Parliamentary questions

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

628. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has calculated a multiplier for the knock-on value within the community of the different schemes under which she allocates funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41309/23]

Departmental Policies

Richard Bruton

629. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has analysed trends in remote working as the economy has fully reopened again; and if there are areas of initiative to help embed this as a pattern to bring new activity to rural Ireland. [41310/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Bruton

13. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an estimate of the average number of inpatient and outpatient procedures that have been delivered by public hospitals and by the NTPF to date in 2023; and if he is considering any innovations to deliver more procedures. [40277/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Richard Bruton

60. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health what the key drivers of the reported overruns in health expenditure are; whether there are improvements that can be made in spending management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40276/23]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Bruton

77. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how the destination of graduates after qualification has evolved over the past five years; and whether any lessons can be drawn from the impact of the Covid experience. [40279/23]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

108. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has considered initiating, along with the Minister for Education, a national dialogue on the reform of the Leaving Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40278/23]

Social Welfare Code

Richard Bruton

205. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the treatment of awards made by the Courts in her Department's means tests, particularly for disability allowance, wherein awards for negligence are treated as assets resulting in refusal, even where the award was for medical negligence which has completely denied the person any ability to work or have a normal life of any sort, and bearing in mind that means tests have been waived for some means-tested supports like medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40825/23]

Tax Credits

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the value of each tax credit which can be claimed; and his latest estimate of the numbers claiming them. [40359/23]

Tax Credits

Richard Bruton

169. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the value of each tax exemption which can be claimed; and his latest estimate of the numbers claiming them (for example, the rent-a-room scheme, and so on). [40360/23]

Tax Credits

Richard Bruton

185. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have claimed the new tax credit on unsupported private rents to date in 2023; the numbers that Revenue estimates are eligible; if he has considered whether obstacles exist to its full take-up, or whether information has not reached all eligible persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40736/23]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Bruton

186. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers who make claims for unreimbursed medical expenses each year; whether the Revenue Commissioners have made any estimates of the amount of under-claiming in respect of medical expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40737/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

265. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will indicate her plans to open a school (details supplied) which has not yet opened as anticipated. [39658/23]

Teacher Training

Richard Bruton

270. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether modules in special education have become a mandatory element in teacher training; and if not, if she would consider such a change since it is of such growing importance in inclusive teaching skills. [39682/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

272. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the delay in the planned opening of a school (details supplied); if she will indicate how this came about; and whether the issues can be quickly resolved. [39684/23]

School Staff

Richard Bruton

275. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if there is a higher-than-usual number of full-time posts in schools which remain vacant this September; if she considers it appropriate that some of the rules surrounding who can act as a substitute in such roles should now be relaxed; if not, if other changes could be made to offer other possibilities to local school leaders to find ways to deliver services while these posts remain vacant after repeated advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39698/23]

State Examinations

Richard Bruton

344. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether she has considered initiating, along with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, a national dialogue on the reform of the Leaving Certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40280/23]

School Staff

Richard Bruton

359. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the total number of resource teachers employed at primary and at secondary level, distinguishing those in mainstream classes, special classes and in special schools; and the number of children receiving support in each case. [40355/23]

School Staff

Richard Bruton

360. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the total number of special needs' assistants employed at primary and at secondary level, distinguishing those in mainstream classes, special classes and in special schools; and the number of children receiving support in each case. [40356/23]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Bruton

361. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the circumstances in which a detailed assessment is required before a child can obtain support in a special class or a special school; the number of cases where this is creating a delay in appropriate placement; and if there are steps under consideration to overcome this. [40357/23]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Bruton

362. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special needs receiving home tuition; and the aggregate number of hours of such tuition being provided nationally. [40358/23]

School Textbooks

Richard Bruton

382. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of primary school children who received the benefit of free schoolbooks on their return to school this year; and the estimated savings to each child included in the scheme. [40727/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Richard Bruton

647. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether improvements in maternity, paternity or parental benefit is scheduled; and if so, the dates that they will take effect. [40354/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Richard Bruton

648. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate her latest estimate for the numbers of recipients of domiciliary care allowance, working family payment, carer's allowance, carer's benefit and carer's support grant; and her estimate of the number of children deriving support from these payments in each case. [40361/23]

Social Welfare Code

Richard Bruton

659. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the disregard of only a portion of maintenance payments in means tests continues to apply; whether she intends to make changes to this provision in the Social Welfare Bill planned for later in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40717/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard Bruton

660. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline how the working family payment is estimated in the case of a single parent who works and is in receipt of the one parent family allowance; and if she will provide some worked examples. [40718/23]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

661. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of people eligible for the free fuel scheme after the implementation of the changes made earlier this year. [40719/23]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

662. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the conditions in which an Irish social welfare pensioner can receive the household benefit package; the additional means-tested access available to those who do not have an Irish social welfare pension; the number of those in receipt of Irish social welfare pensions who also receive the household benefit package; the number who do not; and the number of persons who do not have an Irish social welfare pension who receive the package. [40720/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

663. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the conditions in which a telephone allowance is paid. [40725/23]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

664. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has reviewed the level of claims for exceptional needs being made to her Department; the number of claims and the average payment under the main categories of payment; and if she is considering changes in the guidelines applying to any of the categories in view of the sort of needs being presented. [40726/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

852. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children getting support under the universal childcare payment of €1.40 per hour; and their distribution, by age, and by average weekly hours claimed. [40346/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

853. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children getting support under the enhanced level of support available to those below an income threshold; and their distribution, by band of reckonable income, by age, and by average weekly hours claimed. [40347/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

854. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the hourly rate of support for childcare in different age groups is calculated in the different bands of reckonable income. [40348/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

855. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children benefiting from the core funding payment for childcare; their distribution, by age, and by hours delivered; and the number of children in classrooms led by graduate leaders. [40349/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

856. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered innovations to reduce the amount of administration and record keeping associated with the core funding payment for childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40350/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

857. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hours funded under the free early childhood care and education scheme; the number of children who take it up, indicating those who complete two years; the hourly payment made to providers; and when this was last increased. [40351/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

858. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated number of children being cared for in the private home of the carer; the number of applications which have been made for the interim support to such carers; and what steps need to be taken before these carers could be included within the supports of the national childcare scheme. [40352/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Bruton

859. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the latest number of children participating in the various streams of support under the access inclusion model; and the number of staff deployed in delivering services. [40353/23]

Parental Leave

Richard Bruton

860. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether improvements in maternity, paternity, or parental leave is scheduled; and if so, the dates that they will take effect. [40354/23]

Census of Population

Richard Bruton

7. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he would consider publishing individual census returns earlier than the elapse of 100 years, in order that more timely research could be undertaken by those interested in genealogy and social history. [37832/23]

Waste Management

Richard Bruton

79. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he receives reports on the extent to which the pricing structure of bin collections incentivise reduce and recycle through the differential between the cost of black, brown and green collections; if domestic waste is currently being appropriately segregated into the respective streams; whether such segregation is delivering lower total volumes of waste and lower levels of contamination in the respective streams; and if any changes in price structures are anticipated. [37354/23]

Data Centres

Richard Bruton

93. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department have considered introducing an obligation on existing data centres to use the excess heat produced for local district heating systems. [37816/23]

Data Centres

Richard Bruton

94. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department have considered introducing obligations on new data centres to build heat export ability at the time of construction to supply district heating to local communities. [37817/23]

Data Centres

Richard Bruton

95. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of excess heat being produced by data centres; and the percentage of excess heat being used in district heating systems. [37818/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

123. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown in the use of biomass for electricity generation. [38272/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

124. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current level of solar activity. [38273/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

125. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected solar activity by 2030. [38274/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

126. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current level of hydroelectric activity. [38275/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

127. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected hydroelectric activity by 2030. [38276/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current level of renewable energy generated by wind, broken down by onshore and offshore. [38277/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

129. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of projected level of renewable energy generate by wind by 2030, broken down by onshore and offshore. [38278/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

130. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current installed capacity of solar, broken down by commercial and domestic production. [38281/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

131. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current installed capacity of wind power, broken down by commercial and domestic production. [38282/23]

