Parliamentary questions

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

251. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 24 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30274/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

252. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 12 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30275/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will introduce a ministerial Order that will recognise the new generation apprenticeships that are, and will, progress from the construction skills certification scheme model to the more advanced apprenticeship model, in light of the possible solution identified in the answer provided to Parliamentary Question No. 296 of 25 May 2023 now not being viable (details supplied). [30412/23]

Waterways Issues

Ged Nash

63. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport for an update in relation to proposals to remove the Hebble Sand from the River Boyne; for an update on Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 19 April 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30065/23]

Flood Risk Management

Ged Nash

76. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has any plans to address flooding at an estate (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30060/23]

Employment Support Services

Ged Nash

133. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given alongside the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, respectively, to the introduction of a short-term employment support model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme, especially in view of the threat of 650 layoffs at a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30064/23]

Employment Support Services

Ged Nash

140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to the reform of supports for workers who are placed on temporary layoff as reported previously, especially in light of the threat of 650 layoffs at a company (details supplied); if she will give consideration to the introduction of a model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30063/23]

General Practitioner Services

Ged Nash

184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of capacity issues in GP surgeries in the Drogheda area and that some practices are not in a position to take on new patients; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29941/23]

Disability Services

Ged Nash

497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the HSE will establish a community neuro-rehabilitation team in the CHO 8 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29400/23]

Health Services

Ged Nash

671. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has any plans to introduce an over eight’s voucher scheme for optometry assessment and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29394/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

740. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of first-year apprentices in the system on 1 January 2023, broken down thematically across the individual wet trades; the total number of apprentices across all years in the system as it relates to the wet trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29395/23]

Pharmacy Services

Ged Nash

155. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when he intends to engage with representatives of community-based pharmacists (details supplied) in relation to ongoing concerns over a 15-year pharmacy pay freeze and its impact on patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28705/23]

Energy Production

Ged Nash

221. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the costs to date of providing emergency power generation under the measures carried out as part of the consent granted to the CRU in June 2021 under Article 28(10) of the European Communities (internal Market in Electricity) Regulation and as part of the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act 2022; if he will break these costs down by development, supply and build contract and connection costs; if he will outline how these costs compared to initial estimates and quotations received; what the initial anticipated budget for this provision was; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/23]

Energy Production

Ged Nash

222. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what level of oversight his Department has in the provision of emergency power generation nationally; which body is in charge of managing the cost and delivery of these projects; how regularly this body reports on costs or costs overruns and progress in the delivery of this emergency power generation to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28225/23]

Energy Production

Ged Nash

223. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what he expects the all-in costs to the Exchequer are in terms of (euros per MWHr) of emergency electricity generation vs new-build electricity generation contracted under the recent capacity market auctions conducted in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28226/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Ged Nash

351. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the steps his Department takes to ensure that consulting firms do not share confidential information in terms of policy development within his Department with other sections of their business in order to gain competitive advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27189/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Ged Nash

398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline the steps his Department takes to ensure that consulting firms do not share confidential information in terms of policy development within his Department with other sections of their business in order to gain competitive advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27190/23]

EU Funding

Ged Nash

408. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he expects Ireland to receive almost €90 million in grants for REPowerEU projects; if he will provide details on the nature of the projects that will be funded by these resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27531/23]

National Development Plan

Ged Nash

426. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his views on the assessment by an organisation (details supplied) in its 2023 fiscal assessment report that the real value of proposed/planned capital spending under the terms of the National Development Plan out to 2025 is almost a quarter lower than had been expected in the original plan; if he agrees with this assessment; if he plans to review or revise elements of the plan on that basis; if so, the estimated additional cumulative cost involved up to 2030 to bridge that gap and maintain the originally planned level of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28540/23]

Local Authorities

Ged Nash

711. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give additional resources to Louth County Council to expedite urgent housing adaptation grant application cases (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27687/23]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Ged Nash

780. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the revised guidelines on wind energy development will be published as part of Q2 targets for the 2023 Climate Action Plan; when the Planning and Development Act 2000 will be amended to reflect the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28464/23]

Medicinal Products

Ged Nash

1176. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when semaglutide will be available to diabetic patients as there currently is a shortage of this vital medication for many patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27686/23]

Hospital Services

Ged Nash

1230. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a CHI-commissioned external review of the paediatric gastroenterology department at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, which was initiated to inform a new multi-annual plan to enhance the service and access to care for children across the State; the current status of the review; if the proposals contained therein will be funded and actioned; if he will provide a timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28038/23]

Health Services

Ged Nash

197. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider amending the long-term illness scheme to includeinflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26649/23]

Technological Universities

Ged Nash

205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the technological university development fund, the proposed successor to the technological university transformation fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT fund on 31 August 2023, specifically in relation to the position of IR facilitators, who are employed on a seconded basis under this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26514/23]

