Parliamentary questions

Media Sector

Matt Shanahan

4. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the scope for increasing the funding for recommendations made within the Report of the Future of Media Commission; and when funding from these proposals will be rolled out to media organisations nationwide, given that the local and European elections and the first directly-elected mayor election in Limerick will take place at the start of June 2024.. [17014/24]

Tourism Funding

Matt Shanahan

194. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding her Department is making available in Waterford and the south east for festival supports in 2024. [17015/24]

Disability Services

Matt Shanahan

568. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person in Waterford (details supplied) is finding it impossible to access a vital service here; if he agrees that it is the responsibility of his Department to provide such services; if he will now instruct his Department to devise a plan of care where the person's needs are taken care of as swiftly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16262/24]

Business Supports

Matt Shanahan

33. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance the changes that are being considered to the debt warehousing scheme to support private businesses availing of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5746/24]

Banking Sector

Matt Shanahan

311. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he will engage with the banking sector (details supplied) and request it to provide a status report regarding the offer to provide a 'gambling block' to customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15047/24]

Banking Sector

Matt Shanahan

312. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the timeframe provided by the financial institutions required to deliver gambling block security to their online platforms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15048/24]

Sports Events

Matt Shanahan

570. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide the current application status of a funding request from an organisation (details supplied) to support hosting of the world rally championships in Ireland on a three-year programme event; to confirm that Government will commit to €15 million funding in total, based on a €5 million support payment per year on a three-year contract basis; if he will acknowledge that a decision needs to be provided within the next ten days in order to ensure Ireland remains a contender for these rally slots. [14607/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Matt Shanahan

1602. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the present status of the HSE estates development of business case and associated tender developments with respect to a new operating theatre in Kilcrene, County Kilkenny to support the Waterford and South east orthopaedic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15380/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Matt Shanahan

1603. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide contract timelines for the build and development of the new operating theatre in Kilcrene, County Kilkenny to service outreach, orthopaedic surgery from UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15381/24]

Departmental Policies

Matt Shanahan

220. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered changes to the recognition of mortgage applicants to meet repayment costs - at present many private tenants are paying significant monthly rental costs yet there does not appear to be clear guidance in terms of financial institutions accepting these payments as proof of a tenant's ability to pay a future mortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11653/24]

Departmental Policies

Matt Shanahan

221. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered making changes to the required 10% deposit ask of new first-time buyers understanding that many are in rental situations requiring more onerous rent repayment then that would be required in the event of a mortgage repayment and as such, tenants are disadvantaged in their ability to save up to a 10% deposit requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11654/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Matt Shanahan

527. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 7 February 2024, what criteria is actually examined and referenced with respect to this individual case; the depth of analysis that was entered into in terms of examining this claim; if previous employers and employment situations were examined to see how they correspond with known criteria referenced; if the public school system in the UAE is recognised as a corresponding platform to the Irish school system; if it not, when and how was such analysis made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12946/24]

Teaching Qualifications

Matt Shanahan

528. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 7 February 2024, given the apparent lack of recognition to experience increments raised in in relation to teaching work undertaken in private school settings in the UAE, if and how this policy is communicated to Irish persons who may take up temporary residence and work in this country in the private school sector and may be at economic disadvantage if returning to an educational teaching post in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12947/24]

Sports Events

Matt Shanahan

557. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of a submission and if she supports a proposed initiative by an organisation (details supplied); if so, when an official statement will be made confirming the €15 million in support funding, as requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12300/24]

National Planning Framework

Matt Shanahan

584. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage within the pending review of national planning framework, if he has considered the impact of present required density guidelines and how, in a city such as Waterford, they are proving to be a disincentive to the provision of public and private housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11651/24]

Planning Issues

Matt Shanahan

585. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered what new statutory guidelines will be enforced with respect to planning appeals to An Bord Pleanála; if he is aware that some private planning appeals are taking over two years to receive a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11652/24]

Planning Issues

Matt Shanahan

586. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered making changes to the criteria which allows for observations and planning objections to be made to local authorities, often from people who have questionable impact personally from developments proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11655/24]

Water Services

Matt Shanahan

587. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what review has taken place in terms of the bureaucracy that surrounds access to utilities such as water and wastewater connections; whether the Minister is concerned at the difficulty developers experience in trying to communicate and negotiate with these State utilities; whether he has considered any new initiatives to provide transparency in such delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11656/24]

Housing Schemes

Matt Shanahan

588. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage where the development of new housing schemes using modular building methods have already taken place in Munster; the scale and costs associated with homes supplied by this method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11657/24]

