Parliamentary questions

Primary Care Services

Darren O'Rourke

648. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the location of the site in Ratoath, County Meath purchased by the HSE with a view to building a primary care centre; the status of plans to deliver a primary care centre on this site; if the HSE will engage with the local community with a view to allowing the use of the space as public greenspace in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57400/21]

Road Traffic Accidents

Darren O'Rourke

288. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of road traffic collisions at Oberstown Cross, Oberstown, Tara, County Meath in the past 12 months; the dates of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56712/21]

Vaccination Programme

Darren O'Rourke

302. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the way an Irish citizen or legal permanent residents who receive their vaccine in the United States of America can get their booster shot in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56628/21]

Programme for Government

Darren O'Rourke

53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the commitment on page 14 of the Programme for Government to establish a national public transport forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56312/21]

Air Services

Darren O'Rourke

62. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the details of the review that has been agreed to take forward to assess potential options for supporting viable air services from Belfast to Cork and Derry to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56432/21]

Road Safety Authority

Darren O'Rourke

63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if it is the case that a number of driving testers who had their temporary contracts extended are now to be made redundant by the RSA just shy of three years' service; the number of driving testers this applies to; the reason this is the case given that there is such a backlog in driving tests; if he will reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56433/21]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

142. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected funding to be made available from the Climate Action Fund between 2021 and 2030 to deliver on the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55599/21]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the expected funding to be made available from the Just Transition Fund between 2021 and 2030 to deliver on the Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55600/21]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the penalties provided for in the Climate Act 2021 for failing to meet targets including sectoral emissions ceilings and carbon budgets, 2030 interim targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55921/21]

Energy Production

Darren O'Rourke

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the plans to rent and import 200 megawatts of emergency gas generators in winter 2021 have been abandoned; the amount which was spent on the attempted procurement; if the State or a semi-State body will face fines for abandoning this plan; if so, the estimated amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55953/21]

Greenways Provision

Darren O'Rourke

193. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the design, funding and delivery schedule of the Boyne greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55868/21]

Driver Licences

Darren O'Rourke

199. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if a driving licence issued in the United Arab Emirates can be exchanged for a driving licence here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55974/21]

Tax Yield

Darren O'Rourke

212. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the total carbon tax collected in 2019; the amount raised in the transport and buildings category by category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55595/21]

Tax Yield

Darren O'Rourke

213. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the total carbon tax collected in 2020; the amount raised in the transport and buildings category by category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55596/21]

Tax Yield

Darren O'Rourke

214. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the total carbon tax collected in 2021; the amount raised in the transport and buildings category by category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55597/21]

Tax Yield

Darren O'Rourke

215. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if the estimated carbon tax income of €9.5 billion to 2030 factors in the EU Fit for 55 proposals for carbon tax changes on transport and buildings; the estimated impact these changes would have on Irish carbon tax income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55598/21]

Bonds Redemption

Darren O'Rourke

216. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the amount that has been raised in Irish sovereign green bonds; the way this money has been used; his plans to raise green revenue by this mechanism in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55655/21]

Hospital Staff

Darren O'Rourke

531. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of neurology nurse specialists that have been recruited for Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin; when he anticipates these positions will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55657/21]

Departmental Contracts

Darren O'Rourke

207. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 2 November 2021, if he will provide the name of the Italian consultant companies appointed to undertake the review of the North-South Interconnector. [55400/21]

Cycling Facilities

Darren O'Rourke

213. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason Action 106 in the new Climate Action Plan to deliver a network of safe, segregated cycling facilities has been delayed; the mitigation measures that are being put in place to ensure no further delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55402/21]

Hospital Services

Darren O'Rourke

219. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason that cardiac rehabilitation services in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan have not yet been restored; when it is expected that cardiac rehabilitation services will be restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54804/21]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of the 183 actions in the Climate Action Plan 2019 that have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54113/21]

Tax Reliefs

Darren O'Rourke

242. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of the tax relief on the first €200 of income arising from the domestic generation of electricity supplied to the grid will be in one year; the estimated number of applicants in the first year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54058/21]

Electricity Grid

Darren O'Rourke

1. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action he is taking to prevent electricity blackouts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/21]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

3. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the climate action plan and sectoral emissions ceilings needed to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53881/21]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

5. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to expand the solar PV output throughout the State; the way he plans to make solar PV more accessible to schools, GAA clubs, local authorities and farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53882/21]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

6. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the review of the North-South Interconnector; the impact the judicial review decision in Northern Ireland will have on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53684/21]

A Vision for Change

Darren O'Rourke

19. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will prepare an updated strategy to combat energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53683/21]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

24. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the microgeneration scheme will be in operation; the reason for the delay in introducing this crucial scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53682/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

66. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will prepare a national hydrogen strategy given the role this fuel can play in Ireland's decarbonisation effort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53681/21]

Environmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

77. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined and discussed alternative models of finance for climate action at a local level such as the local climate bonds piloted in two local authority areas in England in 2020 with his colleague the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53685/21]

Haulage Industry

Darren O'Rourke

82. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his views on the challenge facing the road haulage sector here in view of increasing fuel costs and the shortage of drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53878/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

84. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the action he is taking to keep transport workers and passengers safe on buses, trains and trams given the worrying reports of threats, violence and antisocial behaviour on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53879/21]

Coast Guard Service

Darren O'Rourke

92. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the action he is taking to address the serious findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s investigation into the procurement of vehicles for the Irish Coast Guard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53690/21]

Antisocial Behaviour

Darren O'Rourke

98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the action he is taking to tackle serious antisocial behaviour, violence and threats made towards Irish Rail employees on trains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53692/21]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has received the full assessment report on the Navan rail line as part of the NTA updated transport strategy for the greater Dublin area; the reason for the delay in its publishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53689/21]

Taxi Licences

Darren O'Rourke

130. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will be further extend the ten year rule to give taxi drivers flexibility acknowledging the challenges they still face as a result of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53693/21]

Electric Vehicles

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle grants were scrapped at such short notice; if his attention has been drawn to the impact this had on car dealers and those planning on purchasing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53691/21]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

192. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts he is making to position Ireland as a world leader in renewable energy research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49081/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

247. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount that was spent by public transport companies on private security in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53937/21]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Darren O'Rourke

274. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the revised wind planning guidelines will be published; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53938/21]

Vacant Properties

Darren O'Rourke

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant properties at the IDA Business Park, Johnstown, Navan, County Meath. [53047/21]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if grants are available for persons, farmers or community groups that want to establish a solar farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52358/21]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if persons, farmers or community groups that establish a solar farm are permitted to sell renewable energy to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52359/21]

North-South Interconnector

Darren O'Rourke

141. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the name of the international expert or consultants appointed to undertake the review of the North-South interconnector; the estimated cost of the review; the timeline of the review; and when its report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52468/21]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Darren O'Rourke

146. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the detail of the appointment process to the board of the Loughs Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52522/21]

EU Directives

Darren O'Rourke

148. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will implement Article 8 of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive; the reason it has remained unimplemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52604/21]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions he is taking to promote the use of solar photo voltaic, PV, technology on Irish farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52755/21]

Córas Iompair Éireann

Darren O'Rourke

186. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the CIÉ group pension schemes; the proposed changes; when they will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52447/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to include commercial bus operators in the recently announced youth travel card scheme; the reason for their exclusion; the estimated cost of their inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52684/21]