Parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

151. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when parents who avail of childcare through a childminder can expect to avail of the reduction in childcare fees announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49691/22]

Childcare Services

Seán Haughey

152. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date in advancing reforms to the operating model for childcare in Ireland; the timeline that he expects the proposed agency to be established by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50386/22]

Childcare Services

Brendan Griffin

153. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the way childcare costs will be reduced for families in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50618/22]

Legislative Reviews

Bernard Durkan

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consideration that he has given to a review of the legislation underpinning Section 47 reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50590/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Mark Ward

155. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the constitutional challenge by a ward of court as referred to by him during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Assisted-Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50737/22]

Childcare Services

Michael Moynihan

156. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date under the Childminding Action Plan; the way in which it is anticipated that childminders may ultimately avail of national childcare scheme benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50389/22]

Legislative Measures

Neasa Hourigan

157. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline progress to date on the development of a legal ban on the practice of conversion therapy; when he expects legislation to be ready for introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/22]

Childcare Services

Alan Dillon

158. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline details of a new scheme under the Childminding Action Plan to simplify the registration of childminders to help parents access Government subsidies under the national childcare scheme. [50708/22]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

159. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that refugees placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ruairí Ó Murchú

160. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans, if any, to deliver a sustainable, affordable early learning and pre-school sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/22]

Budget 2023

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

161. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the impact that the Budget 2023 changes on childcare costs will have for parents in Dún Laoghaire having regard to the unduly high costs currently incurred there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50032/22]

Adoption Services

Martin Browne

162. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are sufficient staff involved in the online operation of the information and tracing services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 at birthinfo.ie; his views on persons claiming to have been dealt with abruptly after contacting Tusla by phone due to issues with the online system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50743/22]

Childcare Services

Paul McAuliffe

163. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to increase childcare places in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50622/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brendan Smith

164. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had discussions recently with representative organisations concerning the impact of recent changes in relation to the core funding model given that concerns have been experienced by some ECCE childcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50623/22]

Irish Sign Language

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the final report by the National Disability Authority on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 that was provided to the Minister in July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50632/22]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

166. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider requesting an assessment from each county childcare committee of the balance between supply and demand in different areas of childcare; if he will request that they make a formal submission to the revision of each county development plan on the matter; if he will provide an update on existing supply constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50637/22]

Childcare Services

Emer Higgins

167. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the newly announced pay rates for the childcare sector will include recognition of long service or an incremental pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50311/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

168. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated savings to parents following the introduction of supports for children in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50534/22]

Childcare Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

169. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when childminders will be added to the national childcare scheme; if an interim measure will be introduced in order that parents who utilise a childminder could avail of the reduction in childcare fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50213/22]

Work Permits

Cathal Crowe

170. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will intervene in the application of a person (details supplied) for a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51039/22]

Judicial Reviews

Catherine Murphy

171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of judicial reviews taken against his Department in the past ten years to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will indicate in the reply the body and or person that initiated judicial review proceedings; the number of judicial reviews that remain open and or active; and the totality of costs incurred by his Department as a result of judicial reviews over that time period. [50754/22]

Food Prices

Brendan Howlin

172. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions that he has taken to date to ensure that bread retailers are not over-charging for this basic food stuff; if his attention has been drawn to bakers who are concerned that some retailers are inflating the price of bread above that being charged to them by suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50792/22]

EU Regulations

Catherine Murphy

173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date on which Section/Paragraph 19 of the European Communities (Credit Institutions: Accounts) Regulations 1992 was first amended to allow for the adoption of international accounting standards that delay the recognition of loan losses in view of the fact that the concept of prudence, as defined in Section/Paragraph 19 requires the immediate recognition of losses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50799/22]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

174. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify his Department's response to the current impediments placed on the ERO for security workers; if he intends to take action on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50801/22]

Work Permits

Richard O'Donoghue

175. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the new applications for permits will be issued for dairy farm workers outside of the EU (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50932/22]

National Minimum Wage

Thomas Pringle

176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the national minimum wage rate in Ireland in each of the years 2007 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51003/22]

Judicial Reviews

Catherine Murphy

177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of judicial reviews taken against his Department in the past ten years to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will indicate in the reply the body and or person that initiated judicial review proceedings; the number of judicial reviews that remain open and or active; and the totality of costs incurred by his Department as a result of judicial reviews over that time period. [50755/22]

