Parliamentary questions

Rental Sector

Noel Grealish

262. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if rent pressure zone legislation will be retained for a definitive duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12686/22]

EU Directives

Noel Grealish

361. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of employees whose pensions will be impacted by the European Union institutions for occupational retirement provision II directive and the likely mass migration to a pension scheme (details supplied); if consideration has been given to a deadline extension beyond the end of 2022 to assist employers that may be struggling with the mass return to work, inflation driven salary demands and the much talked about great resignation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12351/22]

Electric Vehicles

Noel Grealish

240. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has for providing tax credits to purchasers of electric vehicles considering the significant carbon savings achieved by the switch from fossil-fuelled vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10847/22]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

241. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has to bridge the disparity between the EU emissions trading scheme carbon price and the Irish carbon tax of €41 set out in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10848/22]

Sports Funding

Noel Grealish

290. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); when the next round of sports capital grant will be open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10849/22]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

489. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons in receipt of the blind pension are regularly reassessed for eligibility, when their medical condition is permanent and many visually impaired persons rarely have a change in financial circumstances and find this process stressful and difficult; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10850/22]

Work Permits

Noel Grealish

577. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if a Galway-based company that has secured a major contract for specialised work and requires materials and workers from the United Arab Emirates for three months work need a work permit for these short-term contracts; if it needs to apply for individual work permits for each worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10989/22]

Disability Services

Noel Grealish

611. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason visually impaired persons who have been granted additional PA hours have not received their allocation; the steps that are being taken to address the shortfall in PA service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10851/22]

Hospital Facilities

Noel Grealish

616. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when the construction of two new orthopaedic operating theatres at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway will be completed; when they will be brought into use; the details and cost of the project; the number of additional procedures that will be undertaken once they are operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10864/22]

Pharmacy Services

Noel Grealish

632. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of the drug Cariban; if it can be made available on the GMS and drugs payment schemes; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10909/22]

Legislative Measures

Noel Grealish

82. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider an amendment to legislation to allow local authorities to use closed-circuit television, CCTV, footage as evidence to prosecute persons for illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10692/22]

Rural Schemes

Noel Grealish

2. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding is available and if a scheme will be announced for the construction of new community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8754/22]

Community Development Projects

Noel Grealish

54. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding is available for the construction of new community centres and when the details of a scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8755/22]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

266. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private bus companies operating to and from Galway city are dropping off and picking up passengers on roadsides rather than using the location mandated by the licence issued by the NTA; if he will insist that the NTA enforce the full terms and conditions of the licences issued by them to private bus companies operating to and from Galway city to ensure the safety of passengers; the implications of the NTA’s non-enforcement of the terms and conditions of licences issued by them to private bus companies operating to and from Galway city; if he will engage directly with Galway City Council and the NTA to resolve the bus parking situation in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8414/22]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

185. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland has a national policy of releasing alive all non-native pike 85cm in length caught in gill nets during stock management operations on Lough Corrib SAC, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5865/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Noel Grealish

242. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if clarification will be provided in relation to an email sent to a children’s playcentre (details supplied) on 23 December 2021 regarding eligibility for the Covid restrictions support scheme; if clarification will be issued to the Revenue Commissioners in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5935/22]

Local Authorities

Noel Grealish

297. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the required qualifications for executive engineering positions within local authorities given that item 3a (details supplied) specifies candidates shall hold an honours degree level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications in engineering; if he considers a BSc in Civil Engineering to be an appropriate qualification given that an organisation has stated that it recognises the qualification as an accredited level 8 engineering qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5894/22]

Housing Policy

Noel Grealish

299. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an exemption for the conversion of pubs into residential units will be introduced under the Housing for All plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5934/22]

Cycling Facilities

Noel Grealish

227. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the discussions, instructions and permission his Department gave the National Transport Authority in permitting the minimum cycle track standards to be reduced at pinch points along Salthill promenade in order that a two-way cycleway from Grattan Road to Blackrock and a one-way cycleway from Blackrock to Barna Road junction could be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5693/22]

Sports Funding

Noel Grealish

317. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of a fund (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5133/22]