Parliamentary questions

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

24. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the 60th annual Munich Security Conference. [9016/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Seán Haughey

632. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if amputees can be added to the long-term illness scheme to enable them to obtain prostheses as necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16003/24]

Further and Higher Education

Seán Haughey

761. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the recent announcement concerning the closure of a college (details supplied); if he will intervene to assist these students to continue their courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/24]

Housing Provision

Seán Haughey

14. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many social homes are either on site or at design and tender stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15667/24]

Housing Schemes

Seán Haughey

73. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many first home scheme approvals have issued since its launch in July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15668/24]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Haughey

116. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the number of reading classes at primary school level in Dublin; the number of children on waiting lists to enrol in a reading class at primary school level in Dublin; her policy on the establishment of reading classes; her plans to extend this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15788/24]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Haughey

117. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the number of speech and language classes at primary school level in Dublin; the number of children on waiting lists to enrol in a speech and language class at primary school level in Dublin; the number of speech and language therapists working in primary schools in Dublin; the number of pupils entitled to intervention by a speech and language therapist; her policy on the establishment of speech and language classes; her plans to extend this serviced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15789/24]

Banking Sector

Seán Haughey

23. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the powers of the Central Bank in relation to the regulation of ATMs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14267/24]

General Government Debt

Seán Haughey

32. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his Department's latest assessment of public indebtedness in Ireland. [14266/24]

Telecommunications Services

Seán Haughey

47. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has engaged with ComReg regarding the need to introduce additional retail price regulations in respect of electronic communications service providers in order to better protect consumers who are the subject of price increases on their contracts; if he is aware of complaints about alleged price gouging by mobile and broadband providers; if he is considering introducing legislation to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15582/24]

School Funding

Seán Haughey

65. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that the removal of the IT grant, the Covid grant, and the minor works grant has caused significant financial difficulties for a primary school (details supplied); if she will assist this school to overcome their current financial difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15579/24]

Development Contributions

Seán Haughey

592. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the development contribution waiver scheme in order to help first time buyers who wish to build their own house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15580/24]

International Protection

Seán Haughey

643. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an exempted development regulation for the change of use of a wide repository of buildings for the accommodation of international protection applicants has been signed into law; if he plans to review the planning laws in place for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14344/24]

Rental Sector

Seán Haughey

676. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board in order that legal assistance can be given to users of the service to have judgements actually enforced; if he will introduce further changes to allow orders against incomes or social welfare benefits in the case of rent arrears owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14895/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Haughey

786. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the move in supplementary welfare allowance for those moving from homeless accommodation into new-build bare style housing, which has been allocated to them by their local council, from €3,000 to €6,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14735/24]

Animal Welfare

Seán Haughey

1731. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the newly established dog control stakeholder group will be open to submissions from the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14736/24]

Defence Forces

Seán Haughey

28. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13025/24]

Defence Forces

Seán Haughey

40. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the personnel strength of the permanent Defence Force as of 1 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13026/24]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Seán Haughey

221. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the deliberations to date of the oversight group established by his Department in association with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive to advise on recent developments in a homeless charity (details supplied); if the review undertaken by a company of this organisation has concluded; if he is aware that several contractors employed by this organisation which are owed a substantial amount of money have not been paid to date; if he will endeavour to assist these contractors; if the organisation has complied with the conditions specified for receipt of emergency Government funding; if further emergency funding will be provided to this organisation; how much money has been given to this organisation by his Department in total since its foundation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13299/24]

Middle East

Seán Haughey

14. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a report on his joint correspondence, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement. [9015/24]

EU Directives

Seán Haughey

319. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will transpose the EU directive on adequate minimum wages into Irish law; the implications of this directive for early years educators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11538/24]

Health Services Staff

Seán Haughey

1460. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to review the recruitment pause in the case of mental health professionals given its impact on mental health waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12778/24]

