Parliamentary questions

Departmental Funding

John McGuinness

552. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a request for CSP funding in the name of a group (details supplied) will be reviewed as a matter of urgency; and if the funding requested will be approved given the significance of the project to the local community and the enormous contribution being made by volunteers. [29127/21]

Banking Sector

John McGuinness

182. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if a bank (details supplied) held a banking licence prior to 2008; and if so, the date on which a licence was granted to the bank by the Central Bank. [27576/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

John McGuinness

370. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if respite grants for the past two years are due to a person (details supplied). [27481/21]

Driver Test

John McGuinness

184. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the number of theory tests cancelled each Friday by email over the past 12 months and in particular on 7 May 2021; when these tests will be rescheduled; if there is a contact phone number and name for the public to use to have queries dealt with; if contact names and details of Road Safety Authority personnel are published on the RSA website and stationary; and his plans to clear the backlog. [27256/21]

Departmental Staff

John McGuinness

219. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm the way in which the recent recruitment process for the vacant position of Secretary General of his Department was advertised; the number of advertisements placed in publications and through social media; the number of applicants for the position; the number of international applicants; the number of persons on the interview board; the qualifications and gender of same; the number that reached the final interview; if the successful candidate was chosen from a final list of suitably qualified persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27262/21]

State Bodies

John McGuinness

244. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the activity of the Land Development Agency from the date it was established to date in 2021 relative to the number of sites identified and acquired; the number of planning permissions granted or in the process and the overall cost of its operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27250/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

284. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and approved as a matter of urgency. [27263/21]

Agriculture Schemes

John McGuinness

367. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review an application under the young farmers scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) and reverse the decision taken given the circumstances of the case; and if the matter will be expedited. [27199/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

John McGuinness

83. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Kilkenny currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; the number of persons in County Waterford currently in receipt of the payment; the number in each county who were in receipt of the payment on the same date in April 2021; the number of persons in each county who have received the payment since the introduction of the payment; the total expenditure on such payments in each county over that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26269/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

John McGuinness

533. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for an invalidity pension will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [25669/21]

Programme for Government

John McGuinness

556. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the programme for Government commitment to continue to review and expand the roll-out of the new hot school meals initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25063/21]

Schools Building Projects

John McGuinness

106. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the status of each large-scale school building project in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25062/21]

State Pensions

John McGuinness

178. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a State pension by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [25127/21]

Passport Services

John McGuinness

109. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timeframe for clearing the backlog of passports applications from applicants in County Kilkenny. [23919/21]

Tax Reliefs

John McGuinness

228. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the concession put in place by the Revenue Commissioners relative to the payment of tax due by employees arising from the temporary wage subsidy scheme allowing the employer to pay the tax without any benefit-in-kind implications for the employee; if so, if categories of employees (details supplied) will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23798/21]

School Transport

John McGuinness

449. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if school bus transport will be provided on a qualifying rather than a concessionary basis from Corraguan, Windgap, County Kilkenny, to a school for persons (details supplied); if the appeal lodged with the school transport appeals board will be expedited and approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23784/21]

Pension Provisions

John McGuinness

533. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has sufficient contributions to qualify for a State pension (contributory); and if their record of contributions will be provided. [23772/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John McGuinness

716. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the arrangements his Department has made to provide vaccinations for students participating in the Erasmus programme and that must provide proof of full vaccination to the participating college abroad before 15 June 2021; if he will outline the plan immediately to ease the concerns of parents and students that are now having to commit to cost of travel and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23775/21]

Animal Diseases

John McGuinness

954. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a second BVD test can be carried out on the herd owned by a person (details supplied); the action to be taken by his Department and herd owner; the costs involved; and the reason for the change of rule in this regard. [23773/21]

Departmental Investigations

John McGuinness

315. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the outcome of the investigation into complaints by a person (details supplied); the actions taken by his Department to address the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23137/21]

Garda Civilian Staff

John McGuinness

463. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice the number of civilians holding the position of property and exhibits manager within An Garda Síochána; the Garda stations in which the civilians employed as such are based; if the position is underpinned in legislation; if appropriate training has been provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22697/21]

Medicinal Products

John McGuinness

648. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his views on making the drug epidiolex available to patients on medical cards when prescribed by a consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/21]

Felling Licences

John McGuinness

679. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a tree felling application by a person (details supplied) will be processed and approved; and if the process will be expedited. [22705/21]

