Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

453. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a tender for a respite service for young adults with autism in community healthcare east has been completed; if so, the details of the successful tender; the location of the service; the type of respite that will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59797/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Richard Boyd Barrett

527. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and remedy the delay in the assessment of need and diagnosis which is the legal right of a person (details supplied) within the prescribed time period of six months. [60015/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he has read the recent NESC publication Building a New Relationship between Voluntary Organisations and the State in the Health and Social Care Sectors. [54564/21]

Health Services Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

213. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that all student nurses are paid properly for their placements particularly considering the current health crisis many of them are expected to fill in for fully qualified nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58590/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Richard Boyd Barrett

3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council.. [57556/21]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the public conversation on the well-being framework for Ireland. [57557/21]

Economic Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress made on the economic recovery plan published by his Department in May 2021. [57558/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [58591/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Education will next meet. [57325/21]

Student Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

58. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to deal with the issue of student poverty and, in particular, the chronic shortage of affordable student specific accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58585/21]

Student Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he will put in place to alleviate immediately the pressures that students are under in view of the chronic shortage of student accommodation which has resulted in students living in hotels, couch surfing and travelling long distances to attend lectures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58587/21]

Third Level Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will examine the challenges facing students of psychology who need to study for up to eight years before they are fully qualified for many disciplines within psychology; if he will consider a particular subvention for these students considering the urgent need for psychologists in both the health and education systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58589/21]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase access to further education; if he is considering increasing places to have an open access model that would eliminate the need for CAO and leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58586/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

127. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will abolish all fees for apprenticeship courses in view of the skills shortage in many trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58588/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure the immediate application of all fuel allowance changes announced in budget 2022 that have not been implemented to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57930/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

77. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reopen the pandemic unemployment payment to new applicants in view of the fourth wave of the pandemic. [57928/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

82. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will restore the pandemic unemployment payment to its original rate in view of the fourth wave of the pandemic. [57927/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will halt further reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment in view of the situation regarding Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57929/21]

Employment Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the roll-out of the Work Placement Experience Programme. [57931/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [57323/21]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the key policy achievements of his Department since June 2020. [57324/21]

Air Quality

Richard Boyd Barrett

118. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to arrange supply of ventilation and HEPA filtration equipment to ensure safe air quality standards in every school classroom and staff room; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58055/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Richard Boyd Barrett

200. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on the impact of the current Covid-19 surge on outpatient waiting lists; and the way he plans to tackle same. [57806/21]

Equality Proofing

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the details of the social impact assessments carried out by his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit since 1 January 2016. [55796/21]

Departmental Functions

Richard Boyd Barrett

9. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the international and European Union division of his Department. [55797/21]

Official Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference. [55798/21]

Programme for Government

Richard Boyd Barrett

38. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a progress report on the Programme for Government. [55795/21]

Educational Reform

Richard Boyd Barrett

57. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will give a full report on the recent discussions her Department has been having on reform of the leaving certificate; the timeline for changes to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57644/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

83. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to immediately re-establish contact tracing in Covid-19 cases in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57333/21]

School Facilities

Richard Boyd Barrett

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will work with a school and trust (details supplied) to ensure that the pitches traditionally used by the school remain available to both the school and the community into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57332/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to arrange weekly mass-testing for Covid-19 across school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57329/21]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

148. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the school building programme including the number of schools without permanent sites, without permanent buildings and also without even a temporary site; her plans to address these very serious shortfalls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57331/21]

State Examinations

Richard Boyd Barrett

162. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a full report on the recent discussions that her Department has been having in relation to reform of the leaving certificate; the timeline for changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57330/21]

Tax Credits

Richard Boyd Barrett

245. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the reason occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in front-line cancer services who require a fresh uniform on a daily basis and are required to both supply and launder their own uniform receive a tax credit of only €217 while their nursing colleagues (details supplied) receive a higher amount; if he plans to increase the tax credits for occupational therapists and physiotherapists in order to bring them in line with their nursing colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57173/21]

Schools Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

347. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the catchment area for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57068/21]

Visa Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

472. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if she has plans to increase staff levels at the Burgh Quay Registration Office to help speed up appointments for persons that have been trying for months to get an appointment for a stamp 4 visa; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57168/21]

Foreign Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the European Union is proposing action against Israel on the issue of Palestinian hunger strikers and demanding an end to their administrative detention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56568/21]

United Nations

Richard Boyd Barrett

53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had an engagement with either the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or the Ethiopian authorities regarding the current situation pertaining to the Tigray people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56569/21]

National Risk Assessment

Richard Boyd Barrett

1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the extent to which further potential risks have been identified in the context of the national risk assessment. [55793/21]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the most recent European Council meeting. [55794/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the guidelines for protective screens in taxis that are used as a protective measure to protect drivers against Covid-19; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that drivers have failed their NCT test due to having a screen installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56426/21]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

92. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of NPWS staff by county; the vacancies the NPWS has in each county; and the reason for these vacancies. [56412/21]

Death Certificates

Richard Boyd Barrett

128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the backlog in issuing death certificates; and when she expects this to be cleared. [56404/21]

Departmental Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the housing and infrastructure unit of his Department. [54563/21]

United Nations

Richard Boyd Barrett

329. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if the recent decision to extend the Army Ranger's deployment to Mali as part of the MINUSMA mission required the triple-lock and specifically Dáil Éireann approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55488/21]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

662. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1255 of 2 November 2021, if his attention has been drawn to clear fell sites which have not fulfilled their replanting obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55471/21]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to ensure that the remaining tenants in a location (details supplied) who are all in receipt of social housing support are not made homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55036/21]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to announce the new income limits for social housing; if he will review the new requirement in social housing assessment regulations that means that the income of the past 12 months of the applicant is taken into account rather than the current income (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55035/21]

Maritime Jurisdiction

Richard Boyd Barrett

55. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his input and the input of the NPWS in the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 with regards to the biodiversity of Ireland’s seas and nearshore and the plans for increasing the marine protected areas in the interest of protecting the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55038/21]

Rental Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider proper rent controls that would see rent pegged to average incomes and set by a rent authority considering the constant increase of rents despite RPZ legislation and amendments to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55037/21]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the recent sale of a studio (details supplied) to a large real estate corporation particularly given that the State had only recently disposed of its share of the studios and that the studios have received large amounts of public funding over many years; her further views on whether it is now time to take the studios into public ownership and investigate the circumstances of the sale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55228/21]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

109. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the criteria and timeline for the pilot scheme for arts and culture workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55224/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to respond positively to the requests of an organisation (details supplied) for a package of supports and measures to assist the recovery of those working in music, events and entertainment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55225/21]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the fact that film producer companies that are in receipt of public funding such as section 481 and Screen Ireland grants which are conditional on the provision of quality employment and training are regularly attending Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court hearings in cases taken by film employees and denying that they have a responsibility to those employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55226/21]

Income Inequality

Richard Boyd Barrett

174. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to address the widespread income and employment insecurity faced by art, culture, film, music and entertainment workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55227/21]

Anglo-Irish Relations

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his most recent discussions with the British Prime Minister. [54393/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will next meet. [54394/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the Cabinet committee that deals with agriculture; and when it is next due to meet. [54562/21]

Citizens' Assembly

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the expected timeline for the citizens' assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [54392/21]

United Nations

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to the United Nations in New York. [48308/21]

Departmental Functions

Richard Boyd Barrett

45. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [50787/21]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

69. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider providing relief to low- and middle-income households struggling with the cost of energy through an exemption of VAT from domestic energy supplies or a rebate of VAT on domestic energy supplies in the winter months; and if he has discussed or will discuss these matters with the European Commission. [54745/21]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

78. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance his plans to ensure that the new 15% minimum global corporate tax rate will be an effective rate given the many reliefs, deductions and allowances which the largest and most profitable corporations avail of to substantially reduce their taxable profit and which results in many of these companies currently paying far less than the 12.5% headline rate on their gross pre-tax trading profits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54402/21]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

95. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that film producer companies in receipt of section 481 tax relief (details supplied) are regularly and on a routine basis stating to the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court that they have no employment relationship with film workers who have worked on section 481 funded productions in cases in which those workers take a case to those bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54401/21]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

103. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered ending the Special Assignee Relief Programme in the interests of just taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54399/21]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

115. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider abolishing the local property tax and replace the tax with a graduated second, third, fourth and so on home tax ensuring that the family home is not subject to a property tax in view of increasing inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54398/21]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

259. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if the provisions of section 97A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (details supplied) are subject to a limit on the number of individual residential units that a landlord can claim for; the number of residential units for which these reliefs have been claimed that have been brought into use in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the total cost to the State in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54676/21]

Tax Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

260. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected budgeted revenue cost for the full year in 2022 arising from section 28 of the Finance Bill 2021 that inserts a new section 25A into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 with provisions relating to attribution of profits to a branch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54677/21]

Tax Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

261. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected budgeted revenue cost for the full year in 2022 arising from the provisions of section 481 of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 relief for investment in films; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54678/21]

Tax Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

262. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected budgeted revenue cost for the full year in 2022 arising from the provisions of section 32 of the Finance Bill 2021 that amends the definition of eligible expenditure in section 481 to confirm that payments made directly by a qualifying company to an individual involved in the provision of labour-only services for the purposes of the production of a qualifying film, qualify as eligible expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54679/21]

Tax Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

263. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the measures he is planning to put in place to ensure that section 32 of the Finance Bill does not contribute to bogus self-employment in the film industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54680/21]

Tax Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

264. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the details of the revenue foregone over the past five years from section 481 of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 relief for investment in films by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54681/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

265. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the number of businesses that are receiving payments under the employment wage subsidy scheme; the amount has been paid in total under the scheme to date in 2021; and the amount that is budgeted for payment in 2022; and the changes to rules for eligibility for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54682/21]

Tax Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

266. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected budgeted revenue cost for the full year in 2022 arising from the provisions of section 72 of the Finance Bill 2021 that removes the prohibition on reduction of penalties in offshore cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54683/21]

Vacant Sites

Richard Boyd Barrett

315. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individual vacant sites and beneficial owners to which the vacant sites levy has been applied; the amount of revenue that has been raised by the levy in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to-date in 2021; the amount of tax due that remains to be collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54684/21]

State Pensions

Richard Boyd Barrett

458. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the State pension (contributory) who were born before 1 September 1946; the estimated annual cost of extending the total contributions system which was applied to pensioners after this date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54007/21]

Employment Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

459. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the community schemes or job initiatives available to persons with a disability or mental health issue such as schizophrenia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54024/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

556. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the provision that will be made for persons who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons given the extension of the legislation requiring vaccine passports in restaurants and similar indoor venues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54025/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Richard Boyd Barrett

579. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54120/21]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

703. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 39.5 acres, 16 hectares of forestry land owned by Coillte (details supplied) is for sale; if he will take immediate action to ensure this land is not sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54193/21]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

704. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte need his permission to sell any or part of its forestry land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54201/21]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

705. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte sought his permission or advice with regard to its decision to put the site at a location (details supplied) up for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54202/21]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

725. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of any lands sold by Coillte, any lands currently for sale and any lands being considered for sale over the past five years, including the size of lands, sale price or asking price and location of these lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54694/21]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions he will take to increase the grants for retrofitting in order that the monies available meet the actual cost of retrofitting homes to the highest standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53675/21]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Boyd Barrett

105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when he will be reopening the grant scheme for taxi drivers wishing to purchase electric vehicles; the funding that will be made available for such a scheme; if the €9 million underspend from the recently closed scheme will be carried over; the additional funds that will be made available for same; the reason a threshold for the cost of an electric vehicle of under or above €60,000 appeared to apply to some extensions on the eligibility for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53655/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with marine and fishing will next meet. [53177/21]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment will next meet. [53178/21]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Boyd Barrett

78. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the reason the electric small public vehicle grant scheme has been closed; if the closure is temporary; if so, when it will resume; if the unspent €9 million budget will be carried over to the next year; if it will be in addition to that allocated for 2022; the amount of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53518/21]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Boyd Barrett

79. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the reason an extension on applications for the electric vehicle grant for taxi drivers was given to those who have committed to buy an electric vehicle costing over €60,000 but was not given to those who have not committed to buy an electric vehicle under €60,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53519/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the planned establishment of an IDA office in Israel. [53173/21]

Departmental Correspondence

Richard Boyd Barrett

489. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education when she plans to reply to a person (details supplied). [52266/21]

Work Permits

Richard Boyd Barrett

725. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the steps that can be taken to expedite a stamp 4 permit for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52248/21]

Citizenship Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

752. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if she has given consideration to granting an extension of the right to apply for Irish citizenship to great-grandchildren of Irish immigrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52647/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

863. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the status of booster vaccines; and when he expects all over 70s in Dublin to be offered a booster vaccine. [52256/21]

Vaccination Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

1040. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will advise a student who is currently on an Erasmus scheme in Sweden who received their first vaccination dose in Ireland and the second in Sweden but cannot get an EU Digital COVID Certificate from either country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52986/21]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

1255. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if felling licences to date in 2021 have been issued for 22,736 ha in view of the fact afforestation licences in the same period only amount to 3,418 ha (details supplied); his views on whether this amounts to net deforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53265/21]

National Transport Authority

Richard Boyd Barrett

171. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the criteria used by the NTA to award 10% of Dublin Bus routes to a company (details supplied); if he is satisfied that this represents value for money for the State; the weight given to labour costs in awarding these and any future tenders for service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51965/21]

National Transport Authority

Richard Boyd Barrett

172. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if the Dublin Bus tender for the 10% of Dublin routes which were eventually awarded to a company (details supplied) was lower than the winning tender; the reason a tender which would have represented a saving for the State’s finances was rejected by the NTA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51966/21]

National Transport Authority

Richard Boyd Barrett

173. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the fines accumulated by a company (details supplied) and Dublin Bus for failures to reach performance targets by the NTA since such fines were introduced; the headings under which these fines were levied; if all such fines have been collected or imposed on the providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51967/21]

National Transport Authority

Richard Boyd Barrett

174. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if the same criteria and performance targets are the same for each provider in relation to fines imposed for performance failures by the NTA on service providers for public transport in Dublin; if there are different targets for different providers; if so, the rationale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51968/21]