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]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

47. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered designing new initiatives to tackle under-claiming of benefits, which is widespread across her own Department and other agencies of Government. [18077/24]

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]

Food Industry

Richard Bruton

82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has developed proposals within his area of responsibility which would fit with the ambition to deliver a circular economy initiative for the Irish food sector. [18081/24]

Inland Fisheries

Richard Bruton

127. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the review of the recent controversies within the Inland Fisheries Ireland has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/24]

Recycling Policy

Richard Bruton

128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has set a date from which all sales of cans or PET bottles must have a deposit paid; if he has discussed with retailers whether products without the logo and bar code printed on the container can apply a deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18591/24]

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]

School Funding

Richard Bruton

118. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will assess the position of a school (details supplied) which lost out last year through the cancellation of the Covid grant, the IT grant and the minor works grant and fears that the IT grant will again not be paid, thereby undermining its funding position. [15791/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

150. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what policy tools have been put in place to support rightsizing of accommodation for those, particularly older people to move to a smaller home or to adapt their existing home into two residential units, releasing unneeded space upgrading the energy use and comfort of the home; and if he will indicate his estimate of the number of such moves which are being made annually. [15930/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

151. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the directives which are in place requiring local authorities to make adequate provision for a positive environment to support a ageing population in their area; and whether any audit of the adequacy of planning policy to meet this challenge has been undertaken. [15931/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

152. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has set any target for the development of purpose-built housing for older people by the councils or Approved Housing Agencies, distinguishing the level of wrap-around service for those designated for people who require assisted living. [15932/24]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

257. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the growth in the acute hospital budget in each year since 2000; and the growth in the budgets for primary care and for community care services over the same period. [15933/24]

Nursing Homes

Richard Bruton

258. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health what the lessons have been for public health policy of managing a pandemic in nursing home settings; and whether new protocols are being put in place to embed these lessons. [15934/24]

Legislative Measures

Richard Bruton

259. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether he has plans to implement safeguarding legislation of the sort advocated by the Law Reform Commission and others seeking reform in the area. [15935/24]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

5. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered how the tax system might make a better contribution towards adjustment to a longer and more fruitful retirement through supporting rightsizing, early release of pension savings in certain circumstances, more flexibility in continued working from employers, better recognition of family carers and in other ways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15262/24]

Tax Credits

Richard Bruton

20. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the extent of unclaimed tax allowances and other benefits; if he would consider establishing a cross-Government initiative to promote better take-up of such benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15263/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

1. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate the life expectancy at birth and at age 65 in 1950, 1970, 1990, 2010 and the most recent year for which data is available. [13516/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

2. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the numbers of people aged 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ in 2000, 2022, and projected for 2040, and the corresponding ratio each represents as a proportion of those of working age in those years. [13517/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

3. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the ratio of those aged 65+ to the population of working age in each local authority. [13518/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

4. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the numbers of people at work who have pension coverage beyond the social insurance pension, and the number who do not, distinguishing the pattern for male versus female workers, and for those aged under 50 years, and those 50+ years. [13519/24]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

5. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of people aged 65-69, 70-74, and 75+ who are still in employment. [13520/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

525. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of the planning for a new secondary school (details supplied), and if her Department has had an update on new developments under construction or in the pipeline which will drive pupil numbers. [14944/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

526. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of the masterplan for the new build for a school (details supplied) in Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14945/24]

Development Contributions

Richard Bruton

714. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered extending the deadline for the temporary waiver of development fees, as many applicants were unable to complete the process within the short timeframe given. [15376/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard Bruton

787. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the costs for a homeless family being rehoused in unfurnished accommodation; whether the present ceiling of €3,000 for establishment costs adequately reflects the true cost of a family setting up home; and if she would consider establishing a higher limit. [14742/24]

Departmental Staff

Richard Bruton

1015. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department, where it mistakenly placed an employee on too high a PRSI deduction for a lengthy period, will repay the over-deduction over the full period; and if not, if the refund will only apply to the four year period for which the Department of Social Protection will make repayments. [14835/24]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Bruton

1468. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the NTPF has set out an activity plan for 2024 setting out the outpatient appointments, inpatient procedures and diagnostic evaluations and scopes that will be carried out in the course of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14708/24]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

1534. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has considered a Dublin premium for health workers where there is a high level of attrition from posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14943/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Bruton

22. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has undertaken an assessment of Ireland's defence vulnerabilities in light of the deteriorating defence situation in Europe. [13260/24]

Just Transition

Richard Bruton

136. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projects which have been funded to date from the Just Transition Fund in County Offaly; their scope and planned impact; the number of applications from the county; and their current status. [13544/24]

Just Transition

Richard Bruton

137. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has reviewed the operation of the Just Transition Fund to date; the lessons which have been learnt; when it is intended to establish a Statutory Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13545/24]

