Ged Nash

827. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will extend the Brexit temporary fleet tie-up scheme 2022 to include the month of December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27745/22]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

99. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the status of the permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); when her Department plans to submit the planning application for the project to Meath County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26612/22]

Technological Universities

Ged Nash

110. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he and the Higher Education Authority are taking to progress the process of obtaining technological university status for Dundalk Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24104/22]

Departmental Consultations

Ged Nash

303. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the relevant agencies to provide opportunities to match refugees from the Ukraine with employment opportunities; if her Department is considering running jobs fair-type events across the country with local agencies for that purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25495/22]

Telecommunications Services

Ged Nash

51. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of his engagement with a company (details supplied) to roll-out a shared rural network to ensure that mobile coverage blackspots in Ireland are eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25058/22]

Telecommunications Services

Ged Nash

52. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of his engagement with mobile network operators in Ireland to roll-out a shared rural network in Ireland to ensure that mobile coverage blackspots in Ireland are eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25074/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

172. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he anticipates any difficulty or delay in payment of the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment wherein a qualifying individual is now working for a new employer within a qualifying sector; to outline whether two or more employers are expected to split the cost of the pandemic bonus payment in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25220/22]

Construction Industry

Ged Nash

245. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the way the process to examine the introduction of a levy on the construction industry in the Finance Bill 2022 that was announced on 30 November 2021 as part of his statement on the revised defective concrete block scheme is progressing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24176/22]

Tax Reliefs

Ged Nash

260. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the promised excise relief programme that is currently available to craft brewers; if the programme is being extended to craft cider producers in the forthcoming finance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24462/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

265. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the potential sale of the tracker mortgages of a bank (details supplied) to another bank in which the State owns a majority shareholding; if the transfer of this performing loan book will be transferred at a discounted rate; his views on whether the affected tracker mortgage customers should also be permitted to avail of any potential discounted rate provided to the receiving organisation upon the sale of these tracker mortgages and that they should be offered the option of repayment at any given discounted rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24887/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

266. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of tracker mortgages that are held by an organisation (details supplied); the average number of years left per tracker mortgage customer; the average loan amount per tracker mortgage customer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24888/22]

Passport Services

Ged Nash

342. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the delays in processing passport applications due to ongoing issues with confirming Garda witnessing (details supplied); his views on whether a central logging system is urgently needed to expedite the witnessing process, including by An Garda Síochána of passport applications; his plans to raise this matter with the Minister for Justice. [24133/22]

Passport Services

Ged Nash

387. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of cases in which a parental consent form could not be verified by the Passport Office in each of the years between 2017 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24713/22]

Education Schemes

Ged Nash

434. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on a policy issue raised by a person (details supplied) pertaining to the Summer Programme 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24150/22]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Ged Nash

483. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for a PPS number for Syrian, Afghani, Yazidi and Ukrainian programme refugees, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24140/22]

Passport Services

Ged Nash

580. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the delays in processing passport applications due to ongoing issues with confirming Garda witnessing (details supplied); her plans for a central logging system for the witnessing process of passport applications; her plans to raise this matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24132/22]

Family Reunification

Ged Nash

582. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made in relation to an application for family reunification submitted by a person (details supplied) in December 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24169/22]

Family Reunification

Ged Nash

583. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made in relation to an application for family reunification submitted by a person (details supplied) in January 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24170/22]

Driver Licences

Ged Nash

78. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the legislative basis for a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23740/22]

Defence Forces

Ged Nash

141. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by members of the Defence Forces (details supplied) who have served as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force mission in Syria in obtaining visas to visit the United States; if he will raise this matter with the United States authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23580/22]

Passport Services

Ged Nash

150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the problems experienced by his officials in the Passport Office who have difficulty making contact with gardaí in part-time stations in order to verify consent forms for first-time passport applications for minors (details supplied); if he plans to engage with the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23695/22]

Education and Training Boards

Ged Nash

166. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an updated timeline for the commencement of building works at the site designated in 2013 for the new headquarters building for the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that €3 million was awarded in 2013 by her Department for the construction of the head office in Drogheda; if she will provide a date for completion of this long-awaited project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23563/22]

Education and Training Boards

Ged Nash

167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the rationale used by her Department’s building and planning unit to agree to a proposed change to the building plans for the proposed Louth and Meath Education and Training Board head office building in Drogheda from a two-storey to a three-storey building; if she will provide information on the comparative costs between the two-storey and three-storey option; the number, designation and title of all of the staff which the board has advised her Department will move to the proposed head office building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23564/22]

Education and Training Boards

Ged Nash

168. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the cost that has already been incurred to date in the design of the originally planned two-storey Louth and Meath Education and Training Board head office building to be located in Drogheda; the estimated total final cost of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23565/22]

Education and Training Boards

Ged Nash

169. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the locations of the main offices of each of the officials and leaders (details supplied) of the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23566/22]

Education and Training Boards

Ged Nash

170. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she has no function in the assignment, designation and relocation of staff within individual education and training boards; if it is entirely a function of the CEO of individual boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23567/22]

Childcare Services

Ged Nash

206. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ECCE places that will be made available in County Louth in the coming year; the number of applications that have been received to date; if additional places will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23689/22]

Childcare Services

Ged Nash

207. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ECCE places available in County Louth in each of the years from 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23690/22]

Water Quality

Ged Nash

199. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department or any of the agencies under his aegis has carried out an impact assessment of any kind on the potential effect on water quality and biodiversity in the River Boyne arising from this development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23033/22]

Aviation Industry

Ged Nash

224. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the status of an application by organisation (details supplied) to fly between Addis Ababa and Dublin via Manchester; if his attention has been drawn to a recent report concerning the organisation in question; if the report will be considered in relation to the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22840/22]

Court Judgments

Ged Nash

684. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on the ongoing delays with payments to the victims of a person (details supplied); the status of the dispute between the HSE and the religious order regarding the party that should pay legal costs relating to the High Court case concerned; his views on whether this dispute should not represent an impediment to the immediate payment of the settlements agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22585/22]

Health Services

Gerald Nash

239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to establish a dedicated clinic for sufferers of long Covid on a permanent basis in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22511/22]

Defective Building Materials

Ged Nash

214. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the report from the housing defects working group; when he anticipates the report of the housing defects working group to be completed; if its recommendations will be published in advance of Budget 2023; when he anticipates the proposed redress scheme to be open for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/22]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce a windfall tax on the extraordinary profits of energy companies to fund measures to combat the rising cost of energy for households and enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21422/22]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

24. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if the recently announced temporary reduction in VAT, excise duty and lump-sum payments are to be paid from a surplus in the public finances or by adding to the public debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21423/22]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

43. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of ongoing discussions on the European Union fiscal rules; the position adopted by the Government on any changes to the fiscal rules; his views on the recent recommendation of an Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee report (details supplied) which notes the need for certain well defined expenditure areas such as climate and public housing spending to be excluded from the fiscal rules and for a more accommodating set of rules toward public capital investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21426/22]