Parliamentary questions

Antisocial Behaviour

Fergus O'Dowd

172. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are currently any Memos of Understanding in respect of housing agreed between local authorities and An Garda Síochána that allows both agencies to work collaboratively to collate information on anti-social housing issues in order for local authorities to manage their stock appropriately to ensure anti-social behaviour within estates is targeted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22216/22]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

173. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the applications for the collapsing graveyard wall at Darver and for ongoing conservation work on Drogheda’s town wall at Featherbed Lane were unsuccessful through the Community Monuments Funds 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21672/22]

Primary Medical Certificates

Fergus O'Dowd

437. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of primary medical certificate applications that are currently submitted awaiting assessment; the expected length of time to clear the backlog; the length of time applicants can expect to wait for a decision on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21789/22]

Alcohol Sales

Fergus O'Dowd

259. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will respond to concerns raised by local publicans and vintners' representatives in respect of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2021 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21620/22]

Post Office Network

Fergus O'Dowd

62. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment; Climate and Communications if a response will issue to the concerns raised by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21343/22]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

87. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme application can be considered a joint application under a discretionary process considering the practicalities in such a circumstance further to the recent changes announced to the Tenant Incremental Purchase Scheme in which the applicants are married since 2008 but only one of the applicants is on the tenancy agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21352/22]

Electric Vehicles

Fergus O'Dowd

92. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he has taken to ensure that residents of apartments and duplexes can access electric vehicle schemes and install electric vehicle chargers to pro-actively encourage more transition to electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18660/22]

Energy Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

266. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is currently assessing an alternate method to deliver the €200 rebate payment to those full-time mobile home residents considering in many cases their income levels and vulnerability (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/22]

Environmental Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

332. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the Government’s strategy on fast fashion will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21259/22]

Tax Code

Fergus O'Dowd

512. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to proposals raised in correspondence (details supplied) in regard to taxation and the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20386/22]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

961. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the current support services and targeted information classes and advice on existing mental health supports for children in the Louth and east Meath school catchments area; if she will identify the planned expansion of support services into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21200/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Fergus O'Dowd

1106. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the concerns raised by a Montessori school (details supplied) in respect of the core funding model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19501/22]

Dental Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1502. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his and his Department's discussions with the Irish Dental Association in respect of the provision of appropriate dental services for medical card holders; the way that he intends to address the urgent crisis in counties Louth and Meath where over two thirds of registered dentists have left the GMS scheme since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19856/22]

Hospital Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1522. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently review and intervene in the continued closure of the north-east regional orthopaedic unit for elective surgeries, which is leaving persons in extraordinary circumstances; if his attention has been drawn to the significant concerns raised by eight orthopaedic surgeons to HSE management in respect of the impact closures have had on the elective list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19922/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Fergus O'Dowd

1550. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied); the supports available in such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20105/22]

Eating Disorders

Fergus O'Dowd

1574. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the services currently available for persons suffering from eating disorders; the future provision plans for health services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20174/22]

Health Services Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

1636. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will raise concerns (details supplied) in respect of paediatric occupational therapist provision in County Louth; the HSE's plans to address such a disparity in services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20419/22]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1829. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue in relation to urgent concerns raised in correspondence by a number of persons (details supplied) in respect of orthopaedic services in the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21139/22]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1838. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of existing mental health supports for children in the Louth and east Meath area; if he will identify those supports; if his attention has been drawn to the significant waiting lists for these essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21197/22]

Foreign Direct Investment

Fergus O'Dowd

10. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline Government plans to attract indigenous and foreign direct investment to Drogheda in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18658/22]

Regional Development

Fergus O'Dowd

66. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide further details on the way that the North-East Regional Enterprise Plan will directly benefit County Louth and in particular Drogheda, Dundalk, Ardee and Dunleer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18659/22]

Air Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

126. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the proposed establishment of dedicated resources within regional lead authorities to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to support consistent enforcement of the new air quality regulations across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18661/22]

Departmental Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address concerns raised by a service (details supplied) in respect of a recent tender decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18916/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

6. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to proposals (details supplied) in respect of a wider response to the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18430/22]

Sports Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

57. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to funding schemes that would be considered for a club (details supplied) following its selection to host the Junior American NBA programme in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18616/22]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

67. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if discretion can be used in which an application for a local authority home loan has been submitted by a single applicant and the person’s employment certificate is showing that they are over the threshold due to overtime which is irregular and no longer available; if a discretionary decision can be considered in which the applicant can show a much reduced income in the previous and subsequent employment certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18460/22]

Tax Reliefs

Fergus O'Dowd

103. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if her Department is in a position to open up a more flexible taxsaver scheme with regard to teachers that are either moving jobs for new academic years or are substitute teachers and may only need public transport for certain blocks in a calendar year; if such a scheme can be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18506/22]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

489. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if a response will issue to concerns raised by the principal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18085/22]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

490. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if a response will issue to concerns raised by the principal of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18086/22]

State Examinations

Fergus O'Dowd

492. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if a response will issue to concerns raised by a teacher (details supplied) in respect of the senior cycle reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18159/22]

Schools Building Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

504. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the current position with regard to the proposed new special school to replace schools (details supplied); the projected timelines on commencement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18289/22]

Further and Higher Education

Fergus O'Dowd

586. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of pay scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18252/22]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

275. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to concerns raised by parents in respect of the introduction of the new special needs assistant modelling (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17227/22]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

306. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of a special needs assistant allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17366/22]

Community Development Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

479. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are plans or proposed locations for pubs as community hubs in County Louth or east County Meath following the announcement of the pilot programme on 25 March 2022; when she expects to review the pilot programme and possibly implement same across a number of further locations and counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17116/22]

Electricity Generation

Fergus O'Dowd

6. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are any plans from within Government to pay for electricity that is returned to the grid by domestic solar units to encourage more people to invest in solar energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16803/22]

Flood Risk Management

Fergus O'Dowd

33. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the CFRAM programme proposed for the east County Meath area to address some of the additional flood risks that have been identified over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16738/22]

Gangland Crime

Fergus O'Dowd

77. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a detailed update on the progress made on implementing the recommendations of the scoping report into community safety and well-being in Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16068/22]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

135. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the discussions that have taken place within her Department and with other key Departments with regard to addressing and increasing funding and supports for refuge services across the country which are at breaking point in many cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16069/22]

Energy Prices

Fergus O'Dowd

207. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will take steps to resolve the issues raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the communal heating scheme at a location; if he has raised his concerns in relation to same with the regulator; if he will review any possible gaps in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16065/22]

Tax Reliefs

Fergus O'Dowd

259. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will address the concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the difficulty of claiming health expenses for diagnosed coeliacs given the difficulty in obtaining detailed receipts for coeliac goods; if there are proposals to make such expense submission more user friendly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Fergus O'Dowd

490. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to or can provide details on the approximate number of persons over the age of 66 years who are currently living alone in the State who are not in receipt of the living alone allowance as they are not in receipt of one of the qualifying social welfare payments required; her plans to expand the scheme to this cohort considering the significant increase in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16665/22]

Energy Prices

Fergus O'Dowd

9. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is monitoring the impact of recent cost-of-living measures with a view to their effectiveness, given both inflation and increases in energy prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14569/22]

Ukraine War

Fergus O'Dowd

29. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the social welfare supports offered and accessed by persons and families that are fleeing the Ukrainian crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14570/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Fergus O'Dowd

113. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that he is taking to safeguard SMEs from the debilitating increases in energy prices which will force many to close their doors if supports are not put in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14759/22]

Energy Prices

Fergus O'Dowd

151. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that he is taking to safeguard charities and community groups from the debilitating increases in energy prices which will force many groups to close their services if supports are not put in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14762/22]

Ukraine War

Fergus O'Dowd

262. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the supports that are in place or being considered to allow Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in circumstances in which they are staying with an Irish family to be added to Irish car insurance policies; if he will respond to reports that some insurance providers are declining applications for this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14613/22]

Ukraine War

Fergus O'Dowd

263. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if supports are currently being considered in respect of Ukrainians fleeing the conflict and finding safe refuge in Ireland who wish to set up an Irish bank account considering the pressure and lack of access to Ukrainian banks at present (details supplied); and the way that this issue will be addressed. [14616/22]

Arts Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

294. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the case of funding for a theatre production (details supplied) will be urgently reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14228/22]

Ukraine War

Fergus O'Dowd

424. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to or if he will propose to an organisation (details supplied) that ride-on ride-off ferries currently located in the Black Sea could be converted or seconded to help evacuate civilians and wounded by sea from Mariupol which according to reports is running out of food and water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/22]