Rental Sector

Matt Shanahan

650. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his Department's policy regarding the registration through the planning process of short-term letting properties often used as short-term summer accommodation (details supplied); his Department's position with respect to validating registrations of short-term accommodation through the planning process; if such a requirement is beyond what the compilation of a register requires; the cognisance his Department is taking with respect to its advocating rent pressure zone status to counties Waterford, Kilkenny and Limerick with the obvious impacts to future reduction of short-term letting accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12337/24]

Health Services Staff

Matt Shanahan

1372. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health further to a recent Parliamentary Question, the explanation of ‘restricted procedure for works contractor’ protocol (details supplied); what differentiates it from an ‘unrestricted procedure’; the key criteria for making this distinction; the way and the reason it should be implemented in the opinion of his Department or the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12341/24]

Departmental Policies

Matt Shanahan

1373. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health further to a recent Parliamentary Question, if he will provide an explanation of this framework (details supplied) to include all of its sub-components and what core groupings in his Department have management over this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12342/24]

Health Services

Matt Shanahan

1495. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 31 January 2024, the reason no electroencephalographic machine is available in University Hospital Waterford; what plans are in place or under discussion to provide such a machine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12948/24]

Ambulance Service

Matt Shanahan

614. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to confirm how a person who is correctly registered with PHECC, and holds the correct qualifications required to become employed as a paramedic within the Irish National Ambulance Service could have been rejected following four separate applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9944/24]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

658. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail in tabular form the staff compliment assigned to cardiology services in University Hospital Waterford listing the last six quarters by individual specialty and number of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10108/24]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

659. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail any retirements or personnel reassigned from the cardiac service in UHW in the past 18 months; if such posts have been replaced; if the hospital has permission during the health recruitment freeze to backfill any vacant positions occurring as a result of retirement or reassignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10110/24]

Hospital Services

Matt Shanahan

660. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the Nolan Report considering its genesis began in 2016 (details supplied); the core years analysis which the report bases its findings on; what account of additional population increase and additional cardiac procedures activity at UHW as a result of the second cath lab opening is being considered within the context of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10111/24]

Hospital Services

Matt Shanahan

661. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the date by which the Nolan Report into national cardiac care will be published; if the report will be offered in advance of national publication to stakeholders and political representatives in order that the findings may be independently assessed before being publicly announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10112/24]

International Protection

Matt Shanahan

3. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the latest departmental activities in terms of the management of international protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8329/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

46. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport further to the tender application for the national SAR service from a company (details supplied), whereby a transfer of undertakings, operations protocol or transition plan document of up to 8,000 steps was submitted to the Department, if the Department will make public this transition plan, or at least share it with regional TDs, who would like to understand the processes and implementations required in their individual regions so as to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted helicopter rescue programme as the contract moves from the incumbent to the new operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8302/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

47. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport further to previous parliamentary responses from the Department to me, where a company (details supplied) had signalled its willingness to abide by TUPE legislation which it was presumed would secure all present existing positions under the present search and rescue programme, but the company has not indicated that it is to be ‘bound’ and willing to adhere fully to the principles of TUPE legislation if he will outline how this issue was assessed during the tender process; how the Department intends to ensure that TUPE legislation is fully adhered to in terms of the existing job security and transfer into the new search and rescue programme; what sanctions the Department can initiate against the company where TUPE employment requirements and protections are breached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8303/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

48. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport regarding the present regulatory framework that guides search and rescue flight operations, where companies are required to have fully employed nominated post holders embedded in operations activity at all times and any failure to provide nominated post holders in place would mean the service is in breach of its Operational Air Certification and should cease operating immediately, what actions Department officials intend to take regarding a company (details supplied) that has communicated its intent not to secure the existing employment of the present nominated post holders into the new contract programme; what the Department's position is in relation to this obvious breach of TUPE obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8304/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

49. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport given that a company (details supplied) has signalled its intention not to continue the employment of nominated post holders presently working in the search and rescue programme and assuming that such highly skilled operational people may likely seek immediate employment elsewhere, the Department's plan to ensure new qualified nominated post holder personnel are provided to the existing SAR helicopter bases so that no interruption to flight operations can occur given the absence of such post holders, understanding that operating without such would invalidate the operational air certificate requiring immediate suspension of flight operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8305/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

50. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport in light of growing public concern regarding the in-depth review analysis which was undertaken by the Department in formulating its opinion to award a new search and rescue tender, if he will outline what companies provided expert advice to the Department on all the aspects of the possible appointment of a new provider; what research was undertaken within his Department prior to new contracts discussion to scope out all possible problem areas; what executive functions within his Department were involved in formulating both the tender specification and its award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8306/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

51. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline what specific expertise his Department had in-house to fully explore all aspects of a search and rescue contract award, where such expertise was deemed lacking; if he will provide the names of the consultants and all consultant companies that contributed to the required understandings to allow the Department finalise a tender award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8307/24]

Transfer of Undertakings

Matt Shanahan

52. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will reiterate for the public record that it is his and his Department's understanding that no interruption to any helicopter rescue service in the country will occur because of the ongoing transitioning arrangements between the existing and the new service provider; if he will advise which officials in his Department have been tasked with managing this responsibility; what activities have such appointed been undertaking to date to ensure continuing compliance across all SAR operations; what monitoring operations are they currently undertaking to guard against any potential service interruption; what is their previous experience and proven skill set in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8308/24]

Grant Payments

Matt Shanahan

650. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Environmental Protection Agency has announced it has awarded research grants of €14.3 million for 33 new research projects; if he will outline in tabular form the funding awards to individual third level and/or scientific gateway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8042/24]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Matt Shanahan

217. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 17 October 2023, if Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responded to the initial information request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6579/24]

Motor Industry

Matt Shanahan

232. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he is familiar with the practice of fraudulently registering vehicles within the state in order to reclaim monies under the VRT repayment scheme (details supplied); the number of vehicles fraudulently registered within the State in this way; what advances have been made in detecting these fraudulent registrations; how many prosecutions have taken place in this time period per year since 1997, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6259/24]

Departmental Priorities

Matt Shanahan

241. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance the reason HVO is unable to be competitive against kerosene in terms of fuel substitution; the reason HVO is not classified as a biofuel in the Finance Act; the reason it cannot trade BOC certs as it can do with the transport fuels obligation scheme; the reason it is not supported in any subsidy as in, for example, being funded by carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6580/24]

School Staff

Matt Shanahan

291. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if she is considering giving incremental credit to teachers who have worked abroad for a number of years and have now returned to work in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6258/24]

Forestry Sector

Matt Shanahan

484. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 23 January, if the total sitka area planted for the period 2010 to 2023 of 39,791.78 ha includes open space or a bio area which would reduce the actual planted sitka area by a further 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6108/24]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

618. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Government's position on approving the PPP engineering building at SETU campus Waterford and agreeing contracts to immediate construction understanding that this project was separated from a batch one proposal in 2020 which are now completed, understanding that this project was first planning approved in 2011 with present planning permission to expire in coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5917/24]

Construction Industry

Matt Shanahan

24. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Minister has highlighted developing policy to approve new modular construction design technologies that could be deployed in Ireland; if he will outline progress in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5749/24]

Trade Data

Matt Shanahan

57. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment position regarding the continuing decline in Irish overall exports over the past two years; what evaluation his Department is doing to understand any and what may be the main drivers of this export drop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5745/24]

Business Supports

Matt Shanahan

75. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is aware of the significant pressures facing business in the restaurant and hospitality sector; the steps his Department is taking to address the challenges now being experienced in these sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5747/24]

Wage-setting Mechanisms

Matt Shanahan

77. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recent round of collective bargaining has agreed a significant increase in wages across the public service sector which will guide private sector remuneration also; the reason the relative difference in average pay disparity between public sector remuneration versus SME sector remuneration in Ireland is now among the widest in the European union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5748/24]

Road Network

Matt Shanahan

152. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide his Department’s approved budget figures for the purposes of road maintenance and new road developments infrastructure outlined by individual region totals over the past four years of Government; if he will clarify how regional equity is demonstrated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5918/24]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

346. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 31 January 2024, to outline the research and research processes that underpin this reply, particularly the general sentiment that recruitment, rather than applications in the TU sector is positive since their individual inception and the specific explanatory rationale for the recent decline proffered. [5941/24]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

347. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 31 January 2024, and the technological sector advancement fund referenced therein which is purported to provide €50 million to continue to assist new technological universities in their post-establishment phase; the amount of disbursed monies from this fund; the precise total funds amount approved to each TU to date, in tabular form; will the Minister comment as to where exceptionalism is being demonstrated by him and his Department in terms of this funding disbursement to recognise the unique deficit the southeast region suffers given that it has no National University institution to support third level delivery unlike the other regions of the country; his plans to further enforce exceptional funding to the southeast region because of this known deficit and regional imbalance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5942/24]