Parliamentary questions

Environmental Impact Assessments

Brian Leddin

74. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the current environmental impact assessment, EIA, regulations are fit for purpose as a deterrent against the removal of hedgerows and other on-farm vegetation; if he will revise the regulations to provide for greater environmental protections for rural landholdings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53243/22]

Food Industry

Holly Cairns

75. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in the programme for Government commitment to "support the small food producer, providing support for on-farm diversification enterprises and investment in local processing facilities, allowing farmers to sell their products into the local and wider domestic markets". [53207/22]

Fur Farming

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

78. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the prohibition on fur farming will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53245/22]

Climate Change Policy

Michael Moynihan

80. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has had with both the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the European Union in relation to the rewetting of farmland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53127/22]

Judicial Appointments

Martin Kenny

1. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the timelines for appointments of new members of the Judiciary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52628/22]

An Garda Síochána

Catherine Murphy

2. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the steps she will take to ensure that the recruitment of new gardaí and civilian staff following the budget 2023 allocation to her Department will meet the announced target; if she has engaged with Garda management in respect of the new recruitment campaign; and the date on which it will commence. [52296/22]

An Garda Síochána

Martin Kenny

3. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties in recruitment and retention in An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52718/22]

Garda Reserve

Willie O'Dea

4. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the development and implementation of the Garda Reserve strategy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52413/22]

Departmental Priorities

Joe Carey

5. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline her legislative priorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51444/22]

Antisocial Behaviour

Richard Bruton

6. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the trends in antisocial behaviour since the end of Covid that require changes in the policy approaches taken by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51943/22]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the additional measures that will be introduced to reduce access to illegal drugs which are causing serious problems in communities throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52114/22]

Sentencing Policy

Joe Carey

8. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether the punishment must match the crime; if she is considering introducing legislation to increase the maximum sentence for any crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51443/22]

Legal Aid

Pauline Tully

9. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice her plans to increase the financial and human resources available to the Legal Aid Board to enable persons with disabilities to vindicate their rights in court, in view of the fact that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 is close to completing all Stages of the legislative process and the decision support service will open thereafter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52429/22]

Citizenship Applications

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

10. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice her views on the possibility of including time accrued with student and graduate visas towards the five-year residency required to apply for citizenship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51376/22]

Traveller Community

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the launch of the Irish Travellers' Access to Justice landmark report, published recently by the University of Limerick, which found that Travellers' trust in the Irish criminal justice system is extremely low; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52181/22]

Insurance Coverage

Ruairí Ó Murchú

15. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on any progress made on advancing duty-of-care legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51619/22]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

75. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his strategy for addressing the collapse of general practice and primary care out-of-hours services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52298/22]

Community Care

Seán Canney

76. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when St. Brendan's day care centre in Loughrea, County Galway will be reopened for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51142/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

David Cullinane

77. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will publish a multiannual waiting list strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52299/22]

Mental Health Services

Peter Fitzpatrick

78. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a psychiatrist will be made available on the HSE team in counties Louth and Meath for children with a dual diagnosis of autism and a moderate learning disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52629/22]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

79. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of drug support workers in County Tipperary; the supports available for young persons with drug addictions in County Tipperary; the steps that will be taken to address the growing drugs crisis in County Tipperary; the measures that his Department is taking to work with An Garda Síochána and other bodies to break the cycle of more young people falling into addiction; the number of people being supported with drug addiction in County Tipperary; the supports available to meet the cost of addiction counselling and rehabilitation; the supports that can be made available to help those who have come through rehabilitation and are facing homelessness, bringing greater risk of falling back into addiction without appropriate housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52630/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

80. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the latest position on conducting a review of Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52402/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

81. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the reason employees from an organisation (details supplied) and other section 39 organisation workers were excluded from the Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52466/22]

Legislative Programme

Duncan Smith

83. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on when the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 will be brought back before Dáil Éireann for its next Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52374/22]