Energy Policy

Mark Ward

178. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the provisions that are in place for residents who are using a coin meter for electricity to claim the energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50781/22]

Energy Policy

Louise O'Reilly

179. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a community group (details supplied) qualifies for an energy credit, or for any energy supports to help with the increased cost of energy bills. [50808/22]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

180. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to instances in relation to the electricity cost emergency benefit scheme where a unique MPRN meter is split into multiple meters across two or more units and the energy credit is then split between each unit, resulting in a lower payment per person and affecting often more vulnerable energy users in these circumstances; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50859/22]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

181. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to instances in relation to the electricity cost emergency benefit scheme where a landlord may have a single business meter for a property split between units as opposed to residential meters, resulting in no energy credit being passed onto the residents; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50860/22]

Departmental Reports

Michael Ring

182. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of a report (details supplied). [50928/22]

Energy Policy

Brendan Griffin

183. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the up-to-date position on the ban on smoky coal sales; the steps that retailers are expected to take with stock that remains unsold by the ban date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50977/22]

Energy Policy

Bernard Durkan

184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if and when the appropriate warmer homes grant can be made available through Kildare County Council to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51055/22]

Public Transport

Richard O'Donoghue

185. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many students complete the Leaving Certificate aged 16-19 years and start college, and subsequently cannot obtain a Leap card (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50930/22]

Public Transport

Gary Gannon

186. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport if he can confirm that hard copies of the Ballymun core bus corridor, CBC, consultation will be placed in Ballymun and Millmount libraries in order that residents without access to IT can review and engage with the consultation. [51087/22]

Aviation Industry

Neasa Hourigan

187. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the number of ghost flights operated without or with few passengers; if he will provide the details of same in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021; his plans to address this environmentally damaging practice by airlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50727/22]

Judicial Reviews

Catherine Murphy

188. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of judicial reviews taken against his Department in the past ten years to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will indicate in the reply the body and or person that initiated judicial review proceedings; the number of judicial reviews that remain open and or active; and the totality of costs incurred by his Department as a result of judicial reviews over that time period. [50766/22]

Bus Services

Neale Richmond

189. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with Go-Ahead Ireland regarding its consistently late buses and buses not turning up, especially on the 17 route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50787/22]

Bus Services

Mairéad Farrell

190. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider providing additional buses on the 424 route into Galway city in the morning in order to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50791/22]

Greenways Provision

Emer Higgins

191. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a progress update on the delivery of the Hazelhatch greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50797/22]

Greenways Provision

Emer Higgins

192. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport his views on the feasibility of delivering the impending Hazelhatch greenway in tandem with the works needed to widen the road at the canal bridge in order to deliver the full W6 bus route service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50798/22]

Road Projects

Steven Matthews

193. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he will take to ensure that local authorities are adequately funding to address new noise mitigation requirements associated with road noise; if an action plan that identifies key locations that need to be addressed is already available at council level; if funding will be forthcoming to support same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50807/22]

Bus Services

Neale Richmond

194. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the 114 bus route operated by a company (details supplied) is often very late or does not show up leading to jobs being put at risk due to the lateness of commuters; if he will engage with Dublin Bus in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50814/22]

Departmental Correspondence

Niall Collins

195. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport his views on a transport issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50848/22]

Departmental Correspondence

Brendan Griffin

196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50850/22]

Bus Services

Paul Kehoe

197. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the options that are available to third-level students from County Wexford who have no direct bus route from Wexford to the third-level institutions in Limerick given that the private bus operator that was offering the service has cancelled it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50955/22]

Rail Network

Michael Ring

198. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport if plans for the new metro will have consequences for the environmentally sensitive area of St. Stephen's Green; if a plan or biodiversity audit has been drawn up to protect this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50963/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Éamon Ó Cuív

199. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he intends ensuring quads, commonly used in hill areas as a substitute for tractors, given they are more agile on hills than tractors, are considered agricultural vehicles for vehicle tax purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50996/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Éamon Ó Cuív

200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he intends changing the law to ensure members of farm families who commonly use their vehicles for farm purposes but are not the registered owner or lessee of land, and where these vehicles otherwise comply with all regulations in relation to commercial vehicle tax registration, are able to register their vehicles as commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50997/22]