Parliamentary questions

Departmental Funding

Marian Harkin

642. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57618/22]

Hospital Services

Marian Harkin

645. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the pain clinic at Sligo University Hospital will return to full capacity; the plans that are in place to deal with the extremely long waiting lists for pain management, with patients waiting up to three years for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57678/22]

Departmental Circulars

Marian Harkin

773. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has issued any guidelines to local authorities to cease using weed killers containing glyphosate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57705/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Marian Harkin

154. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance the number of appeals that were heard in relation to the 'Seize and Release' VRT enforcement procedure for each of the years 2015 to 2021; the number of such appeals that were successful (details supplied); the corresponding data in respect to the 'Seize and Release' procedure for October 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57074/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Marian Harkin

155. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance the VRT enforcement targets for each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57075/22]

Animal Diseases

Marian Harkin

315. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of badgers that were infected with TB of those that have been culled or vaccinated in 2019, 2020 and 2021. [57042/22]

Healthcare Policy

Marian Harkin

172. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the basis for a recent decision in regard to home births (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56798/22]

Animal Culls

Marian Harkin

202. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of badgers that were culled or vaccinated in each of the years 2019 to 2021. [56870/22]

Tax Code

Marian Harkin

213. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance the plans that he has explored in order to introduce a new taxation policy on biofuels; if carbon tax will be applied to biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56635/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

388. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the most recent figure on the number of carers in receipt of carer's allowance, including half-rate carer's allowance; the number of carers who receive a reduced rate of carer's allowance due to means; and the breakdown of these rates by the number of person's receiving a carer's allowance payment under €100, between €100 and €150; between €150 and €200 and between €200 and €220, in tabular form. [56425/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

389. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the most recent figure on the total number of carers in receipt of carer's benefit and half-rate carer's allowance. [56426/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

390. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of the total number of carers who received the carer's support grant to date in 2022; of these, the number of carers who receive the carer's support grant as a stand-alone payment, that is they do not receive carer's allowance, carer's benefit or DCA; and the number of carers who receive the carer's support grant annually, through applications made throughout 2022, in tabular form. [56427/22]

Tax Reliefs

Marian Harkin

93. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if he will increase the percentage payment for the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, to SMEs that are highly energy-dependent and where their energy bills are a significant portion of their outgoings. [53732/22]

Special Educational Needs

Marian Harkin

72. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education , further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 15 February 2022, if she will include the CHO 1 area in the extension of the pilot of the school inclusion model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55681/22]

Departmental Reports

Marian Harkin

92. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the date for the publication of the Child Maintenance Review Group Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55754/22]

Road Network

Marian Harkin

199. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport when the preferred option will be selected for approval on the section of road on the N17 between Castleoye and Temple House Crossroads, County Sligo; when the junctions on this section of road will be improved and made safer for local residents as was promised in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54834/22]

Tax Code

Marian Harkin

271. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the VAT turnover threshold from the current €37,500 to at least €50,000, given the increase in the cost of services and the increased cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54640/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

507. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the measures that will be taken to alleviate the issue of overcrowding on school buses from Kinlough and Bundoran to Ballyshannon, given that there is insufficient space due to an intake of new students from Ukraine, with insufficient space on existing transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54145/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

508. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if a new school bus route can be established between Grange and Ballyshannon to cater for the demand for school transport in that area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54146/22]

School Facilities

Marian Harkin

509. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the progress on the repair of the wheelchair lift at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54147/22]

Schools Building Projects

Marian Harkin

510. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the supports that are available for a school (details supplied) to install solar panels on the roof of its building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54148/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

653. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending illness benefit to those workers who are also in receipt of another social welfare payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54659/22]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Marian Harkin

667. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection when funding will be put in place to continue the abhaile scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54868/22]

Child Poverty

Marian Harkin

742. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to develop a new National Child Poverty Plan to address high levels of poverty in households headed by one parent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55755/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Marian Harkin

767. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated timeline for publication of the codes of practice under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. [54865/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Marian Harkin

768. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated timeline for the publication of the court rules under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. [54866/22]

Grant Payments

Marian Harkin

801. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider adding graduate-entry medicine students to the SUSI grant scheme to help alleviate the costs of that programme for low-income students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54150/22]

Third Level Fees

Marian Harkin

802. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason for the omission of graduate-entry medicine students from lowered contribution fees for higher education students announced in budget 2023, during a time of a shortage of doctors and medical staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54151/22]

Third Level Fees

Marian Harkin

803. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to students to alleviate the high cost of the graduate-entry medicine programme at University College Dublin (details supplied); the plans in place to bring the fees down in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54152/22]

Hospital Staff

Marian Harkin

952. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who have been recruited in Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital as of 24 October 2022 to implement the winter plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54344/22]

Health Services

Marian Harkin

966. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when named day centres (details supplied) will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54410/22]

Freedom of Information

Marian Harkin

968. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the actions that his Department will take to supply information requested under a freedom of information request to a named person (details supplied). [54416/22]

Vaccination Programme

Marian Harkin

1015. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of house-bound persons still awaiting a second Covid-19 vaccine; the plans in place to administer the second and third booster vaccinations to this cohort (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54573/22]

Vaccination Programme

Marian Harkin

1018. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a second booster vaccine; the reason that this has not happened to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54607/22]

Medical Cards

Marian Harkin

1043. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if an emergency medical card will be extended for a person (details supplied). [54661/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Marian Harkin

1087. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health following an agreement of the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work on the need to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease, if he plans to make Covid-19 an occupational injury in Ireland; the plans that are in place to support those suffering long term effects of Covid which was contracted in the course of their work during the height of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54861/22]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

1262. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request that the forestry appeals committee provides him with an explanation as to the reason the committee will not receive appeals against forestry licences through electronic means, given the very narrow window for making an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54553/22]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

312. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the Forest Service does not routinely require the licensee to provide his Department with notification of when felling works are to be commenced and concluded, even where felling licences are issued for a period of ten years, given his role in monitoring and enforcing forestry licences (details supplied). [53914/22]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

313. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he, as a shareholder in Coillte Teoranta, will clarify information regarding the estimated volume of timber to be felled under felling licences dated 2021, granted by his Department (details supplied). [53915/22]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

314. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he, as a shareholder in Coillte Teoranta, will provide a detailed explanation as to the reason that the area of forest classed as 'High Conservation Value Forest' managed by Coillte has decreased by 11,016 hectares (approximately 10%) from 107,083 hectares to 96,097 hectares over the past 12 months, according to reports (details supplied). [53916/22]

Daylight Savings Time

Marian Harkin

52. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans in relation to daylight savings time; his views on the merits of forgoing the winter daylight saving time change given the current energy crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53664/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

135. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to any early years' services that have closed recently; the circumstances of those closures; and his views on the closures. [53702/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

136. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial supports that are available to community and private early years' services which find themselves in financial difficulty. [53703/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

137. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any early years' services have engaged with their local childcare committee to get financial supports in 2022. [53704/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

138. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the types of funding available to ECCE, sessional early years' services; the current financial viability of those services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53705/22]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

205. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 2116 of 8 September 2022, when he will be informing the Director-General of the Environment of the European Commission of the error in his Department's letter dated 24 November 2021, and specifically informing the Director-General of the Environment of the European Commission that 232,000 hectares, and not 136,000 hectares as previously advised by his Department to DG ENV, of the Coillte estate is on peatland soils, that is, 53% of the Coillte estate. [53891/22]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

206. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the 232,000 hectares of the Coillte estate on peatland soils that are planted with trees, and to apportion the total figure between lands on peatland soils planted with trees managed by Coillte primarily for commercial timber production and lands on peatland soils planted with trees managed by Coillte, primarily for biodiversity protection. [53892/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Marian Harkin

81. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the ramping-up of energy production on Irish farms and in particular, the use of anaerobic digesters. [53252/22]

