Parliamentary questions

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

349. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progress of the expansion of street outreach services to engage with rough sleepers in key urban areas outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18007/22]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

350. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review of the Housing Agency Acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18008/22]

Local Authorities

Ged Nash

351. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the preparation of housing delivery plans to include social and affordable housing delivery by each local authority; if each local authority has furnished his Department with these plans; when he plans to publish housing delivery action plans for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18009/22]

Rental Sector

Ged Nash

352. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the reform of the differential rents scheme and the planned introduction of a national scheme to standardise differential rents across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18010/22]

Housing Policy

Ged Nash

353. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs; the changes he plans to make to the range of housing grants available on foot of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18011/22]

Local Authorities

Ged Nash

354. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if disability friendly housing technical advisers have been nominated in each local authority; the number of disability friendly housing technical advisers that have been nominated in each local authority in tabular form; the details of the role specification for disability friendly housing technical advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18012/22]

Housing Policy

Ged Nash

355. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a quarterly report of the housing and disability steering group has been provided to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18013/22]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

356. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the preferential caravan loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18014/22]

Departmental Policies

Ged Nash

357. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his plans to liaise with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in relation to the feasibility of an all-island approach to the provision of a network of transient sites across the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18015/22]

Planning Issues

Ged Nash

358. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review and consolidation of planning legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18016/22]

Legislative Measures

Ged Nash

359. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to commence section 9 of the Local Government Rates and other Matters Act 2019; the guidance he is issuing to local authorities to offer rates-based incentives for the conversion of suitable vacant commercial properties to residential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18017/22]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

360. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the development of a national policy on rightsizing; his plans to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18018/22]

Housing Schemes

Ged Nash

361. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the introduction of a targeted energy efficiency retrofit scheme for approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18019/22]

Water Supply

Ged Nash

362. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the roll-out of a national water supply capacity register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18020/22]

Passport Services

Ged Nash

433. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18409/22]

Special Educational Needs

Ged Nash

448. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on a policy issue raised by persons regarding the new proposed frontloading model for deployment of special needs assistant resources (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17412/22]

School Enrolments

Ged Nash

452. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her Department has plans to provide a second level school in Duleek, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17444/22]

State Examinations

Ged Nash

491. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on a policy matter raised by a person (details supplied) regarding the proposed scheduling changes to the leaving certificate practical music examination and the implications for students and teachers; her plans to engage with affected teachers and their representatives regarding this proposed change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18157/22]

Further and Higher Education

Ged Nash

579. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department plans to undertake a review of the pay and conditions and roles and responsibilities of personal assistants who work in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17557/22]

Cycling Facilities

Ged Nash

212. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport his views on a policy matter concerning the provision of free bicycle parking spaces at Iarnród Éireann stations (details supplied); his further views on whether private, for-payment bicycle lockers may take preference over free bicycle racks at some stations; if he is in agreement that all stations that currently have private locking facilities should also have access to free bicycle racks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17312/22]

Aviation Industry

Ged Nash

228. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport his position on a fifth freedom permit application from an airline (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15818/22]

Tax Reliefs

Ged Nash

257. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a policy issue raised by a person (details supplied) regarding health expenses associated with additional diet expenses for coeliacs; if he is satisfied that retailers adequately mark such gluten-free food products appropriately on consumer receipts in order to facilitate a tax relief claim on dietary expenses; if not, if he or the Revenue Commissioners will request them to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15819/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

305. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to an ongoing appeals process (details supplied); her views on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16427/22]

Local Authorities

Ged Nash

315. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of the waiting times in each local authority for the processing of a housing application by a member of the public in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15924/22]

Local Authorities

Ged Nash

316. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of registrations, inspections and permissions of short-term lettings that have taken place in each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of inspectors allocated to carry out inspections of short-term lettings in each local authority; if those inspectors are employed full-time or part-time in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/22]

State Examinations

Ged Nash

418. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in place with regard to a student contracting Covid-19 before or during State examinations; when she expects to publish guidance on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16132/22]

Institutes of Technology

Ged Nash

527. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide detailed breakdown of the total cost of external professional legal advice provided to the office of a person (details supplied) at Dundalk Institute of Technology since 1 January 2019; the purpose, subject matter and cost of each form of advice sought; if the office procured any advice from any legal firm in relation to contractual issues relating to the duration of the contract and tenure of the person; if any such costs that may have been incurred were met by the institute in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16628/22]

Pharmacy Services

Ged Nash

815. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason he has not accepted the recommendation made by an organisation (details supplied) on rules to regulate the operation of pharmacies in respect of the temporary absence of pharmacists and as this relates to the functions and role of pharmaceutical assistants; the next steps he plans to take to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16584/22]

