Parliamentary questions

Legislative Measures

Francis Noel Duffy

285. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the details of part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 whereby social housing tenants can purchase social housing units. [59416/22]

Legislative Measures

Francis Noel Duffy

596. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice if the new Bill to tackle hate crime and hate speech includes provisions to protect members of the LGBTQ+ community given the rise in homophobic attacks recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59417/22]

Hospital Services

Francis Noel Duffy

711. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long wait times facing attendees of Tallaght University Hospital's accident and emergency department; and his views on the actions being taken to alleviate this pressure. [59414/22]

School Admissions

Francis Noel Duffy

215. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of students who applied to their local secondary schools (details supplied) did not receive a place for September 2023 and if she could advise these families on what to do next. [58541/22]

Health Promotion

Francis Noel Duffy

303. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by an organisation (details supplied); his views on the request by the organisations to ban all online marketing of junk food and drinks, extend the broadcast watershed for junk food ads to 9pm and to remove junk food advertisements from State-owned transport, buildings and other public infrastructure. [58542/22]

Hospital Services

Francis Noel Duffy

305. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent withdrawal of the primary care paediatric courier services from general practice surgeries (details supplied) to CHI Crumlin via St. James's Hospital for the processing of samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58551/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Francis Noel Duffy

442. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some children are not able to avail fully of the ECCE scheme due to there being only one date of entry per calendar year. [56631/22]

Defective Building Materials

Francis Noel Duffy

105. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a tax rebate for homeowners impacted by defective properties. [46887/22]

Tax Collection

Francis Noel Duffy

278. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of expenditure from the revenue gained by carbon tax. [53345/22]

Constitutional Amendments

Francis Noel Duffy

318. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered to hold both the referendum on housing and the referendum on public ownership of water together; when it is expected to be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53344/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Francis Noel Duffy

206. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the backlog in credit awarded to solar panel holders who contribute electricity to the grid and if he can comment on the issue. [51764/22]

School Textbooks

Francis Noel Duffy

150. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the parameters that are being considered in the roll-out of the free book scheme at primary level to ensure best learner outcomes while maximising value for money for the taxpayer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49623/22]

School Facilities

Francis Noel Duffy

152. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the mechanism that will be used to roll out the solar schools initiative; the way that schools will be able to avail of the scheme; the anticipated timeline for the roll-out; if schools will be able to avail of feed-in tariffs to benefit from excess generation, particularly in summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49622/22]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

283. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to reports landlords are demanding cash-only payments; and if any actions are in place to monitor and prevent this. [48219/22]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

284. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to reports student tenants are not speaking out against mistreatment by landlords due to fear of being reprimanded; and if any measures are being taken to support this vulnerable cohort. [48220/22]

Defective Building Materials

Francis Noel Duffy

75. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he has considered to remedy defective homes and regulate construction companies to ensure defects do not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46888/22]

National Car Test

Francis Noel Duffy

203. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the backlog in securing an appointment for the NCT; if any measures are being taken to alleviate the pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46012/22]

Insurance Industry

Francis Noel Duffy

231. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are being rejected mortgage protection insurance for past mental health issues by using the three-strike rule, for example if they have attempted to commit suicide three times in the past 10 years; the impact that this has had on those who are fully recovered yet still unable to secure mortgage protection insurance; if he will review this insurance policy with insurers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46010/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Francis Noel Duffy

358. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she will re-assess the needs of schools (detail supplied) that are recipients of the original DEIS Band 1 but require more resources; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a need for additional bands to be added for these disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46011/22]

Housing Provision

Francis Noel Duffy

226. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the social, cost rental, affordable purchase and private homes delivered in the second quarter of 022 (details supplied).. [44741/22]

Constitutional Amendments

Francis Noel Duffy

587. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the public consultation on the referendum on housing is published on the European Commission website instead of the official gov.ie website; if his Department has considered the implications that this could have on the results of the consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43097/22]

Ukraine War

Francis Noel Duffy

1236. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a hotel (details supplied) is hosting Ukrainian refugees. [43095/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Francis Noel Duffy

1321. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a third level institution (details supplied) has withdrawn its application to CORU, which now means that students and graduates of certain programmes will be unable to become registered social care workers; if his Department has engaged with the college and CORU to review this recent decision to come to an agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43098/22]

