Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 23 of 40
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Energy Policy
Richard Bruton
107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if anaerobic digestion as a renewable energy will be used as an alternative policy measure to cut emissions from the agricultural sector instead of cutting the herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22409/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Energy Policy
Richard Bruton
108. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to develop potential opportunities for farmers from anaerobic digestion as was outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22410/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Energy Policy
Richard Bruton
109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there will be additional supports introduced particularly in the area of the food and beverage production industry to incentivise companies to establish anaerobic digestion plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22411/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Energy Policy
Richard Bruton
110. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if time of use tariffs will be made mandatory along with smart meters in order to make use and production cheaper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22414/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Climate Change Policy
Richard Bruton
111. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is potential to create a carbon credit system for companies here to help lower emissions and to help this country reach its global climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22416/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Climate Change Policy
Richard Bruton
112. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that can be taken to prevent companies from using carbon credits to buy themselves out of reducing their emissions; the steps that can be taken to prevent the use of carbon credits as a greenwashing technique; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22417/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Climate Change Policy
Richard Bruton
113. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of carbon credits this country purchased in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22418/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Climate Change Policy
Richard Bruton
114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to introduce carbon credit schemes similar to the one introduced by Dublin City Council which would invest in carbon offsetting projects that would result in generating carbon credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22419/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Climate Change Policy
Richard Bruton
115. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a potential market to expand the sale of carbon credits to other industries outside of the agricultural sector such as construction and aviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22421/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Electricity Generation
Richard Bruton
147. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that can be introduced in order to speed up the planning permission process for other forms of microgeneration aside from solar panels, such as wind turbines and hydropower; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22403/22]
Thu, 5 May 2022
written
Electricity Generation
Richard Bruton
148. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on replicating the microgeneration process in Northern Ireland in which projects do not require additional planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22404/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Environmental Schemes
Richard Bruton
95. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of smart electricity meters installed; the geographic distribution of the smart meters installed; and the amount of funding that has been spent on the installation of smart meters. [22225/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Electric Vehicles
Richard Bruton
111. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider grant aiding the conversion of fossil-fuelled cars to electric as a way of acceleration of the conversion of the fleet to electric. [21714/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Public Sector Pensions
Richard Bruton
161. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if persons who are paying into public service pension schemes have to continue making contributions after they have reached the maximum 40 years' service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22070/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Construction Industry
Richard Bruton
175. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if steps are being taken to adopt modular building material methods with off-site manufacture of modules in order to speed up the construction time of needed housing. [21698/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Animal Culls
Richard Bruton
178. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the scheme undertaken on a pilot basis to carry out a cull of seagulls has been assessed; and if there are plans to consider extending that approach elsewhere. [21771/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Site Acquisitions
Richard Bruton
256. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if a permanent site for a school (details supplied) has been identified; and construction of a permanent building is scheduled. [21700/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Site Acquisitions
Richard Bruton
257. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has completed the assessment of the starting date for the new secondary school (details supplied) taking into account the very large number of new homes completed or under construction in the area. [21703/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
State Pensions
Richard Bruton
294. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is considering allowing contributions to be made for pensions from rental income given the move to auto-enrolment. [21702/22]
Wed, 4 May 2022
written
Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects
Richard Bruton
320. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the acute problems in reinstating important services for rehabilitating drug dependent young person's due to the lack of community employment youth workers such as in a case (details supplied); and if she will consider changing current community employment regulations to allow key support workers be retained. [22241/22]
Thu, 28 Apr 2022
written
Banking Sector
Richard Bruton
41. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the support to consumers in rearranging their affairs as banks exit the Irish market; and if he has discussed the matter with the Central Bank. [21003/22]
Thu, 28 Apr 2022
written
Public Sector Pay
Richard Bruton
99. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his approach to calls for pay increases to match rises in the cost of living; the way he will calculate the affordability of such calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21002/22]
Thu, 28 Apr 2022
written
Public Procurement Contracts
Richard Bruton
121. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department measures the penetration of green procurement within total procurement; the estimated penetration levels achieved; and the adequacy of policies to achieve increased penetration. [21001/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Electric Vehicles
Richard Bruton
143. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the lifetime costs of electric versus fossil fuel vehicles justifies recommending to public bodies under his auspices to switch procurement strategies bearing in mind the likely trends in fuel costs. [21000/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Transport Policy
Richard Bruton
153. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has assessed the potential to move travel requirements to a service model by using sharing platforms, vehicle sharing and ride sharing; and if he will consider providing a fund to stimulate innovation in this area. [20999/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Energy Prices
Richard Bruton
214. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Enterprise Forum last met; if the forum has discussed rising energy costs within the industry sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20995/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Energy Prices
