Parliamentary questions

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Neale Richmond

104. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has full confidence in all financial transactions involved in healthcare received via the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive and the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme; if the office conducts or plans to conduct an audit of the schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47716/22]

Defective Building Materials

Neale Richmond

51. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the broadening of supports for those homeowners impacted by pyrite who are not covered by current schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47314/22]

Local Authorities

Neale Richmond

76. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the provision of maternity leave for councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47313/22]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

206. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider backdating the universal childcare subsidy to when the child started creche; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47478/22]

Taxi Licences

Neale Richmond

68. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the actions taken by his Department to increase the number of taxis in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46253/22]

Public Transport

Neale Richmond

83. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the measures being considered by his Department to further cut the cost of public transport in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46254/22]

Tax Code

Neale Richmond

107. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance his views on the latest recommendations from the Commission on Taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46250/22]

EU Meetings

Neale Richmond

113. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if he will report back from the informal Economic and Financial Affairs Council configuration in Prague; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46249/22]

Road Safety

Neale Richmond

180. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to requiring all local authorities to create statutory working groups inclusive of local representatives to develop localised road safety plans that would inform decisions in relation to infrastructural improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46375/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

5. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the second summit of the Crimea Platform. [44785/22]

Energy Policy

Neale Richmond

92. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of Ireland’s level of energy security ahead of this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45732/22]

Energy Prices

Neale Richmond

100. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on his emergency meeting in Brussels with the 27 Energy Ministers from EU Member States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45731/22]

School Patronage

Neale Richmond

344. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of the decision to award patronage to the new second level school planned for Cherrywood; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45810/22]

Labour Market

Neale Richmond

46. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the recent employment figures for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44786/22]

Industrial Relations

Neale Richmond

75. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the recent acceptance of proposals for Employment Regulation Orders for the early years services sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44787/22]

Sports Funding

Neale Richmond

96. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports that she is providing to sports clubs and community groups throughout the country to support their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44789/22]

Rural Schemes

Neale Richmond

117. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports that she is providing to ensure that access to connected hubs is available to all; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44788/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Neale Richmond

167. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered proposals that have been put to him to increase the pensions of those who worked for An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45240/22]

Vacant Properties

Neale Richmond

206. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict buildings that have been brought back into circulation in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022, broken down by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45244/22]

School Accommodation

Neale Richmond

275. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for planning permission for temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44510/22]

Third Level Costs

Neale Richmond

417. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he is taking to reduce the student registration fee for third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/22]

Third Level Education

Neale Richmond

420. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement and support that his Department is providing to a third level institution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44792/22]

Energy Usage

Neale Richmond

103. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered energy-saving measures to cut energy use this winter such as those that have been implemented in Germany (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43490/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Neale Richmond

104. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered installing solar panels on public buildings to aid in the switch to renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43497/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Neale Richmond

105. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he has taken to promote the installation of solar panels on public buildings to aid in the switch to renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43498/22]

Electric Vehicles

Neale Richmond

159. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider offering a subsidy towards an e-bike for those who trade in their car in favour of the bike as has been introduced in France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43226/22]

Tax Reliefs

Neale Richmond

327. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered implementing financial incentives for the purchasing of e-cargo bikes as is common in many European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42206/22]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Neale Richmond

389. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the steps that he is taking to address the fact that Irish mortgage rates remain the second highest in the eurozone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43268/22]

School Admissions

Neale Richmond

833. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that children whose parents are serving in Irish peacekeeping missions overseas are often losing their school places when they travel to be with their parents and schools are not allowed to hold the place for when the child returns; if she will take steps to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42369/22]

School Staff

Neale Richmond

905. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to secondary school teachers returning from the Middle East having taught in private schools being unable to claim their experience on the incremental scheme; if she will take action to address this in order to allow this experience to be registered given that primary school teachers can do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43204/22]

Hospital Services

Neale Richmond

1830. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin has no 24/7 emergency service or on-call doctor for emergencies; if he will take steps to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43242/22]

Nursing Homes

Neale Richmond

1856. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the impact of rising inflation on the nursing home industry and the resulting rising costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43283/22]

Nursing Homes

Neale Richmond

1857. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) on the current crisis caused by rising inflation and costs for the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43284/22]