Hospital Facilities

John McGuinness

130. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the indicative timeframe for the delivery of a new community nursing unit at St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/21]

Quarrying Sector

John McGuinness

431. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated by his Department to local authorities that have to reinstate land relative to the environmental damage done by illegal quarry activities; if he will seek a report from Kilkenny and Laois county councils in relation to the environmental damage already done by quarries that are not compliant with the planning laws or without planning permission; if the Local Government Audit Service considers good governance or the lack of it as part of its audit of each local authority; if he plans to review the legislation specifically in relation to non-compliance in the quarry industry with a view to strengthening the planning enforcement process and introducing a regime of substantial fines commensurate with the damage caused by such illegal operators; if Irish law is in sync with EU policy and directives with regard to this industry; if he will investigate ways to apply current laws and standards of operation to major quarry operators that were in operation prior to the introduction of the planning laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/21]

Public Sector Pay

John McGuinness

544. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if secondary school teachers returning to Ireland from Abu Dhabi having taught in private schools there and wishing to resume teaching in Ireland will qualify for salary increments as is the case with primary school teachers and those in the medical profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21271/21]

Carer's Allowance

John McGuinness

637. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for carer’s allowance will be expedited in the name of persons (details supplied). [21232/21]

HSE Staff

John McGuinness

888. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when the outcome of the job evaluation for homecare support assistants which was promised in September 2020 will be published; if the recommendations of the evaluation will be implemented in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21290/21]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

John McGuinness

986. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason funding was refused under the treatment abroad scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) given a previous application was approved on 20 September 2019; if the procedures are available in hospitals here; if so, the hospital that carry out same; if there is a waiting list; if so, the timeframe involved; if he will examine the case of the person as a matter of urgency with a view to ensuring that the two procedures recommended by their consultants are expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21684/21]

Carer's Allowance

John McGuinness

100. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited given the urgency of the matter. [20989/21]

Invalidity Pension

John McGuinness

101. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will request a full review of an application for invalidity pension which is at appeal stage in the name of a person (details supplied); and if an oral hearing will be arranged in order that they and their family can present their case. [20990/21]

Capital Expenditure Programme

John McGuinness

80. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action he is taking to ensure value for money is obtained for the significantly increased capital budget which will be at an all-time record level in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20396/21]

Capital Expenditure Programme

John McGuinness

92. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action he is taking to strengthen oversight of the capital budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20395/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

141. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Taoiseach the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; and if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors. [20734/21]

Work Permits

John McGuinness

210. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the general employment permit scheme to help alleviate the current labour crisis in the mushroom sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20657/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

211. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20723/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

293. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20724/21]

Air Safety

John McGuinness

369. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if licences issued to fly drones are recorded on a county basis; if so, the number issued for each of the past four years; the way in which the regulations are enforced; the number of breaches recorded in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19413/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

447. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20736/21]

National Treasury Management Agency

John McGuinness

510. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if any of the bond sales on behalf of the State or the NTMA and brokered by a company (details supplied) were sold to parties connected to the company, nominees, associates or subsidiaries of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19617/21]

National Treasury Management Agency

John McGuinness

511. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if a company (details supplied) has declared any potential conflicts of interest to the State in the bond dealings of same on behalf of the State or NTMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19618/21]

National Treasury Management Agency

John McGuinness

512. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the process by which a company (details supplied) was appointed to sell bonds on behalf of the State and NTMA; if he is satisfied that the procurement of the company was in compliance with Irish procurement law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

537. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20725/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

583. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20731/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

663. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the efforts her Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of her Department; if she will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20735/21]

Heritage Council

John McGuinness

740. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of the Heritage Council in assessing grants for the publication of books such as a book (details supplied); the level of funding provided each year for such projects; if there is a separate category for such books giving a unique historical perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19414/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

822. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20729/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

893. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20726/21]

Appointments to State Boards

John McGuinness

912. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20721/21]

Schools Administration

John McGuinness

918. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 3 February 2021, if the response to the Parliamentary Question will be reviewed; her views on same; the process for the change of school status requests from junior infants to co-educational; the timeframe involved; if the correspondence from the school and from a person (details supplied) provide sufficient information to expedite the matter; if her officials have met the representatives of the school; and the number of meetings or engagements that she or her officials have had with the school. [18188/21]