Richard Bruton
215. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the consultation that his Department is holding with industry representatives in relation to rising energy costs; the mechanism by which the consultation operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20996/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Waste Management
Richard Bruton
232. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will list the extended producer responsibility schemes that are in place for recovering waste material funded by a levy on the product put on the market; if he will list in respect of each the volume of material recovered in weight and the way that compares with the current volume of sales; if he will indicate in each case the level of the levy imposed to fund the operation; the outlets for the recovered material; and if he will provide the latest report on the operation of the respective schemes. [19287/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Richard Bruton
323. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that is being made as regards to reviewing the policy position on the development of private wires and direct lines; if a public consultation will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20993/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Environmental Policy
Richard Bruton
324. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department intends to introduce further legislative measures pertaining to existing industrial emissions licence holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20994/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Departmental Schemes
Richard Bruton
645. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to ensure that persons who surrendered their home to the financial crisis but who did not enter bankruptcy or similar arrangements will be able to access the local authority loan, the Fresh Start and other appropriate schemes on the same basis as first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20091/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Third Level Costs
Richard Bruton
1202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the cost of graduate-entry courses to medicine and the lack of loan options for students to fund the cost; and if he will consider support for the cost in order to promote a greater supply of graduating doctors. [20438/22]
Tue, 26 Apr 2022
written
Programme for Government
Richard Bruton
1799. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the commitment in the programme for Government to work with key stakeholders to introduce a public health obesity Bill, including examining restrictions on promotion and advertising aimed at children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20992/22]
Thu, 7 Apr 2022
oral
Economic Policy
Richard Bruton
9. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way that his Department is preparing to implement the circular economy ambitions of the Government. [18475/22]
Thu, 7 Apr 2022
written
Energy Prices
Richard Bruton
60. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the sectors which he believes are most vulnerable in the face of the explosion in the cost of oil and gas. [18474/22]
Thu, 7 Apr 2022
written
Energy Policy
Richard Bruton
139. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline how secure Irish energy systems are. [18485/22]
Thu, 7 Apr 2022
written
Energy Prices
Richard Bruton
145. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that he is contemplating which might strengthen Irish resilience in the face of explosion in the cost of oil and gas. [18484/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Air Quality
Richard Bruton
9. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the Clean Air Strategy; and if it is planned to increase the monitoring of air quality under the strategy. [18568/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Tax Reliefs
Richard Bruton
36. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if a recent move has been made to apply VAT to candles; if any relief can be made for candles used in religious rites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18576/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Planning Issues
Richard Bruton
72. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the data his Department holds on the estimated number of outstanding planning permissions for new houses or apartments which have been granted in each local authority area; the way in which these compare with the projected housing need for the respective local authority areas; and the way in which this data is factored into the development of the activities of the Land Development Agency and the targets his Department is negotiating with local authorities. [18517/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Housing Provision
Richard Bruton
73. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of proposals from each of the local authorities and from the Land Development Agency for housing developments, either social or affordable homes, that are awaiting approval from his Department; the aggregate number of homes involved; and the average turnaround time for approvals. [18518/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Social Welfare Schemes
Richard Bruton
138. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered whether a maintenance recovery unit could remove the need for repeated Family Court hearings and ensure that social welfare evaluation of the means of single parents would be more fairly assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18579/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Social Welfare Eligibility
Richard Bruton
139. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the fuel allowance in order that the presence of a person receiving community employment payments after a period of long-term unemployment would not serve to disqualify a pensioner who would otherwise qualify for the scheme. [18582/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Health Service Executive
Richard Bruton
228. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the criteria used in the early assessment of the special needs of a child under the new system of triaging children operated by the HSE; and if the form of assessment is sufficient to determine access to early intervention classes.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18574/22]
Wed, 6 Apr 2022
written
Health Service Executive
Richard Bruton
235. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the criteria used in early assessment of the special needs of a child under the new system of triaging children operated by the HSE; and if the form of assessment is sufficient to determine access to early intervention classes. [18622/22]
Tue, 5 Apr 2022
written
Tax Reliefs
Richard Bruton
248. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the help-to-buy scheme is being extended to persons whose marriages have broken down as well as to first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17881/22]
Tue, 5 Apr 2022
written
Registration Certificate
Richard Bruton
530. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a report from the HSE in respect of the backlog in making appointments for marriage notification which have to take place three months in advance; and if she plans to modify the legal obligation or make other changes to tackle this serious problem. [18203/22]
Thu, 31 Mar 2022
written
Environmental Investigations
Richard Bruton
242. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering providing environmental health officers with additional powers in order that they could more effectively address environmental hazards created by blockages on combined household drains, which can only be resolved if all those households served by the blocked drain share in the effort to resolve the issues. [17126/22]
Thu, 31 Mar 2022
written
An Garda Síochána
Richard Bruton
348. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she has received a report from An Garda Síochána on the Garda initiative to improve security in Dublin city centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17121/22]
Thu, 31 Mar 2022
written
Naturalisation Applications
Richard Bruton
352. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider a special naturalisation process with lower fees for citizens of other countries who have lived a substantial part of their lives in Ireland and plan to continue to do so. [17235/22]