Parliamentary questions

Departmental Programmes

Richard Bruton

16. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the scope for promoting engaging activities and positive health measures as a part of the welfare programmes promoted by her Department to the pensioners whom she supports with regular financial payments and occasional urgent need payments as part of a more joined-up approach to positive ageing. [18076/24]

Agriculture Industry

Richard Bruton

61. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the potential of a carbon farming initiative in the transformation of the sustainability profile of the farming sector. [18080/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Richard Bruton

56. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has considered the extent of unclaimed benefits across different Government programmes; if he would consider establishing a cross-government initiative to better promote take-up of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15267/24]

Public Services Provision

Richard Bruton

89. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the initiatives he plans to promote better planning to promote a longer and more fruitful retirement, across all of government, harnessing technology, promoting optimal choices of accommodation and adapting existing services to the new requirements. [15266/24]

Waste Management

Richard Bruton

113. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a scheme has been established whereby persons with medical conditions that result in the generation of high volumes of waste can get relief on their waste charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17332/24]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

117. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of energy upgrades undertaken in each of the past five years under the free (warmer homes) scheme; the distribution by the intensity of upgrade; and if he will indicate the extent of the waiting list for this scheme. [17478/24]

Air Quality

Richard Bruton

132. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if wood products are permitted to be burned in urban areas; and if they are subject to particular conditions nationally or under local by-laws. [17883/24]

Air Quality

Richard Bruton

133. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if air quality standards apply to emissions from household burning outside of the bans on certain products that are in place; and the procedures for monitoring air quality that may be associated with such uses. [17887/24]

Tax Exemptions

Richard Bruton

196. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the number of claimants of a tax exemption on renting a room up to €14,000. [17479/24]

Grant Payments

Richard Bruton

356. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the number of grants issued by local authorities under each of the grants for older people, housing aid, mobility aid and adaptation grant in each of the past five years; and whether he has information on the extent of a waiting list for these schemes. [17477/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

358. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of councils that offer a contribution scheme under which persons in homes too big for their needs can sell or offer the home to the council and, in return for a contribution from the proceeds of a sale, secure a council tenancy in a secure complex; and the number of homes that have been processed under this scheme in the past three years. [17499/24]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Bruton

399. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the number of claimants who are availing of the exemption from the means test of the renting of a room with revenue up to €14,000. [17480/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Richard Bruton

604. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the most common technology aids provided under the medical appliances scheme offered by the HSE; the number sanctioned in each of the past three years; if an evaluation has been carried out on the effectiveness of such technologies to keep people independent in their own homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17498/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

183. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the present status of the project to redevelop a school (details supplied), where many strains are being experienced in the existing facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17115/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

130. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the distribution of retirees across the entire Irish workforce, by age of retirement; the difference of pattern among the self-employed and the rest; and their estimate of the number of persons at work aged 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70 or over. [15927/24]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Bruton

211. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland has published proposals for a regional and local EV charging network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16592/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

43. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered the provision of incentives towards the creation of safe secure living in town centres suitable for those seeking to rightsize and to gain access to homes where assisted living within the community could be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15265/24]

Housing Schemes

Richard Bruton

92. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the scheme for promoting the sale of apartments to owner-occupiers has been taken up; and if he would consider simplifying its terms so that higher take-up can be achieved. [15264/24]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

106. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered relaxing the rules on pension drawdown to permit drawdown for certain purposes which might contribute to positive ageing, such as home adaptations, installation of technology, or caring support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15929/24]

Public Sector Staff

Richard Bruton

109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the distribution of retirees from the public service, by age of retirement; and his estimate of the number of public servants at work aged 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70 or over. [15928/24]