Ukraine War

Seán Haughey

21. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how Ireland will continue to support Ukraine following the brutal invasion by Russia two years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10891/24]

Official Engagements

Seán Haughey

24. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10890/24]

Disability Services

Seán Haughey

104. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that received home support hours in CHO9 in 2023; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that received personal assistance hours in CHO9 in 2023; the total number of hours provided in each category in CHO9 in 2023; the target number of hours for each category in CHO9 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/24]

Public Sector Staff

Seán Haughey

168. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the length of time it takes for requests for pension payments information to be finalised by the resignations and retirements team HR services in the National Shared Services Office; if more staff are required in this office; if a particular application (details supplied) can be finalised without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9295/24]

European Council

Seán Haughey

6. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent special meeting of the European Council on Ukraine. [7795/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Haughey

28. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if long Covid will be included in the terms of reference of the proposed Covid-19 inquiry. [8178/24]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Haughey

72. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if assistance, including funding, can be provided to a special school (details supplied) so it can create additional classes for students with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8184/24]

Cabinet Committees

Seán Haughey

13. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [7794/24]

Northern Ireland

Seán Haughey

22. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Northern Ireland following the restoration of the Executive there; and the discussions he had with British Prime Minister. [7793/24]

Equality Issues

Seán Haughey

36. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an outline of measures taken by the Department and its relevant agencies to tackle violence, racism, discrimination and other forms of abuse in sport. [6975/24]

Sports Events

Seán Haughey

47. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to develop a strategy to identify the type of major sporting events Ireland can and should bid for. [6974/24]

Vacant Properties

Seán Haughey

86. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant social homes returned to active use in the Dublin City Council area from 2020 to 2023; his expectations for same in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6673/24]

Housing Provision

Seán Haughey

115. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in the Dublin City Council area in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6672/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Haughey

403. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if the temporary scheme of special leave with pay for healthcare workers with long-Covid will be extended past March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7354/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

5. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [3809/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

10. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagement with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. [3810/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

19. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach to report on his visit to the western Balkans. [4171/24]

School Transport

Seán Haughey

286. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if the school transport scheme can be amended to allow qualified school bus drivers over the age of 70 drive school buses for Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6236/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Haughey

436. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if drawdowns from approved retirement funds can be excluded as means when determining eligibility for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6182/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Haughey

233. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has taken place in relation to the issue concerning class S PRSI contributions arising solely from personal pensions and the implications for those who are applying for the benefit payment for 65 year olds; if it will be acknowledged that these potential claimants are not self-employed and that they should be considered for this payment provided all other criteria are met; if this payment can be made to claimants in these circumstance who reached 65 years in the last 12 months; the position regarding a particular claimant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5814/24]

Tax Credits

Seán Haughey

88. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance the number of eligible claims currently being made for the rent tax credit in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4251/24]

Banking Sector

Seán Haughey

107. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance the action he is taking to ensure that future banking changes are managed in a controlled, fair and transparent manner for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4252/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Seán Haughey

163. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to open an embassy in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4906/24]

Social Insurance

Seán Haughey

366. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can introduce a mechanism whereby teachers who are on career breaks are able to pay PRSI contributions and to have these contributions recognised; if she is aware that teachers who are on career breaks are unable to make contributions, which risks affecting their State pension entitlements and eligibility for maternity leave and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3754/24]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Haughey

38. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to attacks by Yemeni-based Houthis in the Red Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2557/24]

Middle East

Seán Haughey

85. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to the genocide case taken against Israel by South Africa in the International Court of Justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2556/24]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Seán Haughey

256. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is in contact with a homeless charity (details supplied) regarding its finances with a view to it continuing to provide services to the homeless; if financial assistance will be made available to it to ensure that all bills from creditors will be settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3454/24]

European Council

Seán Haughey

4. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU, western Balkans summit and at the European Council in Brussels on 13, 14 and 15 December 2023. [57117/23]