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 1 of 15
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Rights of Way
Joe McHugh
556. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education to engage through her officials with Donegal County Council to enable discussions in finding a sensible solution with regard to a road and established right-of-way at Ballyconnell in Falcarragh, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15484/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
718. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next sub-group meeting regarding defective blocks will happen; if he will consider up-front payments to homeowners who are currently struggling with finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15476/24]
Tue, 27 Feb 2024
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
286. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which stakeholders contributed to the review of the implementation of the defective concrete blocks scheme from July to December 2023 that is due to be presented to the Minister in the next few weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9058/24]
Tue, 27 Feb 2024
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Health Strategies
Joe McHugh
624. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health when he intends to launch the national strategy on diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9287/24]
Tue, 27 Feb 2024
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Hospital Staff
Joe McHugh
626. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the reason Letterkenny University Hospital was not allocated advanced nurse practitioner posts in the recent allocation made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9290/24]
Wed, 7 Feb 2024
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School Funding
Joe McHugh
208. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the STEM grant funding process for schools, following the recent announcement of €4.7 million; how unsuccessful schools can ensure that STEM is made a key learning area in the curriculum without the adequate STEM resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5557/24]
Wed, 31 Jan 2024
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Health Promotion
Joe McHugh
144. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he has considered technology to create incidental activity which leads to better health outcomes without people realising it at the time (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4348/24]
Tue, 30 Jan 2024
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Social Welfare Benefits
Joe McHugh
376. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the recent Supreme Court decision with regard to unmarried widowers without children; his Department's timescale with regard to implementing this Supreme Court decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4049/24]
Tue, 23 Jan 2024
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
368. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an organisation (details supplied) will provide clarification on the structural reliability of a building following remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3061/24]
Tue, 23 Jan 2024
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Community Care
Joe McHugh
540. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on proposed closure plans for a service (details supplied) which operates across Donegal providing not-for-profit child and adult counselling services; the status of plans to ensure these services are retained in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2911/24]
Wed, 17 Jan 2024
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School Staff
Joe McHugh
547. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education for an update on salary and pensions for caretakers in school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57240/23]
Tue, 5 Dec 2023
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Special Educational Needs
Joe McHugh
223. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education what measures are in place to assist mainstream schools who are catering for children with additional educational needs, to ensure that these children can attend their local school along with their siblings where this is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53195/23]
Wed, 29 Nov 2023
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Tax Rebates
Joe McHugh
40. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance to clarify the current Revenue Commissioners guidelines for the VAT 58 rebate for farmers on certain farm equipment such as feed bins, milk bulk tanks, automatic calf feeders, milking parlour equipment, automatic scrapers, etc., where farmers are being refused a rebate on such items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52591/23]
Tue, 14 Nov 2023
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Early Childhood Care and Education
Joe McHugh
429. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what the funding pathway and opportunities are for an existing community childcare limited company by guarantee that wishes to expand to a green field site to cater for increased demand (currently 500 on the waiting list); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49538/23]
Tue, 7 Nov 2023
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Food Industry
Joe McHugh
417. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many meetings have taken place, if any, in 2022 and to date in 2023 between his officials and officials from the Department of Health to discuss the range and quality of food offerings in the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48668/23]
Tue, 7 Nov 2023
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Schools Building Projects
Joe McHugh
509. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48093/23]
Tue, 7 Nov 2023
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Agriculture Schemes
Joe McHugh
933. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to initiate a specific payment for farmers who have land in SPA and SAC outside the normal payment schemes that are available that is, similar to the top up payment that Islands got a number of years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48091/23]
Tue, 7 Nov 2023
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Healthcare Policy
Joe McHugh
1344. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he has considered positive organisational scholarship as a possible intervention in healthcare settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48667/23]
Thu, 26 Oct 2023
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Hospital Staff
Joe McHugh
269. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health to provide the terms of reference for the work EU consultants are carrying out at Letterkenny University Hospital currently; the duration of the contract, and contracted price for said work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47054/23]
Tue, 24 Oct 2023
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Health Services
Joe McHugh
560. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if the option is available for suitable patients in County Donegal in need of intravenous therapy to be facilitated in their own community setting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46450/23]
Wed, 18 Oct 2023
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Health Promotion
Joe McHugh
244. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that there should be a moral obligation on food retail outlets, large or small, to sell fresh fruit, that is, individual fruits, a whole banana, apple, pear, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45374/23]
Wed, 18 Oct 2023
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General Practitioner Services
Joe McHugh
256. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the status of ongoing plans in terms of addressing the concerns raised by the general practitioners in Donegal (details supplied); if he will meet them to discuss these concerns as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45443/23]
Wed, 18 Oct 2023
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Emergency Departments
Joe McHugh
258. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the average wait time from check-in to seeing a clinician at Letterkenny University Hospital emergency department; the national average for this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45447/23]
Wed, 18 Oct 2023
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Emergency Departments
Joe McHugh
259. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health to confirm the average wait time from arrival at the emergency department at Letterkenny University Hospital to admission; what the national figure is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45450/23]
Thu, 5 Oct 2023
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School Curriculum
Joe McHugh
246. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education to outline the steps that are being taken to incorporate nutrition on an inclusive basis into the curriculum, at both primary and secondary levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43335/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Environmental Policy
Joe McHugh
150. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views that €70 million is sufficient to drive zero carbon investment in industry through scaling up and expanding industry supports in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42161/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Tax Code
Joe McHugh
231. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a VAT refund order worth 5% of a new home for the purchase of new build homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42162/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Tax Reliefs
Joe McHugh
232. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance if he would consider extending the benefit-in-kind relief for workplace health and well-being supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42165/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Tax Code
Joe McHugh
233. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider facilitating a short term solution with regard to the ongoing issue of tax implications for cross-Border remote workers; while this short term solution, similar to temporary solutions during the covid pandemic, is in place, a comprehensive long term solution can be worked on a bilateral British-Irish basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42167/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Budget 2024
Joe McHugh
262. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to ensure increased investment in the Shared Island Fund in the upcoming Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42138/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Public Expenditure Policy
Joe McHugh
264. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to indicate if he is considering an enhanced national infrastructure fund with an additional commitment of upwards of €30 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Budget 2024
Joe McHugh
281. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure increased investment in the All-Island Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund in the upcoming Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42138/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Departmental Funding
Joe McHugh
709. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider unlocking the €1.5 billion surplus in the National Training Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42141/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Education Schemes
Joe McHugh
712. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider introducing a national training voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42148/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Technological Universities
Joe McHugh
713. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure technological universities have access to a borrowing framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42151/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Childcare Qualifications
Joe McHugh
715. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to enumerate the number of childcare courses nationally; furthermore, if it is possible to attain a figure to establish how many of these graduates go on to work in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42232/23]
Tue, 3 Oct 2023
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Irish Language
Joe McHugh
728. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with the Higher Education Authority and/or universities to give consideration to additional special degree and masters programmes for students pursuing qualifications in early years in order to provide full immersion as Gaeilge in early years' settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42786/23]
Tue, 26 Sep 2023
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
192. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance to confirm that the Central Bank was kept abreast of the previous Mica redress scheme (Statutory Instrument - €2.3 billion) and the current Mica redress scheme (legislative - €3 billion) at all times; whether he will confirm that if, once the remedial option, as prescribed by the Housing Agency, is agreed, all remediated homes will be fully mortgageable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41559/23]
Tue, 26 Sep 2023
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Health Services
Joe McHugh
546. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health his plans for expanding the current number of minor injury clinics nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41148/23]
Tue, 26 Sep 2023
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Mental Health Services
Joe McHugh
602. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health to consider additional investment in the mental health budget to provide more supports and measures in Donegal and across the country to ensure that people are provided with the vital and adequate services that are necessary to sustain and grow their mental well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41655/23]
Wed, 20 Sep 2023
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
148. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance if he considered waiving VAT charges on households that decided to do repair works on their MICA affected home, but decided not to go through the mica redress scheme; if he considered waiving VAT charges for those who are carrying out repair works to their homes within the scheme, taking into account these householders are struggling with existing mortgages and high interest loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39542/23]
Wed, 20 Sep 2023
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
535. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on discussions between the banking industry and his own Department in relation to support for Mica-affected homeowners;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40456/23]
Mon, 11 Sep 2023
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
928. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clearly define 'Principle Private Residence' with regards to the Mica Redress Scheme (V2); if he will disclose the legal advice from the Attorney General and/or others in relation to homeowners who have to leave their homes in County Donegal to work in other counties, or indeed, other countries; how this might affect their status and eligibility for the scheme; if it is within the law to restrict the free movement of citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38642/23]
Mon, 11 Sep 2023
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Youth Services
Joe McHugh
1470. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to consider the National Youth Council of Ireland's proposal of an additional investment of €9.4 million in youth services in Budget 2024; to provide more supports and activities for our young people in Donegal and across the country to meet the needs of our growing youth population; to assist these organisations in supporting the personal and social development, positive mental health and physical well-being of our young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38999/23]
Tue, 25 Jul 2023
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Health Services Staff
Joe McHugh
991. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if posts (details supplied) in Donegal have been advertised externally; the frequency of interviews for such posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35882/23]
Tue, 25 Jul 2023
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Disability Services
Joe McHugh
1148. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Drumboe residential respite centre, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35880/23]
Tue, 11 Jul 2023
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State Examinations
Joe McHugh
287. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education how many students will be availing of the alternative Leaving Certificate papers in July 2023, following the option of this scheme in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34043/23]
Tue, 11 Jul 2023
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Schools Building Projects
Joe McHugh
288. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education for an update on the building plans for schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34053/23]
Tue, 11 Jul 2023
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Water Services
Joe McHugh
393. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 15 November 2022, for an update on rural water frameworks; when money will be released to Donegal County Council, as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33857/23]
Tue, 11 Jul 2023
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Defective Building Materials
Joe McHugh
397. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an updated figure for the number of houses that have been completed (either demolished and reconstructed and-or outer leaf remediation works) in County Donegal; how many households have been approved for demolition and outer leaf under the old enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme; how many applications are currently in the system under the old 90-10 scheme; and if he will provide the figures, in tabular form, for the years 2020 (from June), 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [34038/23]