Parliamentary questions

Tax Credits

Ivana Bacik

227. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the number of renters who have claimed the renter's credit to date. [2746/23]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

292. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department possesses projections as to the number of hotels that are not expected to renew State contracts to host refugees in 2023; and his plans to ensure any shortfall in accommodation is made up. [2747/23]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

325. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to report on the maternity in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3347/23]

Pension Provisions

Ivana Bacik

389. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the need to require of pension providers that they disclose the portion of any pension fund available for investment here is made up of fossil fuel assets and that they provide an option to pension holders to opt for a fund which does not include fossil fuel; her Department’s role in the State’s divestment from fossil fuels.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2745/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ivana Bacik

415. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the policy preventing access to the working family payment for persons who are self-employed; and if she has plans to broaden access to the payment. [3348/23]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

422. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department possesses projections as to the number of hotels that are not expected to renew State contracts to host refugees in 2023; and his plans to ensure any shortfall in accommodation is made up. [2748/23]

Pharmacy Services

Ivana Bacik

643. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to introduce greater prescription powers to pharmacists to reduce the burden on GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/23]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

9. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet committees that are in place; and if he will provide a list of the persons who attend each committee. [2122/23]

Energy Policy

Ivana Bacik

90. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the publication date for the Energy Poverty Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63941/22]

Departmental Data

Ivana Bacik

143. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport his views on the need to collate data on the number of assaults perpetrated against transport workers, such as taxi drivers, bus drivers, and rail staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63186/22]

Construction Industry

Ivana Bacik

522. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria that were applied to select members of the Interdepartmental and Agency Group tasked with preparing the Options Paper on a possible remediation scheme in respect of construction defects; if any members of the group live in a multi-unit development or have lived in one in the past ten years; if any members of the group are or have been directors of an owners’ management company in the past ten years; and if any members of the group have provided professional services to an owners’ management company in the past ten years. [63939/22]

Departmental Policies

Ivana Bacik

903. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the implementation of the recommendations of the child maintenance review group. [1462/23]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

971. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to avoid housing international protection applicants in inappropriate or dangerous accommodation; and the position regarding contingency plans to avoid such situations arising when a shortage of accommodation arises. [63940/22]

Crime Prevention

Ivana Bacik

1063. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice his views on the need to collate data on the number of assaults perpetrated against transport workers, such as taxi drivers, bus drivers, and rail staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63187/22]

Departmental Reviews

Ivana Bacik

1496. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department is accepting the recommendations of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery; if he will provide a timeline for the implementation of each of those recommendations; and if he will report on the implementation of the recommendation for the extension of the qualification allowance CNM3 grade in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1459/23]

Departmental Reviews

Ivana Bacik

1497. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his views on the Report of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery; if backdated pay will be provided in respect of relevant recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1460/23]

Health Services

Ivana Bacik

1498. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if a community neurorehabilitation team will be provided to HSE area CHO 6; his views on the need for the establishment of community neurorehabilitation teams in each CHO, as recommended in the National Neurorehabilitation Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1461/23]

Climate Action Plan

Ivana Bacik

69. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the ways in which the ongoing review into energy security will integrate sectoral emissions ceiling and carbon budget obligations; his plans to ensure that as-demand reduction measures are prioritised in the review; and the ways in which the principles of a just transition will be integrated into the review. [62757/22]

Data Centres

Ivana Bacik

73. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ensure that confirmed data centre connections will not increase emissions; and his plans to ensure that confirmed data centre connections do not lock in higher gas demand. [62758/22]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ivana Bacik

75. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the strategies in place to mitigate against increased emissions in the event that certain sectors exceed the total amount of permitted greenhouse gas emissions allowed by their sectoral emissions ceilings; his views, in particular, on reports (details supplied) that reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 is not feasible under current projections for the agriculture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62760/22]

Energy Prices

Ivana Bacik

93. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if mechanisms exist to reimburse residential customers of district heating schemes who pay for domestic energy at a commercial rate for excess costs; and if the examination of such a policy is in the remit of the steering group due to report on district heating schemes in 2023. [62761/22]

Environmental Policy

Ivana Bacik

142. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on introducing a moratorium on new data centre connections in the context of energy security and carbon emissions targets. [62759/22]

Departmental Meetings

Ivana Bacik

179. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the cross-jurisdictional collaboration which took place in 2022 between his Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Rural and Community Development in Northern Ireland. [63134/22]

Public Transport

Ivana Bacik

193. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that night-time transport options in urban areas will be able to meet increased demand during the Christmas period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63058/22]

National Lottery

Ivana Bacik

211. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the need for the annual publication in a national newspaper of details of the disbursement of "Funds for Good Causes", in light of the report on the independent review of the allocation and utilisation of National Lottery funding. [63056/22]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

219. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the higher social housing income thresholds will come into effect. [62862/22]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

225. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to issue a call for larger properties for the housing of refugees, as was issued in respect of pledged accommodation in individual residential homes. [63059/22]

Special Educational Needs

Ivana Bacik

239. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 29 November 2022, if she will provide an update on girls with special educational needs in education; if she has plans to review the adequacy of service delivery for such students and pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63055/22]

Departmental Schemes

Ivana Bacik

261. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group approved the review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers' scheme at its meeting on 8 December 2022; when the final report will be published; and if submissions made by TWG members between September and October 2022 will be published. [63054/22]

Immigration Policy

Ivana Bacik

290. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants. [63060/22]

Abortion Services

Ivana Bacik

363. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if the independent evaluation of the experiences of abortion service providers by Manchester Metropolitan University will be published by the end of the year. [63057/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

1. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the French President. [60877/22]

Departmental Functions

Ivana Bacik

2. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social policy and public service reform division of his Department. [60878/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

3. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Environment and Climate Change will next meet. [60879/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

2. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment will next meet. [58885/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

5. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with agriculture will next meet. [58890/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

18. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [60874/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

22. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent engagements with the social partners. [58891/22]

Road Network

Ivana Bacik

166. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the Government body that is responsible for the maintenance of public rights of way not created under the Planning and Development Act 2000. [60988/22]

Departmental Schemes

Ivana Bacik

167. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the role of his Department in the Transport Working Group review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; if he can provide an update on when its proposals will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61007/22]

Tax Code

Ivana Bacik

168. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Finance his views on the adequacy of the disabled drivers and disabled passenger scheme in particular. [61005/22]

Departmental Reviews

Ivana Bacik

189. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on his Department’s progress reviewing the disabled drivers and disabled passenger scheme as part of the Mid-Term Review of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. [61004/22]

Rights of Way

Ivana Bacik

250. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of his Department in maintaining public rights of way for the purpose of recreational walkers.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60987/22]

School Staff

Ivana Bacik

273. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the concerns raised by organisations (details supplied) in respect of the effect of a lack of housing on the delivery of education services. [60149/22]

School Staff

Ivana Bacik

274. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the shortage of teaching staff in Ireland. [60150/22]

School Staff

Ivana Bacik

275. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the effect on teaching recruitment of the criteria of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in respect of employment permits for non-EEA nationals; her views on the online advertising requirement for vacant education posts required by the Employment Permits Act 2006; and if she has made representations to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the matter. [60151/22]

Special Educational Needs

Ivana Bacik

288. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she plans to introduce increased training for teachers to promote awareness of dyspraxia in the classroom; if she plans to increase supports for dyspraxia pupils; and her views on the need to transition to an evidence-of-need approach to the allocation of accommodations from the evidence-of-deficit approach which is currently in place. [60388/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Ivana Bacik

332. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to financially assist persons who have anaphylactic food allergies to support them to purchase foods that are safe for their consumption, in view of the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60990/22]

Disability Services

Ivana Bacik

417. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the adequacy of mobility supports for persons with a disability and on the adequacy of the disabled drivers and disabled passenger scheme in particular. [61006/22]

Disability Services

Ivana Bacik

418. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. [61008/22]

Land Issues

Ivana Bacik

499. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice her views on the need to provide for orderly and lawful methods of ensuring public access to recreational lands that are held in private ownership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60989/22]

Disabilities Assessments

Ivana Bacik

579. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to make more timely dyspraxia assessment services. [60390/22]

Disability Services

Ivana Bacik

703. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of mobility supports for persons with a disability. [61005/22]

National Risk Assessment

Ivana Bacik

11. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the status of the national risk assessment 2021-2022. [58886/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

20. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [58884/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

33. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the recent US congressional delegation. [58888/22]

Ukraine War

Ivana Bacik

9. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [57731/22]

Departmental Strategies

Ivana Bacik

18. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [57734/22]

Official Engagements

Ivana Bacik

139. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagements with church leaders. [58887/22]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Ivana Bacik

188. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport if any payment is outstanding or has been made by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to a company (details supplied) or any other entity in respect of any works carried out on or regarding the site located at No. 2 Grand Parade, Dublin 6, in preparation for the proposed Metrolink station and or metro rail line at Charlemont St; and if so, the amount. [58695/22]

Legislative Measures

Ivana Bacik

296. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if planned reforms to planning laws will include measures to protect access to the countryside and to reform the law governing permissive routes and rights of way to protect public use of land for walkers. [59525/22]

Legislative Measures

Ivana Bacik

297. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that sections 206-207 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 transfer sufficient powers to the planning authorities to preserve existing public rights of way; and if he is satisfied that the provisions have been used to a sufficient degree for the public good. [59527/22]

Heritage Sites

Ivana Bacik

298. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to update the National Monuments Act 1930; his views on the need to create an enforcement mechanism to require the maintenance of national monuments and surrounding areas which are in private ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59528/22]