Nursing Homes

Neale Richmond

1858. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to nursing homes to help them combat rising inflation and costs that are putting pressure on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43285/22]

Pharmacy Services

Neale Richmond

1859. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the new European Union Health Union proposal which allows customers to collect their prescription in any pharmacy in Europe; if Ireland will join this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43287/22]

Work Permits

Neale Richmond

21. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to issues with the level of home carers in Ireland; his views on whether that extending work permits to this industry would help alleviate this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39755/22]

Electric Vehicles

Neale Richmond

196. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons residing in an apartment complex (details supplied) are unable to access electric vehicle charging points in their homes; the steps that he is taking to facilitate the installation of charging points in apartment complexes in cases in which management companies are unwilling to engage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39664/22]

Tax Code

Neale Richmond

331. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if the tax liability of two persons who share the stake in a home but one is no longer willing or not in a position of mental capacity to pay their share of the property tax can be adjusted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39833/22]

Housing Schemes

Neale Richmond

650. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to non-Irish citizens not qualifying for many of the first-time buyer schemes even if they are buying with an Irish citizen; the schemes that non-Irish citizens are eligible for; if he intends to widen the eligibility to non-Irish citizens for all schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40132/22]

Naval Service

Neale Richmond

1015. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence the current assets of the Navy, specifically all vessels and craft at its disposal and those that are not available for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40086/22]

Departmental Data

Neale Richmond

1079. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and post-primary schools per county; the numbers of pupils, teachers, SNAs, special education places and annual State funding by school in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40386/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

1338. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a Ukrainian refugee (details supplied) will be provided with alternative accommodation to allow them to take up employment in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40134/22]

Third Level Admissions

Neale Richmond

1426. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he has taken to ensure that the delay in the issuing of Leaving Certificate results will not impact Irish students in receipt of university offers from UK and European universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39662/22]

Third Level Admissions

Neale Richmond

1427. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has reached out to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK and the European University Central Application Support Service to inform them of the delays to Leaving Certificate results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39663/22]

Care Services

Neale Richmond

1666. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure that there is an adequate number of home carers in Ireland to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39756/22]

Care Services

Neale Richmond

1667. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure that home carers can access the necessary visas to ensure that they do not have to prematurely exit the labour market thereby contributing to the shortages of home carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39757/22]

Mental Health Services

Neale Richmond

1790. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of texts received from the 50808 helpline broken down over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40431/22]

Mental Health Services

Neale Richmond

1791. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of follow-up calls that have arisen from the 50808 text helpline broken down over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40432/22]

Vaccination Programme

Neale Richmond

1868. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the HPV vaccine to be made available free of charge for women under 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40797/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

7. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Irish agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37483/22]

Brexit Issues

Neale Richmond

12. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the impact of Brexit on the Irish agri-foods industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37482/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

96. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that her Department is providing for Ukrainian refugees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34517/22]

State Pensions

Neale Richmond

106. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that has been given to the rate of payment for the old age pension ahead of Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34516/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

1. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the American congressional delegation. [27627/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

9. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister. [27626/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

34. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit and address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. [32441/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

36. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the UK Labour Party leader. [32443/22]

Taoiseach's Communications

Neale Richmond

41. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone conversation with the President of the European Union Council. [33645/22]

Taoiseach's Communications

Neale Richmond

42. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone conversation with the President of the European Union Commission. [33646/22]

Northern Ireland

Neale Richmond

45. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the latest dialogue of the Shared Island unit. [35732/22]

Cabinet Committees

Neale Richmond

57. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on Brexit will meet next. [35733/22]

Cabinet Committees

Neale Richmond

58. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on Northern Ireland will meet next. [35734/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

19. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his trip to the World Economic Forum. [27628/22]

Disability Services

Neale Richmond

114. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient beds and residential accommodation available for persons with disabilities that want to live outside of the family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37485/22]

Health Services

Neale Richmond

166. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of public health nurse services in Dublin 18; the steps that he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37484/22]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Neale Richmond

368. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues regarding former RTÉ staff and access to pensions; if she has met the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38019/22]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Neale Richmond

369. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update into the ongoing issues with RTÉ pensions and the lack of increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38020/22]

