Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

124. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what considerations he has given to the proposed four day work week across the public sector as raised by multiple trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5769/24]

Public Sector Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

172. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is considering the high cost of accommodation as a significant factor in recruitment and retention challenges; and what considerations will be given to this. [5955/24]

National Development Plan

Richard Boyd Barrett

173. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will consider the establishment of a state-run construction company to assist in achieving the National Development Plan goals and particularly the urgent need to address the housing crisis and critical infrastructure development. [5956/24]

Central Statistics Office

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to provide details on Ireland’s annual drowning rate; the way this compares with other countries in Europe; and to provide a breakdown of drowning rates by county. [5178/24]

Driver Test

Richard Boyd Barrett

73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the number of permanent staff employed by the Road Safety Authority as driver testers by testing centre; to provide an updated account of the waiting times for driving test applicants by testing centre; to provide a breakdown of the number of contract staff employed as driver testers; the retention rate of both permanent and contract staff employed as driver testers in the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5180/24]

Joint Labour Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

148. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given that employers, security officers and trade unions had up to 2 January 2024 to enter submissions and that almost one month has elapsed since; when he plans to sign the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee Employment Regulation Order draft proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5467/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

182. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the proposed date for the completed construction of the Dún Laoghaire Education Together National School; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5125/24]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Boyd Barrett

183. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education how the Department is calculating the data which allocates special education teachers and the adjustments made based on complex needs; if the Department has received this data and will report on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5126/24]

Legal Aid

Richard Boyd Barrett

345. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the amount that has been spent by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review of the Legal Aid Service for 2022 and 2023; the details of these payments; the companies and individuals that received same; the amount received by each company and individual; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5211/24]

Legal Aid

Richard Boyd Barrett

346. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the amount that has been accrued, but is as yet unpaid, by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the PIA Review of the Legal Aid Service since its inception in 2016 to date; the details of these liabilities; the companies to which they are owed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5212/24]

Public Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

30. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to act on the motion passed by Dáil Éireann in October 2022 in favour of free public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4625/24]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

65. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to outline how he intends to address the impact of the shortage of drivers on the delivery of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the latest projections for corporate tax revenue, given the introduction of 15% effective corporate tax rate for 2024 and 2025; and if he is satisfied that 15% will in reality be an effective tax rate. [4572/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

98. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a digital tax on digital and social media companies, as an alternative method of funding public service broadband to replace the regressive and widely discredited TV licence model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/24]

Data Centres

Richard Boyd Barrett

119. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a specific tax on data centres given their high impact on our energy and resource infrastructure. [4571/24]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

125. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the penalties he is considering on film production companies found to be in breach of their requirement and obligation for receiving section 481 film tax credit funding, given the recent Workplace Relations Commission rulings against a company (details supplied) for its failure to uphold the employment rights and blacklisting of 38 film crew; if he intends to undertake an investigation into whether the practices at play in these cases are widespread in the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4573/24]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

145. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider and introduction of a wealth tax, given recent reports by an organisation (details supplied) and the Central Bank on the wealth distribution showing ever growing concentration of wealth in the hands of the very wealthiest households. [4570/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Richard Boyd Barrett

342. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the list of Mother and Baby Homes and any other State institutions that are included in the Redress Scheme, and to provide also a list of institutions that are not included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4662/24]

Legislative Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [4020/24]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the activities of the sole remaining animal shelter in Gaza, Sulala Animal Rescue, and its collaboration with Animals Australia; whether he has raised the issue of animal feed reaching the shelter through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint with the Israeli Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/24]