Education and Training Boards

Marian Harkin

273. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science's reply to Parliamentary Question 140 of 18 October 2022, if he will provide an update on the progress of the joint proposal from officials in the Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and officials in the Department of Education, aimed at resolving outstanding issues in regard to employment contracts and conditions for adult education tutors employed by ETBs and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52909/22]

State Pensions

Marian Harkin

447. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an issue (details supplied) in relation to D stamp pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52955/22]

Budget 2023

Marian Harkin

606. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the amount of the €4 million funding in Budget 2023 requested by an organisation (details supplied) that was allocated to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52910/22]

Budget 2023

Marian Harkin

607. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the amount of the €941,000 funding in Budget 2023 requested by an organisation (details supplied) that was allocated to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52911/22]

Housing Schemes

Marian Harkin

219. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider an increase to the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability and housing aid for older people scheme grant, given the increased construction costs and increased costs of building materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52484/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Marian Harkin

258. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making the fuel allowance available to those person aged over 66 years with a disability (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52475/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Marian Harkin

259. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend the fuel allowance to those in receipt of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52476/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

260. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the €500 payment for people with disabilities to those who have moved to the State contributory pension due to their age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52477/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

261. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the recent RSS and Tús top-up of €5 in Budget 2023 to at least €12 to keep pace with other social welfare payments. [52480/22]

Family Resource Centres

Marian Harkin

284. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to an increase in funding to all Family Resource Centres, so that all FRCs receive a minimum of €166,400 annually through core funding under the National FRC programme with an adequate percentage increase annually thereafter in view of the recent increase in Tusla funding in Budget 2023 to €37 million. [52478/22]

DNA Database

Marian Harkin

285. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will reconsider his position to set up a database to hold DNA samples of family members of those who were resident at St. Mary's Mother and Baby home in Tuam. [52479/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Marian Harkin

76. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide statistics relating to the use of the seize and release VRT enforcement procedure to obtain roadside cash payment of compromise penalties for September 2022, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52452/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Marian Harkin

141. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of agents acting on behalf of a person who cannot manage their own financial affairs within the Department; and if she will provide a breakdown of the number of agents categorised across social protection schemes in tabular form. [52386/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Marian Harkin

142. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if current arrangements with regard to the appointment of agents acting on behalf of a person who cannot manage their own financial affairs will remain valid in view of the commencement of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 or if amendments will be necessary. [52387/22]

Education and Training Boards

Marian Harkin

140. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of regularising the terms and conditions of adult education tutors employed by education and training boards; the timeline to address the outstanding commitments, recommendations, awards and claims within the terms of the quantum of the sectoral bargaining fund available for agreed sectoral bargaining units; if an agreed approach with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has been reached; and when a proposal will be made to staff representatives with a view to resolving outstanding issues. [51641/22]

EU Regulations

Marian Harkin

790. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the actions taken around the new medical device regulation, MDR, which came into effect on 26 May 2021 (details supplied); the specific actions which he is taking to address this urgent matter at both Irish and EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51757/22]

Broadband Infrastructure

Marian Harkin

193. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline and date for the roll-out of broadband in an area (details supplied) of County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50060/22]

Driver Test

Marian Harkin

227. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for their driving test; and if this date will stand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49627/22]

Tax Code

Marian Harkin

276. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, that are in place to reduce the current 13.5% VAT rate to the beauty industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50114/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Marian Harkin

278. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50146/22]

National Educational Psychological Service

Marian Harkin

385. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the reason that a National Educational Psychological Service psychologist has not been assigned to a school (details supplied); and if this matter will be rectified as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49628/22]

Education Policy

Marian Harkin

386. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education her plans to make funding available to fund a training programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49629/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

436. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an application for school transport for a number of pupils (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50153/22]

Energy Policy

Marian Harkin

133. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if provision for electricity credits will be made for voluntary organisations (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49254/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Marian Harkin

159. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the statistics on vehicles (details supplied) from May to August 2022 inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49158/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Marian Harkin

261. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making available financial assistance to families to assist with extra food costs for those suffering food allergies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49253/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Marian Harkin

276. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider an extension to child benefit payments for parents who continue to have children in education after the age of 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49255/22]

Healthcare Policy

Marian Harkin

368. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he is considering increasing the minimum age to purchase cigarettes to 21 years following the publication of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49256/22]

Taxi Regulations

Marian Harkin

212. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will review a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48641/22]

Planning Issues

Marian Harkin

325. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify, in the context of a review of solar panel planning exemptions, if planning permission is required for the installation of solar PV panels on listed buildings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48640/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Marian Harkin

503. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to an accreditation issue with a course (details supplied); and the plans that are in place to deal with this matter. [48188/22]

Departmental Reviews

Marian Harkin

727. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the independent review of radiation therapy; if he will provide a timeline for the commencement of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48642/22]

Health Services Staff

Marian Harkin

728. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to deal with the severe shortage of radiation therapists in the HSE, of which currently, 15% of positions are vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48643/22]

Departmental Funding

Marian Harkin

3. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the assistance that is available to community festivals and shows to help with their running costs, including insurance. [47526/22]

Electric Vehicles

Marian Harkin

93. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to the introduction of contactless card payment on electric vehicle chargers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47699/22]

Housing Schemes

Marian Harkin

170. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the income threshold to a minimum of €50,000 to qualify for council housing assistance supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47810/22]

Health Services

Marian Harkin

244. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the lack of on-call services for the HSE in the community at weekends from Friday evening until Monday morning (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47678/22]

Electric Vehicles

Marian Harkin

114. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if there are further supports available to owners of electric vehicles given the escalating cost of electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47463/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Marian Harkin

276. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify a matter in relation to the fuel allowance (details supplied). [46406/22]

Social Welfare Appeals

Marian Harkin

86. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for a decision on a social welfare appeal of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46141/22]

Departmental Funding

Marian Harkin

305. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm the maintenance of the school library book fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45403/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

350. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided as a matter of urgency for children (details supplied) in County Sligo. [45846/22]

Wildlife Protection

Marian Harkin

599. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will use his powers under Section 7b (2) of the Forestry Act before 1st March 2023 to retrospectively amend the conditions of any relevant previously issued unexpired and unexercised licences to amend the dates so that they recognise the Hen Harrier breeding period to start on the 1 March of any given year with a concomitant increase in the period of protection for this threatened species given the change (based on expert ornithological advice) in the officially recognised start of the Hen Harrier breeding period from 1 April to 1 March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45892/22]

Energy Prices

Marian Harkin

57. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that he proposes to take to support small businesses dealing with escalating electricity costs. [45155/22]

Rural Schemes

Marian Harkin

95. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends to review the local action group structure in the LEADER Programme; and if so, the criteria that she proposes to use for same. [45173/22]

Rural Schemes

Marian Harkin

124. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeframe for the commencement of the Leader programme; and if there will be scope for local development companies to administer other programmes, given the shortfall of funding. [45153/22]

Rural Schemes

Marian Harkin

134. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding arrangements that will be put in place for the Leader programme in 2023. [45154/22]

Tax Code

Marian Harkin

194. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have paused the use of the seize and release procedure and section 144 (2) of the Finance Act 2001 as amended to demand and / or offer on-the-spot roadside cash payment of compromise penalties in exchange for the restoration of vehicles seized for alleged VRT offences; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45348/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

231. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided as a matter of urgency for named persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45222/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

344. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if the availability of school transport for a student (details supplied) will be confirmed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45011/22]

Vacant Properties

Marian Harkin

583. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to extend the Croí Cónaithe towns fund to include rural properties outside towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43077/22]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

923. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in place to deal with the severe shortfall in school transport places for the 2022-2023 school year, in particular the number of children who previously had concessionary transport for the past number of years and who now find themselves without school transport this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43306/22]