Departmental Staff

Ged Nash

92. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach if the next Secretary General of his Department will be appointed through open public competition and under the Top-Level Appointments Committee process; and, if not, the reasons for the departure from that process. [14801/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if any virtual asset service provider has been successfully registered with the Central Bank to date; if the Central Bank has published guidelines on the assessment timelines for completed applications and the average length of the processing time to date of each pending registration; if his attention has been drawn to the delay by Ireland in implementing the procedures to process these registrations; if this is hindering Ireland's objectives under the Ireland for Finance strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14083/22]

Ukraine War

Ged Nash

243. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review section 110 provisions given that Russian companies outside of the banking sector accounted for over 60% of the €35.5 billion in assets held in Irish special purpose vehicles used for funding purposes at the end of 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14309/22]

Ukraine War

Ged Nash

390. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm, given the temporary closure of the Embassy of Ireland to Ukraine, that all locally employed staff and contractors, and the relevant members of their families, were offered passage to Ireland and international protection here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14301/22]

Educational Disadvantage

Ged Nash

519. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the objective evidential basis for the reason that certain schools (details supplied) were not elevated to DEIS band 1 status from DEIS band 2 in the context of the recent decisions she has made in this policy area; if she will provide all of the objective criteria including information on the metrics, precise data sets and scoring matrix her officials used to determine a school’s qualification for DEIS band 1 status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14585/22]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

520. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the progress in the development of a school (details supplied); when she expects that the new building will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14586/22]

Educational Disadvantage

Ged Nash

521. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the objective evidential basis for the reason that certain schools (details supplied) were not elevated to DEIS band 1 status from DEIS band 2 in the context of the recent decisions she has made in this policy area; if she will provide all of the objective criteria including information on the metrics, precise data sets and scoring matrix her officials used to determine a school’s qualification for DEIS band 1 status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14590/22]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

522. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the progress in the development of the new primary school (details supplied); when she expects the new building to be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14591/22]

Energy Policy

Gerald Nash

168. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to ongoing problems with the communal heating scheme at a location (details supplied); his views on the energy provider’s decision to charge commercial, not residential gas rates which has contributed to rapidly rising energy costs for residents; if he plans to raise this with the energy provider and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13661/22]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

437. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications made to the immigrant investor programme by Russian citizens in each of the years from 2019 to 2022; the number of Russian citizens who had their application successfully approved under the programme in the same period in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12381/22]

Land Issues

Ged Nash

110. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the implementation of the land value sharing measures; when the measures will be implemented; if he will be introducing a temporary windfall tax in the interim for land that has been rezoned pending the delayed implementation of the land value sharing measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12039/22]

Defective Building Materials

Ged Nash

122. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the emergency repair grant allocated to MICA homeowners; if that grant is controlled by his Department or by the local authority; the way the emergency repair grant can be accessed by homeowners who need the grant urgently particularly in view of recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12044/22]

Building Regulations

Ged Nash

128. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to issue revised ministerial guidelines to harmonise apartment standards in respect of build-to-sell and build-to-rent apartments in order to incentivise the development of build-to-sell homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12042/22]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

131. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown per local authority area of the affordable housing that is planned to be delivered in 2022; the details of each affordable housing scheme planned to be delivered in each local authority area in 2022; the details relating to the number of homes per scheme and the nature of the tenure in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12043/22]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of housing needs demand assessment in respect of cost rental accommodation per local authority area over the next five years in tabular form; the breakdown of the projected demand for cost rental accommodation over the next five years per local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12041/22]

Housing Schemes

Ged Nash

159. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will publish updated guidance to facilitate a transition period for the changes to the tenant purchase scheme pursuant to SI. No.776 of 2021 Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2021; if his Department will facilitate flexibility in respect of tenants who had commenced the application process to purchase their homes prior to 1 February 2022 but who have not been in receipt of housing support for the new period of ten years and are now no longer eligible for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12040/22]

Childcare Services

Ged Nash

310. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a policy issue raised by a person (details supplied) relating to the unavailability of childcare in County Louth; his plans to ensure that sufficient childcare capacity is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12267/22]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

352. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the pilot scheme to turn rural pubs into remote working hubs; the funding provided to the scheme to date; the number of rural pubs converted into remote working hubs to date under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12175/22]

Flexible Work Practices

Ged Nash

72. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to revise upward the Programme for Government commitment to move to 20% remote and or home working in light of the high demand to continue with a remote and hybrid model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11277/22]

Legislative Measures

Ged Nash

83. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of and position regarding the proposed timeline for enactment of the regulation of lobbying (amendment) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11275/22]

Departmental Funding

Ged Nash

85. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that his Department chose to discontinue funding which led to the winding-up of an organisation (details supplied); the reason his Department would not work with the organisation as requested to transition to new institutional and governance arrangements; if his Department will provide costings and a timeline for the development of a database involving data covering certain non-profit sector entities which he has said will be developed by Pobal and the Department of Rural and Community Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11279/22]

Flexible Work Practices

Ged Nash

99. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the blended working policy in the civil service; if employers will have the right to refuse blended working arrangements and will retain the right to require employees to attend the office under the proposed policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11276/22]