Parliamentary questions

Energy Usage

Eoin Ó Broin

260. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much renewable electricity was used here in the years 2019 to 2022 expressed in terra watt hours, in tabular form. [52913/23]

Tax Reliefs

Eoin Ó Broin

308. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance to provide the amount of electricity for which relief is claimed from the electricity tax for 2022 for each of the categories for which relief is available, in tabular form. [52961/23]

Tax Reliefs

Eoin Ó Broin

309. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance to outline the basis in EU law for offering relief from the electricity tax based on the fuel mix disclosure, as outlined in Section 63(3)(c) of the Finance Act 2008, as amended. [52962/23]

Tax Reliefs

Eoin Ó Broin

310. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 23 November 2023, of the 15.6 terawatt hours of renewable electricity for which relief was claimed from electricity tax in 2022, the portion claimed with recourse to the fuel mix disclosure; and the portion claimed by other means. [52963/23]

Tax Reliefs

Eoin Ó Broin

321. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance whether some or all of the electricity tax has been refunded to producers of renewable electricity in line with article 15(2) of the Electricity Tax Directive in any year. [53174/23]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

90. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide, in tabular form, the number of section 179A social housing planning exemptions that have secured stage 1 approval from his Department, broken down by local authority, and including location and number of units in each scheme; and further, to indicate how many of these schemes have commenced construction. [52731/23]

Tax Code

Eoin Ó Broin

75. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach whether the Central Statistics Office considers tax incentives for vehicles that are directly operated by fossil fuels under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland-administered triple E programme to be a fossil fuel subsidy. [51661/23]

Tax Code

Eoin Ó Broin

207. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance to outline what legislative basis the Revenue Commissioner has for using the fuel mix disclosure, as published by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, when making a determination on the percentage of electricity that is from renewable sources and therefore eligible for relief from the electricity tax. [52480/23]

Homeless Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

317. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of meetings between his officials led by organisations (details supplied) in 2022 and 2023 on the issue of the financial sustainability of homeless services and the review of funding arrangements in the homeless sector; the dates on which those meetings occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52058/23]

Homeless Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

318. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the proposed review of section 10 funding for homeless services that was agreed in 2021 did not proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52059/23]

Homeless Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

319. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the detail of the review of homeless services recently initiated in the wake of the revelations regarding funding issues at an organisation (details supplied); who is conducting the review; the terms of reference of the review; the timeline for the review; and if he will consider the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage playing a role in public consideration of the outcome of this review. [52063/23]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

387. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total annual expenditure on the daily expenses allowance paid to international protection applicants each year since 2020; the expenditure for 2023 to date; the estimated expenditure by year end 2023 and for 2024; and to identify the relevant programme sub-head in the Revised Estimates. [52373/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

498. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 464, 465, 467, 468 and 469 of 14 November 2023, the expected total maximum occupancy of the 37 properties referenced once they are fully operational; and by what date they are expected to become operational. [52060/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 464, 465, 467, 468 and 469 of 14 November 2023, what proportion of children in the international protection system will be entitled to the new payment provided for by Budget 2024; and the eligibility criteria for same. [52061/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

500. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 464, 465, 467, 468 and 469 of 14 November 2023, if all of the programme output targets provided in the table were met; if not, by how much they were missed; in the case of 2023, if they are on course to be met; and if not, by how much they are off target. [52062/23]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

516. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 466 of 14 November 2023, the equivalent average cost per night in privately owned accommodation. [52372/23]

Electric Vehicles

Eoin Ó Broin

157. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a breakdown of the models of electric vehicles with a full price of more than €60,000 that are on the SEAI's registers to qualify for support through tax incentive schemes; and for each model, to provide the full price of the vehicle, in tabular form. [51594/23]

Departmental Data

Eoin Ó Broin

158. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the final electricity demand from business, domestic sectors from 2019 to date in 2023, in tabular form. [51626/23]

Pension Provisions

Eoin Ó Broin

172. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update in relation to changes to the pension scheme for CIÉ pensioners; and the timeline for when an increase in the pension will be sanctioned. [51733/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Eoin Ó Broin

178. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the total number of units of renewable electricity that are determined by reference to data on the fuel mix in respect of the suppliers concerned, as published by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, for which relief is claimed from the electricity tax for 2022, in tabular form. [51628/23]

Local Authorities

Eoin Ó Broin

234. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the number of Section 179A social housing planning applications that are currently under way; and to provide a table, by local authority, listing the individual planning proposals and number of social homes involved and where decisions have been made or are pending. [51787/23]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Eoin Ó Broin

269. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received correspondence from a charity (details supplied) regarding a funding deficit; and what action his Department will take to ensure the service can continue. [51604/23]

Data Centres

Eoin Ó Broin

31. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of islanded data centres that are already connected to the gas grid, those that contracted to connect, and those that are seeking contract to connect; and for each category to outline the amount of capacity involved, in tabular form. [51239/23]

Climate Change Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

32. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to the recommendation of the Climate Change Advisory Council that the Government should take immediate action to amend the Gas Act 1976 as amended (details supplied). [51240/23]