EU Budgets

Ged Nash

205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance what Ireland’s contribution to the EU budget is expected to be in 2023; the expected funding Ireland will receive in EU grants and supports this year; if he will provide details of the funds received and contribution made to the EU in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25625/23]

Brexit Supports

Ged Nash

232. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of allocations to date under the Brexit adjustment fund; the total amount allocated to Ireland; if he will confirm whether it all has to be spent by the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25622/23]

EU Funding

Ged Nash

233. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of allocations to date under the Recovery and Resilience Facility NextGenerationEU fund; the total amount allocated to Ireland; if transfers have been made from other funds, such as the BAR; what those have been allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25623/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Ged Nash

234. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the changes, if any, that have been made to capital allocations to Departments and agencies in 2023 to account for construction inflation; his plans to do so in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25624/23]

Disadvantaged Status

Ged Nash

263. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on a request from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25601/23]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

265. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the development of a new school (details supplied); if she will provide details on the timeline for completion of the school; the facilities that will be available at the new school development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25611/23]

Rental Sector

Ged Nash

354. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a certain area (details supplied) is within a rent pressure zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25554/23]

Urban Development

Ged Nash

402. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason responsibility for the collaborative town centre health check scheme was transferred to the LGMA from the Heritage Council; if a CTCHC will take place for the town of Drogheda in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26051/23]

Legislative Process

Ged Nash

416. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a campaign in Drogheda (details supplied); if he will outline the legislative process or current arrangements in place to obtain city status in Irish law; if he is considering making the necessary administrative and-or legislative arrangements to have Drogheda designated as a city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26243/23]

Third Level Fees

Ged Nash

789. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the contribution currently made by the HEA towards graduate entry medicine per student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25573/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

296. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the anomalies that have been brought to the attention of the National Apprenticeship Office, SOLAS and the Health and Safety Authority by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the current construction regulations and the ability of those who complete the new consortium-led scaffolding apprenticeship in December 2023 and who attain a QQI level 5 qualification to legally scaffold; if he is concerned that these anomalies have the potential to inadvertently undermine the new consortia-led system and impact on participation rates when compared against the ability to access a SOLAS national craft card by other construction apprentices; if he agrees that the scaffolding apprenticeship programme ought to be recognised independently of the construction skills certification scheme, CSCS, under the construction regulations; the steps he plans to take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25479/23]

Health Services

Ged Nash

196. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if any financial support or HSE schemes are available to Irish citizens for a specific treatment which is available in the UK (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25079/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Ged Nash

497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that separated couples who have divided responsibility for childcare across a given week are currently caught in a situation where neither party is deemed to be entitled to the working family payment, despite the children being entirely dependent on both parties; if she has plans to address this unfair anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24987/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ged Nash

498. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in the light of the changing shape of the Irish family, her Department has plans to review the eligibility criteria for family-based social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24988/23]

Departmental Data

Ged Nash

212. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the annual return on investments made by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund for each year since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23902/23]

Road Safety Authority

Ged Nash

239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on any progress the RSA has made since it closed the temporary driving test centre in Drogheda on the identification of a site for a new temporary centre and/or a site for a permanent centre in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22844/23]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

333. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when the new school building project for a school (details supplied) will commence; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22750/23]

Budget Process

Ged Nash

2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he plans to exceed the 5% expenditure rule in the context of budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22365/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

51. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he plans to exceed the 5% expenditure rule in respect of Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21438/23]

Public Sector Staff

Ged Nash

147. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he agrees with the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications' recent analysis that thousands more civil and public servants are required to match the size of the economy and the demands placed on the State; the number of WTEs across the entire civil and public service as of 1 May, 2023 compared to the same date in 2020, 2021 and 2022; how many additional WTEs his Department is planning for in terms of workforce planning out to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22366/23]

National Monuments

Ged Nash

148. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the plans the OPW has to protect and preserve the High Crosses at Monasterboice, County Louth; the quantum of resources the OPW has allocated for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22367/23]

Office of Public Works

Ged Nash

149. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of refugees from Ukraine and international protection applicants currently housed in buildings and on sites which the OPW owns; how many additional people from each category the OPW plans to accommodate in OPW-owned buildings in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22368/23]

Office of Government Procurement

Ged Nash

150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what plans he and the OGP have to provide for the recruitment of a minimum number of craft apprentices in the context of the State's public procurement framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/23]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

186. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of her Department’s plans to build new primary and secondary schools to cater for the rapid expansion of the area which is the subject of the North Drogheda Environs Masterplan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22285/23]

Consular Services

Ged Nash

35. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the supports and contact available to a person (details supplied) in County Louth in the context of a return to work in Ireland from Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21941/23]