Energy Prices

Richard Bruton

148. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether the trend in electricity prices have been tracked to ensure that customers are not being unfairly charged in situations where underlying forward contracts for fuel stocks remain undisclosed; if it is expected that intervention will be needed by public authorities to ensure falling costs are fairly shared; and how it is intended that the revenue from new caps on renewable energy prices and taxes on the profits of energy companies will be shared with customers. [38641/23]

Energy Conservation

Richard Bruton

170. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he would consider the replacement of a single-glaze window for stand-alone grant aid in the case of stone houses, for which wall insulation is not feasible; and if he would request the SEAI to model the costs and benefits of such work in those houses in terms of fossil fuel use and carbon emissions. [38918/23]

Motor Fuels

Richard Bruton

330. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown in the use of biomethane for biofuels. [38272/23]

Motor Fuels

Richard Bruton

331. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the current level of biofuel production. [38279/23]

Motor Fuels

Richard Bruton

332. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the projected level of biofuel production by 2030. [38280/23]

Banking Sector

Richard Bruton

467. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has assessed the gap that has emerged between deposit rates given by banks and the lending rates charged; and if he has plans to ensure that depositors and lenders are fairly treated. [38584/23]

Insurance Coverage

Richard Bruton

535. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the arrangements that are in place for remedial works in an area (details supplied) to ensure people in the area affected can get insurance in the future. [38284/23]

Home Schooling

Richard Bruton

594. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has received correspondence from a school (details supplied); and if she is in a position to allocate resources for an adequate home school liaison service. [37232/23]

School Admissions

Richard Bruton

599. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a shortage of places for all Irish primary education in the Clontarf, Killester and Raheny catchment area; if she has any plans to increase the availability of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37376/23]

School Facilities

Richard Bruton

726. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the request by a school (details supplied) to modify its building plan to replace three proposed basketball courts with one multi-use games area, and to add equipment, long jump facilities and an all-weather track bearing in mind that these facilities will allow the leaving certificate curriculum to be delivered, will enhance sports participation in the school and will provide sporting facilities in a fast-growing community where facilities are very scarce. [38834/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

731. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of all new-build and refurbishment projects, if any, in post-primary schools (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38874/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

732. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of all new-build and refurbishment projects, if any, in primary schools (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38875/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

733. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans to construct a new primary or post-primary school to serve the Northwood area of Santry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38876/23]

Planning Issues

Richard Bruton

841. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered applying orders which would restrict the planting of unsuitable species of trees in residential areas, which through their growth are likely to grow out of control and create a hazard for other dwellers. [37522/23]

Vacant Properties

Richard Bruton

896. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered shortening the period of vacancy necessary to trigger the vacant home grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38113/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Bruton

918. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the means ceilings for the various housing grants for repairs and adaptations were last raised; when the ceilings for admissible costs under those schemes were last raised; if he has assessed the inflation which has occurred since then; and if he plans to review these ceilings. [38494/23]

Commercial Rates

Richard Bruton

948. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if modifications can be made in the legislation underpinning local rates, so that concessions could be made to businesses which suffer long and sustained loss of business due to a major infrastructural project, such as in a case (details supplied). [38925/23]

Employment Schemes

Richard Bruton

985. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the options that her Department supports to assist persons on disability allowance to make useful contributions to the community and to engage in improvement programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37416/23]

Departmental Policies

Richard Bruton

1023. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she has assessed the level of non-payment to single mothers of maintenance due, and the hardship it causes; if her Department has assessed the possibility of the state becoming more involved in the enforcement of such payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38207/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

1026. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the support available to people affected by flooding who do not have insurance. [38283/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

1299. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current level of biomass activity. [38269/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

1300. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected biomass activity by 2030. [38270/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

1301. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current amount of land being used in biomass production. [38271/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Bruton

1380. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is planning to reform the system under which some AIM workers with children have to sign on for jobseeker’s benefit during school vacations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37490/23]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

1505. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has received any reports on the long wait for infant blood tests even if they are needed for diagnostic purposes; and if steps can be taken to address this. [37207/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