Health Services Staff

Willie O'Dea

84. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of children's disability network teams, CDNTs, in community healthcare organisations, CHOs, 3 and 5; the locations in which each team is based; the numbers of staff in whole-time equivalent, WTE, terms approved for each team; the numbers currently assigned to each team; the number of vacant positions on each team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52416/22]

Departmental Funding

Danny Healy-Rae

86. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address the crisis in the shortage of funding to deal with the provision of section 39 services (details supplied) that are struggling to continue to provide the necessary services for children and adults. [38903/22]

Dental Services

Duncan Smith

89. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issue of backlogs in dental treatment for primary school children and the need for urgent recruitment of dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52376/22]

Nursing Homes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

113. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the timeline for an inquiry into nursing home care during the Covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51614/22]

Citizens' Assembly

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a timeline for future citizens’ assemblies. [50103/22]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a timeline for future citizens’ assemblies. [50106/22]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, NESC. [50104/22]

National Economic and Social Council

Paul Murphy

4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [50107/22]

National Economic and Social Council

Mick Barry

5. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [52019/22]

National Economic and Social Council

Ivana Bacik

6. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [51663/22]

National Economic and Social Council

Cathal Crowe

7. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [52024/22]

National Economic and Social Council

Paul McAuliffe

8. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [52031/22]

National Economic and Social Council

James Lawless

9. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52027/22]

Departmental Bodies

Mary Lou McDonald

10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [48038/22]

Departmental Bodies

Cathal Crowe

11. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [52025/22]

Departmental Bodies

Paul McAuliffe

12. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the policing reform implementation programme office in his Department. [52032/22]

Departmental Bodies

Ivana Bacik

13. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [51661/22]

Departmental Bodies

Gary Gannon

14. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the policing reform implementation programme office based in his Department. [52017/22]

Departmental Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

15. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [51710/22]

Departmental Bodies

Paul Murphy

16. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [51713/22]

Departmental Bodies

James Lawless

17. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [52028/22]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [48746/22]

Economic Policy

Paul Murphy

2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [48747/22]

Economic Policy

Mary Lou McDonald

3. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [49697/22]

Economic Policy

Ivana Bacik

4. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [49899/22]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [49963/22]

Economic Policy

Paul Murphy

6. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [49966/22]

Economic Policy

Peadar Tóibín

7. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [50010/22]

Economic Policy

Mick Barry

8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [50014/22]

Economic Policy

Mick Barry

9. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [50364/22]

Economic Policy

Gary Gannon

10. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [51652/22]

Economic Policy

Brendan Smith

11. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [51688/22]

Social Dialogue

Mary Lou McDonald

12. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit in his Department. [48039/22]

Social Dialogue

Ivana Bacik

13. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit of his Department. [49904/22]

Social Dialogue

Richard Boyd Barrett

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue unit of his Department. [50102/22]

Social Dialogue

Paul Murphy

15. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue unit of his Department. [50105/22]

Social Dialogue

Mick Barry

16. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit in his Department. [50365/22]

Social Dialogue

Gary Gannon

17. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the social dialogue co-ordination unit in his Department. [51653/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mary Lou McDonald

18. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [45437/22]

Cabinet Committees

Neale Richmond

19. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit will next meet. [49696/22]

Cabinet Committees

Seán Haughey

20. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [49949/22]

Cabinet Committees

Brendan Smith

21. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [49952/22]

Cabinet Committees

Ivana Bacik

22. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [49903/22]

Cabinet Committees

Peadar Tóibín

23. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [51564/22]

Cabinet Committees

Gary Gannon

24. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [51654/22]

Cabinet Committees

Mick Barry

25. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [51691/22]

Tax Reliefs

Rose Conway-Walsh

80. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Minister for Finance on extending the renters' tax rebate to students and parents as well as PhD researchers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51723/22]

Third Level Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

81. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he recognises the need to remove all fees for and financial barriers to further and higher education given the shortage of graduates and postgraduates across multiple sectors of Ireland’s economy and public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51823/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Rose Conway-Walsh

82. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated total expenditure from the National Training Fund in 2022; the allocated expenditure for this coming year as part of budget 2023; the estimated reserve in the National Training Fund by the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51724/22]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

83. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the quantum of capital funding which he envisages will be available to draw down over a timeframe to deliver on the aspirations to halt the brain drain in the south east as part of this framework; the new courses, new disciplines and new buildings that are being put in place as part of South East Technological University configuration; the timeframe for this achievement given that he has made great efforts to deliver amalgamation of the new university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52079/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Pringle

84. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025, particularly regarding participation of employers and retention rates of apprentices with their training employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51822/22]

Children in Care

Peadar Tóibín

86. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that are being taken by his Department to assist young people in aftercare, that is persons who have left Tusla residential or foster care placements at the age of 18 years, who are in further or higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51338/22]

Third Level Fees

Violet-Anne Wynne

87. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason mature students who are studying blended learning courses will be ineligible to receive the €1,000 reduction in fees announced in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51632/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Steven Matthews

88. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the initiatives that he plans to encourage the recruitment of apprentices in the renewable energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51441/22]

Third Level Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

90. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address the inequity experienced by PhD researchers who are excluded from the €500 one-off payment; if the PhD researchers excluded are on average on lower stipends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51727/22]

Further and Higher Education

David Stanton

91. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans, if any, for the further development and expansion of local training initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51633/22]

Technological Universities

David Stanton

93. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the further development of the technological universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51634/22]

Third Level Fees

Aindrias Moynihan

96. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his engagement with private third level institutions on the one-off €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students to ensure their inclusion in this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51645/22]

Third Level Fees

Colm Burke

97. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the process for contribution fee refunds in 2022; when students can expect a refund of their contribution fee in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51686/22]

Departmental Reports

Claire Kerrane

1. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the report of the child maintenance review group will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50416/22]

Citizens Information Services

Cathal Berry

2. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the Citizens Information Board's strategic plan in respect of the use of volunteer staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50989/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Claire Kerrane

3. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the processing of additional needs payment applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50417/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Joan Collins

5. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will publish the child maintenance review (details supplied). [50612/22]

Social Welfare Offices

Ruairí Ó Murchú

6. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if additional resources are being given to Intreo centres, in particular community welfare offices, in order to deal with the huge number of additional requests for supplementary welfare and exceptional needs payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49886/22]

Community Employment Schemes

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

7. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans, if any, to review the community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50108/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Emer Higgins

8. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the feasibility of extending child benefit to children who are 18 years or over, but are still in full-time post-primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50309/22]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Paul Donnelly

9. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the delay with the issuing of personal public service, PPS, numbers by her Department; and if there are plans to tackle this delay. [49787/22]

Social Welfare Offices

Rose Conway-Walsh

10. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional resources that were put in place to deal with the surge in applications for supplementary welfare allowance and additional needs payments, given that these are being promoted as a source of additional emergency income for those with increased energy costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50716/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Emer Higgins

11. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a timeframe for the introduction of the cost-of-living payments announced in budget 2023 that are due to be issued before Christmas 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50308/22]

Social Welfare Rates

Claire Kerrane

12. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that her Department will ensure that social welfare payment rates are adequate and that the social protection system protects persons from poverty considering the announcement of a €12 increase to the weekly core payment rates in budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50411/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Alan Farrell

29. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who will benefit from the double payment of child benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49598/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

46. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when she expects to be able to provide the bonus child benefit payment to families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50617/22]

Cost of Living Issues

David Stanton

50. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for cost-of-living payments issued before Christmas 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50367/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Colm Burke

60. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when cost-of-living payments scheduled before Christmas 2022 will issue to recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50532/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Neale Richmond

74. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost-of-living supports her Department announced in budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49689/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Kieran O'Donnell

82. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline all of the cost-of-living measures and payments due in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50598/22]