Parliamentary questions

Solar Energy Guidelines

Francis Noel Duffy

98. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the fact that solar panels being installed on domestic roofs must be installed 500mm from the edge, whereas in the UK and other European countries they can be installed up to 200mm from the edge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/24]

Schools Building Projects

Francis Noel Duffy

226. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education when her Department will issue the letter of intent for a new school build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23862/24]

Departmental Policies

Francis Noel Duffy

311. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position on means testing home carers who may wish to return to work; if a scheme is being developed to ensure that such persons are not penalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23607/24]

School Funding

Francis Noel Duffy

319. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department has made a cut to the ancillary grant to DEIS band 1 school (details supplied); if she is aware of the impact this is having on the learning materials for the school, limiting pupils’ access to high-quality, modern educational resources, which will inevitably impact their academic development; if she will reinstate the full grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22911/24]

Social Welfare Rates

Francis Noel Duffy

390. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yearly cost of increasing the rate of jobseeker's allowance for all young people aged under 25 in line with the maximum person rate for those aged over 25; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22573/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Francis Noel Duffy

391. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseekers' allowance of €232 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22574/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Francis Noel Duffy

392. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseekers' allowance of €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22575/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Francis Noel Duffy

393. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseekers' allowance other than €232 and €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22576/24]

Childcare Services

Francis Noel Duffy

530. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the chronic shortage of childcare spaces in the area of Dublin south-west with a case of one mother on 21 waiting lists; if he is further aware of the affordability crisis of childcare services and the impact this is having on working mothers trying to get back into the workforce; the measures his Department is taking to alleviate these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22912/24]

Child Protection

Francis Noel Duffy

587. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 712 of 30 April 2024, if, in circumstances where a private/charitable service provider believes that it is in the best interests of a child to receive psychological support, where the private/charitable service provider has a policy that the consent of one parent/guardian is sufficient, one parent/guardian legally can bring their child to avail of psychological support if the other parent / guardian opposes this. [22579/24]

Child Protection

Francis Noel Duffy

588. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 712 of 30 April 2024, if her Department has considered issuing a guideline similar to the NHS (details supplied) that the consent of only one parent is necessary to allow a child to avail of psychological support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22580/24]

Third Level Fees

Francis Noel Duffy

658. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of further reducing third level fees to €1,000 in 2024-2025, and subsequently abolish these fees in 2025-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22577/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Francis Noel Duffy

659. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of abolishing the contribution fee for apprenticeships in higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year. [22578/24]

Health Services

Francis Noel Duffy

267. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to continue the pathfinder programme in Tallaght and other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22259/24]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

319. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education her views on the shortage of classes and dedicated schools for moderate ID children in the Dublin 14 and 16 areas; what plans are in place to remedy the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19225/24]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

348. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 23 April 2024, if she will provide an update on the school application (details supplied) for an ASD unit considering the application was submitted in July 2022; when it is expected that a judgement will be given on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19337/24]

Child Protection

Francis Noel Duffy

712. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if one parent can give consent allowing for a child to attend therapy; what is the situation if one parent does not want to give consent and the other does; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19279/24]

Child Protection

Francis Noel Duffy

724. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health the consent requirements for children to access therapy and support services; if both guardians are required to consent; if a consent decision be overruled if one parent refuses consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19345/24]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

312. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if her Department has considered supporting the installation of ASD units in school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17914/24]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

322. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to expand the number of places for special education class provision at preschool, primary and secondary level for those with complex needs, beyond autism spectrum and those with rare diseases that meet the needs in the growing south Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18028/24]

Period Poverty

Francis Noel Duffy

704. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, following the success of his pilot scheme of free period products in further education/training centres, his Department has engaged with the Minister for Health on the rollout of free period products in universities and the wider third level sector. [17628/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Francis Noel Duffy

198. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport when it is expected the CIÉ 1951 pension deficit will be resolved, in order that CIÉ pensioners will receive pension increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16043/24]

Departmental Data

Francis Noel Duffy

68. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of all current taskforces under his Department’s remit, in tabular form; to report on the objectives and progress of each taskforce; if he plans to set up any additional taskforces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13751/24]

Food Waste

Francis Noel Duffy

123. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current annual budget allocation to the stop food waste section of the EPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14853/24]

Tax Code

Francis Noel Duffy

280. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance his views on the assertion that the new BIK thresholds and rules encourages drivers who are in possession of company cars to do additional unwanted mileage to ensure they receive maximum benefit under the new scheme; if this will be reviewed in light of the environmental impact of the change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13749/24]

Defective Building Materials

Francis Noel Duffy

612. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are targeted measures to support tenants who have to leave their rental accommodation undergoing pyrite remediation under the pyrite remediation scheme; if costs for alternative accommodation for those tenants waiting to return to the property will be recouped; the process of applying if supports exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13841/24]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

669. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the prospect of implementing a rent transparency register in the private rental sector which he supported during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018 in 2019; if his Department has further investigated the GDPR implications of a rent transparency register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14778/24]

Housing Policy

Francis Noel Duffy

906. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice the status of the review of the Multi Unit Development Act 2011; and whether he has considered introducing an interim regulator on a non-statutory basis for owner management companies to ensure appropriate governance across this sector for companies to manage apartment defects, remediation works and ongoing maintenance requirements of the shared facilities in multi-unit developments. [14804/24]

Energy Conservation

Francis Noel Duffy

82. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the new low-cost EIB group-supported home energy upgrade loan scheme will be delivered; if he will provide more information on the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11561/24]

Departmental Strategies

Francis Noel Duffy

824. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice when she plans to publish the regulations under section 18(7) and 19(9) of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, which were proposed for publication in Q4 of 2022 in Housing for All (actions 25.10 and 25.11). [12064/24]

School Accommodation

Francis Noel Duffy

319. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education her views on the situation at a school (details supplied); and when this unacceptable situation will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10633/24]

Youth Work Supports

Francis Noel Duffy

86. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new youth employability funding scheme will be announced; how much has been set aside; the application criteria; when he expects to announce recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9194/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Francis Noel Duffy

134. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to include additional institutions in the schedule of the Birth Information and Tracing Act, 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9195/24]

Driver Test

Francis Noel Duffy

111. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the disparity and inconsistency in national standards with regards to the pass rates in a driving test centre (details supplied); if this can be reviewed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8939/24]

Driver Test

Francis Noel Duffy

112. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware there is still a significant backlog in the scheduling of driving test appointments in a driving test centre (details supplied); the steps his Department is taking to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8940/24]

Special Educational Needs

Francis Noel Duffy

231. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the impact the decision to eliminate the category of complex educational needs from consideration when allocating special education teacher hours on children with Down syndrome in mainstream schools; if this decision will be reviewed to ensure children with Down syndrome can receive the required supports in mainstream schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9221/24]

Housing Schemes

Francis Noel Duffy

275. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the updated acquisition cost guidelines (ACG) for the cost rental tenant in situ scheme. [8851/24]

Forestry Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

395. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why there is a delay in the Forest Service granting afforestation licences, which are required to meet our national afforestation targets in 2024 and beyond; what actions are being taken to ensure that the Forest Service has the resources to meets its targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9135/24]

Public Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

182. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that fully electric cars are unable to attain an SPSV licence; if he will resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7919/24]

School Enrolments

Francis Noel Duffy

307. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the plans to provide support to schools (details supplied) to increase capacity considering parents are unable to secure school places for their children in their local catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7922/24]

Schools Building Projects

Francis Noel Duffy

308. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education for an update on the emergency works application for a school (details provided) regarding school safety systems, and why it remains unresolved and awaiting assessment since March 2023. [7923/24]

Childcare Services

Francis Noel Duffy

503. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that, to date, three crèches have withdrawn from core funding due to the funding not covering operational costs in an area (details supplied), resulting in fees increasing by up to 28%; if he will increase the core funding or provide top-ups for crèche operators experiencing difficulties; the other measures he is taking to support crèche operators experiencing financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7920/24]

Childcare Services

Francis Noel Duffy

504. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many crèches have withdrawn from the core funding scheme nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/24]

Rental Sector

Francis Noel Duffy

70. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes acquired to date under the new cost-rental tenant in situ scheme; the number that have been served a notice to quit under the extended tenant in situ scheme for tenants in receipt of housing supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6724/24]

Public Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

59. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in relation to reducing public transport fares for pensioners who have not yet reached the State pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/24]

Public Transport

Francis Noel Duffy

60. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport the reason for increased public transport bus fares from Dublin to Cavan by 21%; if he will review this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5020/24]

Housing Provision

Francis Noel Duffy

253. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 14 December 2023, for an update on the Department's examination of the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, which was meant to be concluded in Q3 of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5078/24]

Planning Issues

Francis Noel Duffy

278. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of possible instances where the Sustainable Residential and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities policy may be in conflict for local authority development plans; if there are such conflicts, how can they be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5491/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Francis Noel Duffy

365. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 978 of 17 January 2024, the definition of qualified children; the definition of dependant children eligible for the fuel allowance; if there is an age limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3731/24]

Housing Policy

Francis Noel Duffy

330. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how a developer (details supplied) was able to bulk buy homes, despite Section 28 of Guidelines for Planning Authorities “Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing” which prevents bulk buying homes; the steps he will take to prevent the same from happening again in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2880/24]