Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Matt Carthy

51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his targets for new afforestation in 2024; the amount planted since the formation of the Government; and the current total amount licensed but unplanted. [25542/24]

Agriculture Industry

Claire Kerrane

52. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarity on whether farmers who are unaware of phosphorus content in their fertiliser will face penalties; what communications have been issued to farmers to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25717/24]

Regulatory Bodies

Rose Conway-Walsh

53. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the powers of the food regulator, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, to ensure family farm incomes are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25761/24]

Forestry Sector

Aindrias Moynihan

54. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action being taken to ensure afforestation licence applications are issued within six months; the measures being taken to deal with the backlog of current afforestation licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25741/24]

Departmental Projects

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

55. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the results of his Department's thematic research call in 2023; if any successful projects are included that relate in any aspect to precision fermentation; if so, to detail the specific research projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19393/24]

Food Industry

Bernard Durkan

56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that agri-food imports into this country from whatever source are only allowed from countries adhering to similar carbon reduction measures that apply in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25748/24]

Departmental Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

57. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of the newly announced ash dieback scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25772/24]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 25 April 2024, to provide an update on the work of the wool council; if the €30,000 in departmental funding has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25540/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

59. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the action being taken in his Department following on from the recent report completed by Teagasc and submitted to his Department about the impact on farmers following damage to their farmland as a result of recent flooding on the Cooley Peninsula in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25730/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Ruairí Ó Murchú

60. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what interaction there has been with his Department and other Government Departments about the schemes currently underway and in the pipeline for renewable electricity production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25731/24]

Trade Sanctions

Thomas Pringle

67. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether, in the course of the Government’s diplomatic engagements in the United States for St. Patrick’s Day this year, he, other Ministers or any Irish officials challenged the United States regarding the decision of the current administration to continue to enforce the Cuban embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25798/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

68. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite passport applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25840/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

69. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25846/24]

Taxi Regulations

Martin Kenny

70. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the support his Department plans to provide for taxi drivers to ensure they are not at risk of losing their SPSV licence due to the VAT liability created by platforms using the ‘reverse charge’ mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25801/24]

Taxi Regulations

Martin Kenny

71. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if he has discussed with Revenue the provision of updated guidance on the VAT rates for drivers using platforms operating a reverse charge model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25802/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

72. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the special assignee relief programme is in the tax base, under the stability programme update, in each of the years 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, respectively, and the amount in the base for each of those years. [25835/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

73. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance for a full list of current tax expenditures and reliefs currently in operation; and if each tax expenditure is in the tax base, under the stability programme update, in each of the years 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 respectively, and the amount in the base in each of those years, in tabular form. [25836/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

74. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the current regime with respect to the taxation of carried interest paid to private equity managers; and the revenue raised by tax-carried interest at rates of 20%, 33% and 40%, respectively. [25838/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

75. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of non-domiciled individuals who have availed of the remittance basis of foreign income and gains in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; the number of individuals who availed of this basis for more than three years; and if such figures are not recorded, whether he has any concerns that the remittance basis of foreign income and gains with respect to non-domiciled individuals is undermining equity within the taxation system. [25841/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

76. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the rent tax credit is in the tax base, under the stability programme update, in each of the years 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029, respectively, and the amount in the base for each of those years. [25852/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of private renters deemed eligible for the rent tax credit under the allocation provided for it in Budget 2024. [25853/24]

Coast Guard Service

Paul Kehoe

78. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on the status of the proposed new station at Kilmore quay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25783/24]

Public Sector Pay

Rose Conway-Walsh

79. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if public sector pay increases are incorporated within the expenditure projects in the SPU, making specific reference to the second half of 2026 and 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25805/24]

Heritage Sites

Bernard Durkan

80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to indicate, in light of recent developments at Castletown, Celbridge, County Kildare, whether the spending of €25 million on the project was wise given that the next door neighbour clearly intends to impede access to the house and gardens by placing a locked gate on the access route from the M4; if such a possibility was considered previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25833/24]

