Parliamentary questions

Agriculture Industry

Matt Shanahan

36. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine her views on supporting agri-food development in rural and regional Ireland as a building block to sustainable community development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27886/21]

Tax Code

Matt Shanahan

271. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide clarity in relation to the way his Department recognises cohabiting couples (details supplied); his views on whether this is a serious inconsistency in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37549/21]

Housing Policy

Matt Shanahan

328. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Departmental planning that is in place to provide grant support to first-time buyers to purchase second hand property; the reason second hand property is not being funded given the undersupply of available family homes and the large amount of vacant property available in towns and villages that is suitable for renovation to deliver a new home; if funding is being ringfenced to promote an initiative to bring this property back into habitable use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37356/21]

School Facilities

Matt Shanahan

404. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education the latest policy position regarding the provision of mixed-use toilet facilities given the Design Guide for Sanitary Facilities SDG 02-06 in relation to the use of mixed-sex toilets in new-build schools and retrofitting older schools (details supplied); the latest policy position her Department is pursuing regarding mixed toilets; her plans to safeguard facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37266/21]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Matt Shanahan

458. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarity in relation to the way her Department recognises cohabiting couples (details supplied); her views on whether this is a serious inconsistency in the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37550/21]

Data Protection

Matt Shanahan

87. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice the data that was contained on a memory device (details supplied); if there was video imagery contained therein; the steps that have been taken to recover the lost information; if the original information is still safely protected within her Department's hard drives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36835/21]

An Garda Síochána

Matt Shanahan

113. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice the communication her Department has had with the Garda Commissioner in respect of the unanswered 999 calls which were largely in relation to domestic violence reports; her views on whether this could potentially point to a significant attitude with respect to domestic abuse within An Garda Síochána; the assurances the Commissioner has offered with a view to remediation in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36840/21]

Immigration Status

Matt Shanahan

138. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice the impact the proposed changes and regularisation of the direct provision scheme will have on persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36837/21]

An Garda Síochána

Matt Shanahan

141. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if she has been provided with any communications or interim reports in relation alleged Garda activity irregularities in Dunmore East, County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36839/21]

Childcare Services

Matt Shanahan

272. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if ongoing funding being provided will not be reduced in any way to those who have had to raise their prices in view of the increasing costs profile occurring in early years childcare which is forcing some private providers to increase their charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37063/21]

Commissions of Investigation

Matt Shanahan

300. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if the appointment of a person (details supplied) to an inquiry is effective from 1 July 2021; the timelines indicated that would be required to oversee the inquiry; if the person will be conducting a desktop analysis of the previous work; if not, if it will be in addition to previous work; if additional terms of reference are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36836/21]

Health Services Staff

Matt Shanahan

523. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the advertisement that has taken place to date in relation to the replacement of an interventional cardiology post previously occupied by a person (details supplied) with a substitute whole-time equivalent position which was approved by the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee many months ago; the status of this outstanding post; if an interview panel has been convened; if a shortlist of candidates is being generated; if candidates have been approached; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this appointment is needed to extend the present service hours of the existing service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27249/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Matt Shanahan

82. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to lobby for an extension to employment supports for the tourism and hospitality sector post the reopening of the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27882/21]

Employment Support Services

Matt Shanahan

170. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of job coaches currently employed with specific responsibility for enabling disabled persons access the labour market; the number of job coaches employed; the cost for the relevant Department or State agency to recruit a job coach; the amount allocated for his Department to spend on job coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32556/21]

Civil Service

Matt Shanahan

236. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of positions remaining unfilled by clerical officer, executive officer and higher executive officer level in the Civil Service in County Waterford; if his attention has been drawn to the impediment to the swift filling of these positions in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32555/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Matt Shanahan

36. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for continuing subvention of the travel agent sector given the extraordinary challenges ongoing (details supplied); the supports that will be offered to a sector suffering a continuing 80% to 90% revenue reduction as a result of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32165/21]

Post Office Network

Matt Shanahan

116. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the present viability of the post office network; the steps that will be taken to support the viability of rural post offices which are a vital component in regional towns and villages; the further steps he will take to encourage the Department of Finance to provide public service obligation supports to the existing post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27883/21]

Office of Public Works

Matt Shanahan

277. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenditure and personnel headcount of the Office of Public Works by county and NUTS3 region in each of the past five years in tabular form; his views on whether there is a balanced spread across regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29497/21]

Office of Public Works

Matt Shanahan

278. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific location, purpose, county, NUTS3 region and cost of completed land acquisitions undertaken or supported by the Office of Public Works by county and NUTS3 region in each of the past five years. [29498/21]

Project Ireland 2040

Matt Shanahan

279. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the schedule of each project, the description and funding that has been implemented under final review or completed in the south-east NUTS3 region under the Ireland 2040 campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/21]