Defective Building Materials

Eoin Ó Broin

92. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which homeowners with building defects can apply for emergency funding for interim fire safety and other structural defects remedial work in advance of the introduction of the full defective building redress scheme; and when the emergency funding will be paid. [51227/23]

Visa Applications

Eoin Ó Broin

127. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the visa extension application of a person (details supplied); and if she will indicate a timeframe for a decision. [51540/23]

Tax Credits

Eoin Ó Broin

170. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the number of renters availing of the renters' tax credit in 2022 and to date in 2023; the total cost of the tax credit in 2022 and to date in 2023; and the breakdown, by county, of the number of renters claiming the tax credit and an average credit paid in each county. [50787/23]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

291. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan applications, approvals and drawdowns in each year from 2019 to date in 2023, in tabular form. [50652/23]

Departmental Advertising

Eoin Ó Broin

300. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to his Department for the production of the video screened at the start of the press conference launching the Housing for All Q3 Progress Report held on 14 November 2023; the company that provides the video; and if other details will be provided of a contractual or service level agreement with this company currently in place with his Department. [50788/23]

Health Strategies

Eoin Ó Broin

541. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if funding allocated for the National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 in Budget 2024 is for the continuation of current services only; if further progression of the strategy is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50863/23]

Electric Vehicles

Eoin Ó Broin

101. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of electric vehicles that received support though the SEAI accelerated capital allowance. [50397/23]

Departmental Data

Eoin Ó Broin

127. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the number of cars for which capital allowances were claimed under the 2008 emissions-based scheme for each of the VRT categories for the year 2022, in tabular form. [50398/23]

Tax Code

Eoin Ó Broin

128. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance whether there are limits on the price of cars for which tax allowances are available. [50399/23]

Homeless Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

165. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of exits from homelessness accommodation funded by his Department in each quarter from 2019 to Q3 2023 including a breakdown by local authority area and by single persons and families with children, in tabular form. [50423/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Eoin Ó Broin

31. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the need for the Government to carry out an assessment of the existing barriers and potential of development of renewable energy communities under Article 22(3) of the Renewable Energy Directive II. [50144/23]

Rights of the Child

Eoin Ó Broin

122. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a commitment that the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child will be ratified following the enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill) 2023. [50032/23]

Departmental Bodies

Eoin Ó Broin

157. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what appointment procedure she is using for the new stakeholder group on dog ownership in Ireland; and the measures she is putting in place to ensure that members of the group will include expertise in canine behaviour. [50064/23]

Special Educational Needs

Eoin Ó Broin

179. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education for an update on the provision of an SEN class at a school (details supplied); when works will commence; and if an indication of a completion date for works is available. [49265/23]

Defective Building Materials

Eoin Ó Broin

239. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the public funding will be released in order that the Donegal defective block (Mica) pilot schemes (local authority and AHB) can commence. [49367/23]

Marine Protected Areas

Eoin Ó Broin

252. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the process of developing and agreeing Designated Marine Area Plans, including the breakdown of areas to be mapped, timeline for publication of draft maps, process for agreeing maps and details of the extent of public consultation in this process. [49539/23]

Marine Protected Areas

Eoin Ó Broin

253. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the publication of the General scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill. [49540/23]

Budget 2024

Eoin Ó Broin

463. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the allocations to the various Programme E sub-headings contained in the Budget-day estimates and subsequent REVs for each of the past seven years and for 2024; and if possible, a breakdown of the respective associated output targets. [49883/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

464. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost, broken into current and capital, of ending direct provision. [49884/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

465. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the updated estimated cost, broken into current and capital, of ending direct provision, as per Chapter 10 of A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. [49885/23]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

466. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the updated estimated cost, broken into current and capital, of providing State-owned and operated accommodation per 100 international protection applicants/asylum seekers. [49886/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

467. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost, broken into current and capital, of providing a State-owned and operated phase 1 accommodation unit for 50, 100, 250 and 500 international protection applicants/asylum seekers respectively. [49887/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

468. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost, broken into current and capital, of providing a State-owned and operated phase 2 accommodation unit for 50, 100, 250 and 500 international protection applicants/asylum seekers respectively. [49888/23]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

469. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth recognising that 37 properties were purchased in 2022 to commence the movement of IPAS residents into Phase 2 accommodation, what the estimated additional cost is of completing the movement of IPAS residents into Phase 2 accommodation, with a breakdown identifying the capital, i.e., all-in costs of purchasing, refurbishing or constructing units costs and the current costs including income supports (netting off any savings that may be secured from moving individuals out of the existing direct provision model). [49889/23]

Health Services

Eoin Ó Broin

479. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health to indicate the period of time residents are expected to be temporarily moved from a hospital to a private care facility (details supplied) for; and if he will provide a commitment that the standard of care provided by HSE staff will remain and be consistent within the private facility. [49274/23]

Health Services

Eoin Ó Broin

64. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update regarding wait times for both adult and child occupational therapy services in Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart and Brittas; what efforts are being made to increase staff in the services and to reduce waiting times in the areas outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48923/23]