School Transport

Neale Richmond

562. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education her plans to alleviate the cost of private school bus fees in view of her Department’s recent announcement that school bus fees will be waived for the academic year 2022/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37776/22]

School Transport

Neale Richmond

563. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if her Department is putting in place a reimbursement process for parents who have already paid their children’s school bus fee for the academic year 2022/2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37783/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Neale Richmond

626. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the eligibility for the back-to-school allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37696/22]

Further and Higher Education

Neale Richmond

705. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with the higher education institutions on PHD stipends and the potential for an increase in such given the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37728/22]

Medicinal Products

Neale Richmond

933. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will make a decision on expanding access to kaftrio for children aged 6 to 11 years with cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37611/22]

Energy Policy

Neale Richmond

7. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to reduce reliance on Russian energy on a European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36354/22]

Energy Policy

Neale Richmond

8. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to promote the installation of non-fossil fuel heating sources in homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36355/22]

Wind Energy Generation

Neale Richmond

9. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that are being taken to promote the use of wind energy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36356/22]

Energy Prices

Neale Richmond

15. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider decoupling Ireland’s electricity pricing from wholesale gas and price it based on the proportion of the sources of energy generation as was done by Spain and Portugal following European Union approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36377/22]

Taxi Licences

Neale Richmond

21. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he will take to urgently increase the number of active taxi driver licences in Dublin given that drivers entitled to drive in Dublin have decreased by 5.5% since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36333/22]

Rail Network

Neale Richmond

22. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently consider extending the running times of the Luas to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport given the lack of taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36334/22]

Rail Network

Neale Richmond

23. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently consider extending the running times of all Dublin Bus routes to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport given the lack of taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36335/22]

Rail Network

Neale Richmond

24. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently consider extending the running times of the DART to ensure that those in the city late into the night can avail of public transport given the lack of taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36336/22]

An Garda Síochána

Neale Richmond

7. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí in Ireland broken down per county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35719/22]

Departmental Funding

Neale Richmond

44. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications to the community safety innovation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35718/22]

Naturalisation Applications

Neale Richmond

516. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the current number of citizenship applications being processed for minors broken down by the length of processing time for the following bands, those aged up to one year, between one and two years, between two and three years and those aged three years or more in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35699/22]

Departmental Funding

Neale Richmond

518. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the status of the funding of the community safety innovation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31018/22]

Healthcare Policy

Neale Richmond

565. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if the European health insurance card is still available to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland post-Brexit; if so, the way that a person can apply for a card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35634/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neale Richmond

695. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35563/22]

Site Acquisitions

Neale Richmond

63. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33650/22]

Special Educational Needs

Neale Richmond

68. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of SNA supports for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33651/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Neale Richmond

16. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the most recent European Council meeting. [30514/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

80. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the supports his Department has sent to Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33648/22]

European Union

Neale Richmond

96. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on Ireland’s role in the European Union Strategic Compass Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33649/22]

Electricity Generation

Neale Richmond

155. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has engaged with energy suppliers regarding the ability of those with solar panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34131/22]

Electricity Generation

Neale Richmond

156. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment; Climate and Communications if he has engaged with energy suppliers regarding a price for excess electricity generated by solar panels that is sold back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34132/22]

Electricity Generation

Neale Richmond

157. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has a strategy for the way that those with solar panels who want to resell excess electricity back to the grid can do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34133/22]

Taxi Licences

Neale Richmond

174. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he has met with companies (details supplied) to discuss the taxi shortages in Dublin; if not, if he will seek such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33702/22]

Taxi Licences

Neale Richmond

180. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether increased transferability of taxi licences is needed to address the current taxi shortage; if he has considered this as a solution to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33891/22]

Tax Credits

Neale Richmond

224. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount it would cost to increase the tax band of the incapacitated tax credit by €200; the full-year cost of the current tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34139/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

342. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Irish Embassy in Kyiv will reopen; when Irish diplomats will return to Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33643/22]

Child Protection

Neale Richmond

664. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to an initiative (details supplied) which aims to reduce the levels of child abuse by 70% by 2030 in the UK; his views on whether a similar goal could be established in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34077/22]

Ukraine War

Neale Richmond

74. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has had with his colleagues in Government regarding housing Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32825/22]