1532. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he can put a framework in place along the lines of those in other progressive EU member states, in order that recovering health workers could have certainty of financial support and the possibility of trial re-entry to the workplace to develop a rehabilitation pathway. [37335/23]

Nursing Education

Richard Bruton

1548. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the changes recommended on foot of the McHugh report on student nurses have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

704. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider relaxing the rule whereby a substantial period of time must elapse before a back-to-work enterprise application may be approved, given the huge disruption caused to fledgling businesses as a consequence of Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36171/23]

Departmental Strategies

Richard Bruton

41. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a land use strategy is being developed within which aspirations for forestry, the protection of biodiversity, climate, renewables and the bioeconomy could be evolved in a coherent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34169/23]

Agriculture Industry

Richard Bruton

46. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the anticipated steps needed in order to implement carbon farming as a reliable source of income for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34170/23]

Media Pluralism

Richard Bruton

59. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has assessed the future patterns of media consumption and the implications this has for public policy. [34167/23]

Sports Funding

Richard Bruton

81. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether the review of sports capital grants indicates the desirability of introducing changes or new elements to the application and selection process. [34168/23]

Environmental Policy

Richard Bruton

128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans for the proposed introduction of a levy on disposable cups and on a deposit/return scheme for PET bottles and cans; if he intends to modify proposals in view of submissions; and whether dates for commencement have been set. [34790/23]

Environmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

189. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications which are on hand for the warmer homes scheme; whether this list has been divided into the categories of poor building energy rating; the present annual number of energy upgrades now being completed under the scheme; if he will indicate when those households with somewhat better BER will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35275/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Richard Bruton

190. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the installed capacity of renewable energy under all of the various modes; solar, on shore wind, anaerobic digestion and so on; the categories large scale commercial farms, small business units, household and microgeneration and so on; if he is satisfied that the supports; price for supply to the grid in each case is at an appropriate level to encourage rapid uptake of renewable technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35277/23]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Bruton

263. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will indicate the total number of new public chargers installed by the ESB and by local authorities over the past four years; their overall power capacity; and how this compares for the target which he believes will be required by 2025 [35270/23]

Tax Credits

Richard Bruton

310. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the latest statistics for the number of persons claiming each category of credit or allowance in the income tax code; and the cost in each case. [35377/23]

Flood Risk Management

Richard Bruton

333. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what assessment has been carried out by his Department of the proposed new flood defence approach for the Clontarf seafront; if his Department plans to engage with a detailed design; and if money has been factored into the NDP envelope for its construction. [34791/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Richard Bruton

459. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give an update on the scheme targeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services; to provide a list of all applications received from local authorities under that scheme; to provide a list of the applications that were approved for funding; if he will provide a provide a summary of the status of each of those approved projects; the timelines for works to be commenced and completed for those applications that were not approved for funding at this time; the timeline for further funding announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34987/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Bruton

479. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will indicate the movement on the waiting lists for social housing in each local authority over the past five years. [35271/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Bruton

487. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has examined the interplay of the help-to-buy scheme with the first-home equity scheme which can operate to prevent applicants drawing upon the full value of each scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35372/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Bruton

488. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will indicate his projection of the relative need for cost-rental versus the affordable purchase scheme to be developed by public authorities; and the basis on which this projection has been made. [35373/23]

Fire Safety

Richard Bruton

491. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of State support to undertake fire protection standard investments that were not required by the building requirements at the time they were built. [35476/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

505. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposed start date for auto-enrolment pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35374/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard Bruton

506. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households which benefit from the fuel scheme; and how this number has grown as a result of the extended eligibility introduced in January 2023. [35376/23]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

508. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the suite of interventions to support placement in developmental roles needs to change now that unemployment is so low and those who need to be placed often have greater needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35412/23]

Departmental Funding

Richard Bruton

548. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered a core budget to fund innovative projects for the current initiatives in Dublin 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35413/23]

Harbours and Piers

Richard Bruton

573. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the assessment of the need for dredging of Howth Harbour, which his Department has completed; and if he will indicate his plans for the undertaking of needed work over the coming years. [35276/23]