Disability Services

Francis Noel Duffy

1799. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his Department will review the assessment of needs process to ensure school children receive appropriate additional services. [43096/22]

Abortion Services

Francis Noel Duffy

170. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issues that have arisen with the reimbursement of service providers for the provision of abortion services in respect of persons without PPSNs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37481/22]

Tax Code

Francis Noel Duffy

308. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance the status of the introduction of a vacant homes tax. [37109/22]

Tax Collection

Francis Noel Duffy

383. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider allowing commercial rates to be collected by the Revenue Commissioners to improve efficiency. [37107/22]

Derelict Sites

Francis Noel Duffy

384. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered reviewing the definition of a site to reduce the minimum size of a site which is currently a site greater than 500 square metres to allow more sites to be included in the Derelict Sites Act 1990. [37108/22]

Departmental Functions

Francis Noel Duffy

385. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the progress of establishing a dedicated vacant housing unit in his Department; the number of staff employed in this unit; the work that they have completed to date; and the work that is planned. [37110/22]

Local Authorities

Francis Noel Duffy

386. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made with each local authority in ensuring that each authority has a full-time permanent vacant homes officer; if the role requires them to fully undertake the work that is required to lease, buy and place a compulsory purchase order on vacant properties and the finance to bring them back into use. [37111/22]

Departmental Schemes

Francis Noel Duffy

200. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Croí Cónaithe towns and cities funding will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36821/22]

Ports Policy

Francis Noel Duffy

70. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that a vessel (details supplied) is docked in Cork Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34697/22]

Energy Conservation

Francis Noel Duffy

163. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of retrofitted homes from 2019 annually; and the number of workers associated with the retrofitting of those homes from 2019 annually. [34503/22]

Environmental Schemes

Francis Noel Duffy

164. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when applications for the Community Environment Action Fund will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34510/22]

Departmental Data

Francis Noel Duffy

287. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new housing builds from 2019 annually; and the number of labour workers involved in the delivery of the new housing builds from 2019 annually. [34502/22]

Housing Schemes

Francis Noel Duffy

288. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes to housing assistance payment rates; when the HAP rates will be expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34509/22]

Energy Conservation

Francis Noel Duffy

6. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the labour demand to meet retrofitting targets of 500,000 homes by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33048/22]

Labour Market

Francis Noel Duffy

47. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way that his Department intends to increase the labour demand by 27,500 by 2025 as per the Expert Group on Future Skills Need 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33047/22]

Sports Organisations

Francis Noel Duffy

30. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking on the issue of diversity and female representation on Boards and within executive positions across Sport in Ireland, agencies and National Governing Bodies of Sport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32257/22]

Sports Funding

Francis Noel Duffy

41. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she will take to ensure the National Sports Campus, Sport Ireland, and NGBs which seek State funding are prioritising climate action and reduction in their carbon emissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32258/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Francis Noel Duffy

1716. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic bonus payment will be paid to healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30098/22]

Energy Prices

Francis Noel Duffy

4. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the grants that are available to schools to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26656/22]

Energy Prices

Francis Noel Duffy

5. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the challenges that schools are facing with increased energy bills in the absence of direct funding for energy upgrades; when schools will be compensated for the significant increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26657/22]

Departmental Priorities

Francis Noel Duffy

6. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has considered issuing a directive to change water storage requirements in Dublin City Council which have not been updated since the 1970s, given that offices now use less than 20 litres per person per day as a result of water conservation improvements, in comparison to the 45-litre requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26658/22]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

46. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will expand the rent pressure zone to the entire country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26659/22]

Schools Administration

Francis Noel Duffy

102. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if the interim upgrade of the payroll system has been completed; the estimated timeframe for when employees and retired teachers will receive their payslips electronically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26650/22]

School Staff

Francis Noel Duffy

103. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to reinstating the fourth junior infant class-teaching post in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26651/22]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

104. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she will issue section 37 (A) of the Education Act 1998 in post-primary schools in Tallaght to increase the capacity of ASD classes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26652/22]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

105. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she will make it a requirement for primary and post-primary to have ASD classes through section 37A; if her Department will provide the staffing and funding needed to increase such capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26653/22]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

106. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a school (details supplied) in which the junior school has an ASD class but the senior school does not; and if she will ensure through section 37A that the necessary supports are given to the senior school to provide an ASD class. [26654/22]