Special Educational Needs

Ivana Bacik

359. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she plans to review methods of assessment of special educational needs. [59097/22]

Special Educational Needs

Ivana Bacik

360. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that current additional needs assessments accurately identify children with special educational needs; and if she is satisfied that special educational needs of girls in particular are accurately identified. [59098/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

483. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the monitoring mechanisms which are in place to ensure compliance with the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 is monitored; and if such monitoring will be the task of his Department. [58717/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

484. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department maintains a list of all businesses required to report gender pay gap information under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021. [58718/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

485. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a register of employers who have not complied with the requirements of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 will be made available on the Government’s dedicated website. [58719/22]

International Agreements

Ivana Bacik

515. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is intended for Ireland to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 156 on work life balance. [59365/22]

International Agreements

Ivana Bacik

516. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is intended for Ireland to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 183 on maternity care. [59366/22]

Land Issues

Ivana Bacik

802. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to take into public ownership parts of the countryside and mountainous areas that are not in regular private use to facilitate public recreational use of such lands. [59526/22]

Employment Rights

Ivana Bacik

145. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is intended for Ireland to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 183 on maternity care. [58545/22]

Employment Rights

Ivana Bacik

146. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is intended for Ireland to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 156 on work life balance. [58546/22]

Energy Policy

Ivana Bacik

152. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has interim plans to regulate heating costs for district heating customers who pay for domestic energy at a commercial rate this winter, in advance of receiving the recommendations of the new steering group on district heating. [58536/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

274. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised portal for gender pay gap information will include overall breakdowns and averages of the gender pay gap across companies required to report; by sector, occupation and income decile. [58640/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

275. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised gender pay gap information website will provide a summary list by employer of the size of the gender pay gap by each of the different measures on which businesses are required to report; and if it will provide a means to track those that are above and below the national average. [58641/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

276. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised gender pay gap information website will provide a summary of the size of the gender pay gap over time by employer to capture the change, if any, that takes place. [58642/22]

Gender Equality

Ivana Bacik

277. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of funding dedicated to developing the gender pay gap information reporting website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58643/22]

Programme for Government

Ivana Bacik

7. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [57733/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

12. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Europe last met. [57735/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

15. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent conversation with the new British Prime Minister. [55388/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

21. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at COP27. [56411/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

43. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment last met; and when it will next meet. [57823/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

1. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the European Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager. [53391/22]

Departmental Offices

Ivana Bacik

13. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if a climate action unit has been established in his Department. [57732/22]

European Council

Ivana Bacik

20. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council meeting on 20 and 21 October 2022. [57730/22]

Citizens' Assembly

Ivana Bacik

151. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the timeline for the establishment of the Citizens' Assembly on the Future of Education; and if it is proposed to use the citizens' assembly to examine the future purpose of the education system. [58145/22]

Bus Services

Ivana Bacik

200. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that residents of Terenure and other areas will be adequately serviced by public transport for the two-year period between the removal of the number 17 bus and the introduction of the A4 route, during which time there will be no transit between Terenure, Nutgrove and Dundrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57269/22]

Departmental Priorities

Ivana Bacik

279. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new local authority-led pledge call for vacant properties and holiday homes for the temporary housing of refugees will be made. [57391/22]

Government Communications

Ivana Bacik

5. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Government Information Service unit of his Department. [55389/22]

Sustainable Development Goals

Ivana Bacik

10. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the senior officials group chaired by his Department to provide a strategic overview of the implementation of the sustainable development goals. [55385/22]

Defence Forces

Ivana Bacik

16. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the high-level steering board, chaired by the Secretary General of his Department, to oversee the implementation of the high-level action plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. [55386/22]

Programme for Government

Ivana Bacik

53. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the commitments in the Programme for Government under his remit; if each commitment has been met or is in the process of being met; and the estimated timeframe for same in tabular form. [55391/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ivana Bacik

9. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Political Community meeting in Prague and the informal European Council meeting. [55384/22]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

13. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [52891/22]

Departmental Functions

Ivana Bacik

133. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if a climate action unit has been established in his Department. [55387/22]

Departmental Bodies

Ivana Bacik

134. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the number of meetings that have taken place to date in 2022 of the climate action delivery board; and the number scheduled for the remainder of 2022. [56201/22]

Homeless Persons Supports

Ivana Bacik

300. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department records the number of disabled persons in homelessness; and the number of disabled persons in homelessness here. [56734/22]

Derelict Sites

Ivana Bacik

301. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties on derelict and vacant site registers in each local authority area. [56735/22]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

302. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to make compliant non-compliant HAP tenancies; and if it is the policy of his Department to prioritise direct building, rather than relying on HAP to alleviate the rental crisis. [56736/22]