Public Transport

Richard Bruton

177. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number, location and capacity of local link transport services; and his plans to grow this service. [13533/24]

Transport Policy

Richard Bruton

178. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered the possibility of creating a digital platform for people living in isolated areas where public service transport is not feasible to access rides either by volunteers or on a cost covering basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13534/24]

Road Network

Richard Bruton

179. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has reviewed the adequacy of the funding for regional and local roads in 2024; how it compares with last year; how need is measured; what measure he uses to establish relative need in different counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13546/24]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

185. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that “community gain” allocations under the process for developing renewal energy projects, is subject to income tax; and if he would consider altering its tax status or allowing a tax free amount, in order that it could become of greater value to the communities affected by these essential infrastructures for a net-zero world. [13548/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Richard Bruton

187. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of people who now have a public service or State body pension; and his projection for this number for 2030 and for 2040. [13521/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Richard Bruton

188. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the estimated proportion of income which would be necessary to set aside during each working year of a typical public servant in order to create an adequate actuarial fund to pay the prospective public service pension. [13522/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Richard Bruton

189. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the size of the fund that would be needed at retirement age to pay a prospective public service pension of €20,000 per year. [13523/24]

Swimming Pools

Richard Bruton

219. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of the damage suffered to a swimming pool (details supplied); if he is considering setting aside a special fund to support swimming pools in forthcoming capital allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13547/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

235. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the actions in Housing Options for Our Ageing Population have been achieved; the areas in which achievements have fallen short of expectation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13535/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

236. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, based on the policy Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, data has been collected on the level and the growth of accommodation in the core categories required by an ageing population namely adapted family homes, dedicated homes for older people with varying degree of attendant services below the levels of more acute support requiring institutional care; and if he will indicate the baseline in 2018, and the additional provision since. [13536/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

237. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the size of the stock of housing held by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies dedicated to the accommodation of older people; how this has grown since 2010; and the size of the national waiting list for older persons accommodation. [13537/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

238. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of the stock of housing held by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies dedicated to the accommodation of older people, which has ancillary support services, and the numbers of homes with the various range of such supports. [13538/24]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

244. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the target of income adequacy in old age; the contribution which she hopes that auto-enrolment will make to achieving that; and by what date she expects people retiring to have reached that target. [13551/24]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Richard Bruton

245. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the role, if any, which MABS plays in advising on pension and financial planning for old age; and if she has considered developing a programme in mid-career by MABS which would equip people to plan better for their retirement. [13552/24]

Social Welfare Code

Richard Bruton

246. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has systems for identifying and supporting more vulnerable carers, such as older parents caring for ageing children with disabilities, in order that extra supports could be developed in partnership with other Government agencies. [13553/24]

Home Help Service

Richard Bruton

316. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the number of man hours allocated to provide home help and homecare services; and the number of persons receiving those services in 2000, 2010, 2020 and allocated for 2024. [13524/24]

Home Help Service

Richard Bruton

317. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the steps necessary to be taken to put in place a national statutory homecare scheme; and the date on which he hopes to reach each milestone. [13525/24]

Home Help Service

Richard Bruton

318. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has carried out an audit of the assistive technology that is now available to support care in the home; if he has assessed the feasibility in each case of supporting their use to better manage care in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13526/24]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

319. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the estimated proportion of consultations with GPs, with medical consultants, with nurse practitioners and with therapists which were conducted at their peak during Covid; the extent to which this has been sustained as practices have returned to normal; if he has undertaken a review to see whether such approaches should take a more prominent position in future care; and the barriers which may need to be overcome to achieve that. [13527/24]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

320. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has conducted any census of carers to identify the circumstances of their care, their access to information and support, their age profile, and their capacity to continue; if he will indicate where the findings may be obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13528/24]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

321. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the performance reports which he receives on the HSE's enhanced community care initiatives and its component elements to illustrate its reach, its intensity and its impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13529/24]

Health Promotion

Richard Bruton

322. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether he has received reports on the evolution of the indicators in the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework instituted in 2018 to date; and whether the impact of Covid and the return to more normal conditions illustrates challenges for public policy in this area. [13530/24]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

323. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the scale of the social prescribing initiative undertaken by the HSE in terms of resources deployed, people reached and impact of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13531/24]

Health Strategies

Richard Bruton

324. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the actions outlined in the Positive Ageing Strategy of 2013 were achieved; the areas where achievement fell short of expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13532/24]

Care Services

Richard Bruton

325. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has undertaken a manpower review of current and upcoming needs for care assistants who could support nursing home care or homecare; the predicted needs over the next ten years; the capacity to meet those needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13554/24]

Legislative Measures

Richard Bruton

326. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has considered amending health insurance legislation to encourage more insurers into the support of preventative health measures and improved management of continuing health vulnerabilities among their members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13555/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Richard Bruton

343. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of connected hubs in each county which are now established; if she would consider giving these hubs an explicit mandate to promote positive ageing, particularly as a location to access information, to develop digital skills, to access trusted advisers and services, and to promote community networks supportive of positive ageing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13549/24]

Departmental Policies

Richard Bruton

344. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role that her Department plays in promoting social innovation in communities to respond to environmental and demographic pressures, particularly in counties with higher old age profiles. [13550/24]

Departmental Strategies

Richard Bruton

179. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport whether he has monitored the progress made under the actions specified in the National Positive Ageing Strategy 2013 and published annual progress reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12647/24]

Departmental Strategies

Richard Bruton

335. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he has monitored the progress made under the actions specified in the National Positive Ageing Strategy 2013 and published annual progress reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12646/24]

School Facilities

Richard Bruton

529. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline recent allocations to a school (details supplied) for improvements to the buildings; and if she will outline any planned works that she is considering for the school. [12949/24]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

544. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of the school building project for a school (details supplied); and the timeline for completion of the project. [13170/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Richard Bruton

789. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection where the payment of a qualified adult allowance is under review, if half of the savings of a couple are automatically attributed to the qualified adult, regardless of whose name is on the bank account; and whether in the same way if the savings are in an account in the name of the qualified adult, that person will still only be assessed with half of the savings. [13176/24]

International Protection

Richard Bruton

1107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether accommodation previously assigned for those seeking temporary protection from Ukraine is becoming available for use for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11787/24]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the delay in opening the portal for the submission of financial data for the core funding support of childcare, if he will he consider extending the deadline of 23 March 2024. [12521/24]

Emergency Departments

Richard Bruton

1211. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health when it is scheduled for Beaumont Hospital to open a new accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11536/24]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

1266. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that many US trained nurses are failing to get permits to practice in Ireland; whether he has received any report on this pattern; and if he plans initiatives that could facilitate such well trained nurses to find a pathway into practice. [11796/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

1361. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that people who have become ill and debilitated with long-Covid, contracted while delivering essential services during the pandemic, face the cut-off of their pay continuation scheme at the end of March; and if he can make arrangements to extend this cover. [12288/24]

Healthcare Policy

Richard Bruton

1444. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has monitored the progress made under the actions specified in the National Positive Ageing Strategy 2013 and published annual progress reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12648/24]

Mental Health Services

Richard Bruton

1476. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will consider removing mental health services from the present health recruitment embargo; and if a manpower plan for 2024 is close to agreement. [12850/24]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

1504. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department, where it mistakenly placed an employee on too high a PRSI deduction for a lengthy period, will repay the over-deduction over the full period; if not if the refund will only apply to the four year period for which the Department of Social Protection will make repayments. [13036/24]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

1558. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is a shortage of training places in Dublin for those wishing to do apprenticeships, which is requiring people to train far away from home; and if he plans to roll out more facilities in Dublin to meet the need. [12918/24]

European Union

Richard Bruton

40. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the discussions within Europe on the level of hostile online activity by foreign states, and the effectiveness of defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11130/24]

Departmental Strategies

Richard Bruton

105. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will indicate the sectors for which a circular economy strategy is being prepared; if the values on key targets specified in the Circular Economy Act have been decided; and if he will indicate when each is likely to be published. [11129/24]

Energy Production

Richard Bruton

121. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the prospective generation capacity needs under each category of generation and storage over the next two years to achieve 2025 targets; if he has identified the critical barriers to be overcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11128/24]

Care of the Elderly

Richard Bruton

5. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department is evolving strategies to divert the flow of older patients from accident and emergency departments into more suitable pathways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9730/24]

Health Strategies

Richard Bruton

12. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has mapped out a pathway for the role technology can play in keeping patients healthy and in the planned statutory homecare scheme; and the status of the roll-out of the planned actions. [9731/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Bruton

100. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he report on the remit and progress of the new Childcare Development Agency; how it will integrate the work of county childcare committees; and the new planned capital budgets for Childcare Development. [9732/24]

International Protection

Richard Bruton

144. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the methods in place for ensuring that new international protection centres are supported with necessary services and activities so that integration into the community is facilitated. [9733/24]

Sports Facilities

Richard Bruton

210. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will review the funding allocated to the sports lottery fund and allocate extra investment in sports facilities across Ireland, where there is a growing population, and where the annual house building target is expected to increase by 100%, to 60,000 per annum. [9771/24]

Education and Training Provision

Richard Bruton

8. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to develop Skillnet Ireland in its capacity to accelerate adaptation to the challenges of sustainability and digital transformation of business models. [9082/24]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Bruton

15. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered the role that further and higher education could play in the future in supporting the contribution of people after they retire from full-time work both from their past experience and empowering them for a third age; and if he will consider evolving a new strategy in this sphere. [9081/24]