Parliamentary questions

Social Welfare Appeals

Denis Naughten

386. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of oral appeals held by the social welfare appeals office in 2021 and to date in 2022, which were held remotely, aurally and physically in person respectively; the steps which are being taken to increase the number of decisions made by oral determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56405/22]

Climate Change Policy

Denis Naughten

4. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the steps which he intends to take on foot of the Climate Change Advisory Council-commissioned report from the OECD on reducing Ireland's transport emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54970/22]

Rail Network

Denis Naughten

14. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to increase passenger numbers on regional rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54972/22]

Coast Guard Service

Denis Naughten

41. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to enhance the level of cover provided by the Irish Coast Guard service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54974/22]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Denis Naughten

51. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to provide park-and-ride facilities to reduce traffic congestion and emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54975/22]

Cycling Facilities

Denis Naughten

54. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve the standard of urban cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54976/22]

Coast Guard Service

Denis Naughten

70. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the establishment of a small capital grant for mountain and sub-aqua rescue and recovery groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54973/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Denis Naughten

112. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will review section 38 of the Finance Act 2018, which removed the VAT on the VRT repayment scheme for the car hire industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54959/22]

Primary Medical Certificates

Denis Naughten

122. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to amend the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54960/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Denis Naughten

177. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if homeowners and small business can avail of the solar installation grant up to the maximum of €2,400 if they install in excess of 4kWp domestically or 6kWp commercially, in view of the removal of planning restrictions on the installation of solar panels; his plans to remove this barrier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55987/22]

Rail Network

Denis Naughten

182. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to increase passenger numbers on regional rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54971/22]

Tax Code

Denis Naughten

205. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a reduction in VAT on heat pumps and solar panels to encourage the investment by homeowners in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55972/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

219. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Shannon flood risk state agency co-ordination working group held its last meeting; if he will call an emergency meeting of the working group in view of the impending serious flooding in the Shannon catchment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55988/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

220. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the water levels on Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg were dropped to cater for winter flooding in advance of the significant rainfall experienced over the past number of weeks within the Shannon catchment; the level that each lake was dropped to; the date of the reading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55989/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

221. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the maximum volumes of water are being spilled from Parteen weir and through the turbines at Ardnacrusha; when the maximum throughput was achieved at both locations; the volumes involved at each location; if he will confirm that this is being maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55991/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

222. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the most recent date when all of the sluices were opened and boards completely removed at Meelick weir and at the New Cut on the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55993/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

223. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the conclusions drawn from his examination of the legislative landscape and review of the current regulatory environment regarding the management of the River Shannon in line with his commitment to Dáil Éireann on 4 November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55994/22]

School Meals Programme

Denis Naughten

271. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when she will publish the review of the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56070/22]

Health Strategies

Denis Naughten

309. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the updated plan to replace the national rare disease plan for Ireland 2014-2018; the timeline for publication; the reason for the delay in publishing a new plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55973/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

6. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the impact, if any, the flooding of the bogs in the midlands will have on flood attenuation in the Shannon catchment; the progress to date on re-wetting the Bord na Móna bogs across the Shannon catchment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55770/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

57. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, if any, that he has to change the legislation establishing the private Residential Tenancies Board to set out a legal requirement for the organisation to address its practice of failing to respond to legitimate queries regarding the registration and re-registration of properties by landlords; his views on whether it is acceptable that a public organisation should act in such a manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55732/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Denis Naughten

99. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his engagement and that of his Department with an organisation (details supplied) with regard to mother-and-baby home trials; the timeline of this engagement; the feedback from the organisation at those particular points in time; the conclusions drawn by his officials; if he will provide an outline of the briefings supplied to him at these points in time; the current status of the engagement between his Department and the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55901/22]

Ambulance Service

Denis Naughten

125. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide recognition and professional status for highly qualified staff in the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55731/22]

Healthcare Policy

Denis Naughten

129. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the HSE recommendation to limit home births to women who live within 30 minutes of a maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55785/22]

National Broadband Plan

Denis Naughten

22. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of plans to fast-track the National Broadband Plan; the impact that this will have on Ireland’s carbon emissions profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47189/22]

Fuel Poverty

Denis Naughten

69. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to address fuel poverty in homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47188/22]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

145. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps which he is taking to reduce the cost of insulating homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47190/22]

Departmental Strategies

Denis Naughten

146. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of Ireland’s first clean-air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47191/22]

Job Creation

Denis Naughten

147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the discussions which he has had with stakeholders regarding the replacement of jobs in the midlands following the closure of West Offaly and Lough Ree power stations; the plans for the future use of both sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47192/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Denis Naughten

674. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive their payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54968/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

927. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when all non-HSE workers entitled to the Covid pandemic bonus will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54283/22]

Transport Policy

Denis Naughten

64. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the process for issuing a licence for the commercial vehicle roadworthiness test; the number of such centres throughout the country; the corresponding figure for 2010 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53757/22]

Agriculture Industry

Denis Naughten

85. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work that he is undertaking to support Ireland’s wool industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47187/22]

Agriculture Industry

Denis Naughten

98. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to facilitate farmers’ trading carbon credits; if he intends to establish a verifiable framework to record and manage net carbon sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47186/22]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

580. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 27 September 2022, if he will provide a breakdown of the waiting times for those currently on the CAMHS waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52738/22]

Disabilities Assessments

Denis Naughten

581. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting an assessment of need in counties Roscommon and Galway; the length of time that they have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52739/22]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

582. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an appointment with children’s psychology services in counties Roscommon and Galway; the length of time they have been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52740/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

593. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting physiotherapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; the length of time that they have been on the waiting list; the current wait time for an appointment; the steps that are being taken to address waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52803/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

594. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 568 of 14 September 2022, if he will provide a breakdown of the length of time that children have been on the waiting lists for occupational therapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52807/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

595. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that an organisation (details supplied) transferred its occupational therapy waiting list to the HSE in County Galway; if this has happened in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52808/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

608. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the digital solutions that he is exploring to target speech and language waiting lists both for adults and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52916/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

609. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the digital solutions that he is exploring to target occupational therapy waiting lists both for adults and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52917/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

610. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the digital solutions that he is exploring to target physiotherapy waiting lists both for adults and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52918/22]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

611. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the digital solutions that he is exploring to target CAMHS waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52919/22]

Hospital Staff

Denis Naughten

667. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the review process of the role of radiation therapists; when the recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53317/22]

Foreign Conflicts

Denis Naughten

242. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he and his officials have had with regard to the present civil war in Tigray, Ethiopia; the measures that are being taken at EU and UN level to bring about a ceasefire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52678/22]

Rural Schemes

Denis Naughten

393. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the definition of separate agricultural activities under the local improvement scheme which applies to works on private roads; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52618/22]

Departmental Schemes

Denis Naughten

208. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 9 September 2022, if he has received the final report of the independent analysis of the warmth and wellbeing scheme carried out by the London School of Tropical Medicine; if he will publish the report in advance of World COPD day on 16 November 2022 in light of the potentially significant global impact of this ground-breaking work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51851/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

492. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the recognition of long Covid as an occupational disease for healthcare workers by the EU Commission, and the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, if she will confirm her intention to include it as a prescribed disease or illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51102/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

674. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in view of the recognition of long Covid by the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work as an occupational disease for healthcare workers, if he will justify the reason he has set a date of 84 days prior to 7 February 2022 as the threshold of special leave with pay for those with long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51103/22]