Heritage Sites

Bernard Durkan

81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what provision is currently available for emergency services to access Castletown House, Celbridge, County Kildare from the M4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25834/24]

Trade Unions

Thomas Pringle

82. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what measures his Department currently employs to ensure that practices, commonly understood to constitute union busting, are not carried out in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25799/24]

National Minimum Wage

Bríd Smith

83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions the Government is considering in relation to the implementation of the adequate minimum wage Directive; if certain policy changes will be included (details supplied); the other policy changes being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25806/24]

Special Educational Needs

Claire Kerrane

84. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will examine and review the special education teaching hours for a school (details supplied) given the school meets the unique circumstances (point C) as laid down in the review request form for the allocation of special education teaching supports. [25812/24]

Question Heading for question(s) 85

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

85. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if school places can be provided for a cohort of children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25822/24]

School Funding

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

86. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if additional funding will be supplied to a school in Carlow (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25839/24]

School Equipment

Steven Matthews

87. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her position regarding the number of schools in Wicklow that have completed solar panel projects under the free school solar scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25843/24]

School Equipment

Steven Matthews

88. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her position regarding the number of schools in County Wicklow that have initiated applications for solar panel funding under the free national roll-out but have not yet had works commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25844/24]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Sorca Clarke

89. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Sorca Clarke den Aire Oideachais Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachas cén fáth go bhfuil líon na n-áiteanna ar an mBaitsiléir san Oideachas trí Mheán na Gaeilge (Bunmhúinteoireacht) in Institiúid Oideachais Marino laghdaithe go 40 i mbliana ó 60 mar a bhí sé anuraidh, i gcomhthéacs an ghanntanais múinteoirí atá ag imirt tionchar ar earnáil an Ghaeloideachais, ar an Oideachas Gaeltachta agus ar theagasc na Gaeilge i scoileanna Béarla; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [25848/24]

Schools Administration

Brendan Smith

90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when she will address anomalies in legislation and regulations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25883/24]

School Funding

Brendan Smith

91. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will give urgent and detailed consideration to the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding for primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25885/24]

Local Authorities

Cian O'Callaghan

92. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff hired in local authority planning departments since the publication of the Business Case for Resources for the Planning Function of Local Authorities in 2022 by the Local Government Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25791/24]

Local Authorities

Claire Kerrane

93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will direct a local authority (details supplied) to review a particular service provided under local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25823/24]

Straitéisí Ranna

Cian O'Callaghan

94. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the publication of the Treoirlínte Pleanála Gaeltachta; the reasons behind the delay in the publication of the same, given the original commitment to publish them by Autumn 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25832/24]

Allotments Provision

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

95. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 18 April 2024, for an update on the publication date for a guide to the provision of allotments and community gardens by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25851/24]

Local Government Reform

Brendan Smith

96. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals, if any, he has to establish town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25884/24]

Pension Provisions

Rose Conway-Walsh

97. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost of reducing the retirement age to 65 and increased cost out to 2029 or for each year projections are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25804/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Catherine Connolly

98. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the options open to school staff who have to sign on for job seekers benefit during the school holidays, in the context that the payments often arrive after the holiday, making it impossible for them to pay bills, buy food, and so on, with particular reference to the reason the payment is so reduced and delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25849/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can be made available to a person (details supplied), both of whose parents passed away in the past year leaving them with exceptionally high bereavement costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25854/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25857/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if household benefit is payable (details supplied). [25858/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25859/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25860/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Bernard Durkan

104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25861/24]

Legislative Measures

Thomas Pringle

105. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the resources that have been allocated to ensure appropriate enforcement of the provisions of the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25800/24]

Northern Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice when she intends to honour her commitment to the survivors and the families of victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings to release all files relating to the bombings, including the reports furnished by the officers of the special detective unit which was tasked with monitoring those campaigners for justice and truth in relation to the bombings, most particularly, such reports for the year 1993; to disclose the orders issued to the Special Detective Unit sanctioning this surveillance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25815/24]