Parliamentary questions

Asylum Seekers

Steven Matthews

115. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees from Afghanistan that have been accepted into the IRPP following the seizing of power by the Taliban in August 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48302/21]

Tax Code

Steven Matthews

20. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a campaign led by a group (details supplied) that is seeking comparable tax liability for owner-occupiers and social landlords paying defect levies as compared to commercial landlords that have the capacity to right these levies off against their tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48579/21]

Swimming Pools

Steven Matthews

40. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the campaign by a group (details supplied); if she will examine the need for a pool facility in this part of County Wicklow; and if she will consider meeting the volunteer board to discuss the project and its plans going forward. [47459/21]

Sports Funding

Steven Matthews

55. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the case of a club (details supplied) and the need to upgrade existing pitch facilities to accommodate the growing club; and if she will consider a visit to the club to meet the board to discuss its strategy going forward. [47101/21]

Passport Services

Steven Matthews

19. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the delay in processing passport applications, in particular first-time passports for children and new citizens; the steps his Department is taking to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/21]

International Protection

Steven Matthews

65. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to cases of Afghan citizens who had been long-term residents of Ireland and have a large support network here but who do not hold Irish EU visas and who are currently stuck in Kabul; if advice will be provided to anyone in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46210/21]

State Bodies

Steven Matthews

184. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the time limit for serving as a member of the Board of An Bord Pleanála; the approximate date of expected vacancies that will likely be filled before February 2025; and the way board members are selected. [47270/21]

Pesticide Use

Steven Matthews

76. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the use of chemical pesticide weed killers to clear rail tracks; if he will investigate this policy and consider the use of alternative methods of weed removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47108/21]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

118. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which a local authority can apply for funding to employ a full-time biodiversity officer; the number of officers that he proposes to be employed nationally; and the local authorities that currently employ a biodiversity officer, in tabular form. [47107/21]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

93. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the current allocation of resources and staffing levels in planning departments at a local authority level; if his attention has been drawn to the extra demands that will be put on these departments with regard to the requirements under the large-scale residential development Bill, the Maritime Area Planning Bill and the monitoring and reporting proposals in the draft development plan guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46310/21]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

157. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the Departmental working group set up to investigate potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied) in suitable public buildings; the number of times the group has met; if he plans to meet with the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46211/21]

Driver Test

Steven Matthews

258. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently on the waiting list for the standard driver test in test centres in County Wicklow; the mechanisms being put in place to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46341/21]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

323. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times between January 2017 to August 2020 that the board of An Bord Pleanála overruled the recommendation of case inspectors with regards to decisions on planning applications and appeals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47135/21]

Housing Policy

Steven Matthews

274. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding first-time buyers who wish to purchase second-hand homes; the initiatives that will be made available to them through the Housing for All strategy or related initiatives from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44678/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

544. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether there has been sufficient advertising of the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; and if she will consider any future advertising and awareness campaigns in advance of the final application deadline. [40598/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

545. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding the music and entertainment business assistance scheme; the number of applications have been made both successful and unsuccessful to date; if all successful grants have been drawn down; and if there is a timeline for payment of outstanding monies owed to applicants. [40609/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

546. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason business costs are included in the music and entertainment business assistance scheme when they are not a qualifying criterion for other Government grants including the small business assistance scheme for COVID; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40611/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Steven Matthews

1148. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a potential conflict between two Government supports, the live performance support scheme and the pandemic unemployment payment, by which if a person in the live entertainment sector gets short-term employment through the live performance support scheme it may force them permanently off the pandemic unemployment payment by going above the €960 allowable income threshold; her views on whether this will act as a disincentive to take up short-term employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40599/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

2065. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of students who will be going on Erasmus as a mandatory aspect of their college course in August 2021 given that as per the current projections many in this situation will not have been reached by the vaccination programme; if there are plans in place to deal with this cohort in advance of their scheduled departure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36485/21]

Disability Services

Steven Matthews

2257. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if a transfer of HSE disability services funding will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in view of the long delay since initial request. [37179/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

2708. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Irish citizens who received the required dosage of EMA approved vaccines in other jurisdictions; and if they will be registered on the HSE system and by extension be eligible for the EU digital Covid certificate for travel if they can prove their vaccine status. [38825/21]

Health Services

Steven Matthews

2783. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the multidisciplinary team for adolescent trans healthcare; if he will provide an outline regarding the process of it being established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39155/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

2879. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding children under the age of 16 who have conditions that place them at high risk if they contract Covid-19; the plans he has put in place to deal with this cohort regarding immunisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39471/21]

Animal Culls

Steven Matthews

3380. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the total amount spent on badger culling by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow; the number of badgers that have been culled each year in the same time period in the county; and the research that has been carried out to research the impact of culling on the prevalence of tuberculosis. [39594/21]

Animal Diseases

Steven Matthews

3381. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the total amount spent on the vaccination of badgers for tuberculosis by his Department in the past ten years in County Wicklow in tabular form; the number of vaccinations that have been administered to the badger population in the same time period in the county; and the research that has been carried out on the impact of vaccination as a means of dealing with the prevalence of tuberculosis in the badger population. [39587/21]

Animal Welfare

Steven Matthews

27. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has taken to improve the welfare of animals during his first nine months in office; and the plans he has to build on these improvements over the lifetime of this Government. [37090/21]

Forestry Sector

Steven Matthews

73. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the independent regulatory review on forestry licensing announced recently by his Department. [37091/21]

Community Development Projects

Steven Matthews

131. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is scope to expand the community enhancement programme in order for it to offer more substantial financial supports to local communities wishing to undertake renovations to their community centre or perhaps build a new community centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38017/21]

Grant Payments

Steven Matthews

41. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the SEAI can consider a person (details supplied) for future works on their property despite having had some minor energy efficiency work completed 15 years ago; if consideration is given to the health and age of such applicants and the nature and limitations of any previous work done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38413/21]

Departmental Schemes

Steven Matthews

89. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance his plans with respect to the help-to-buy scheme; if it will continue beyond the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38412/21]

Housing Schemes

Steven Matthews

137. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the advice he can offer to first-time homeowners seeking to build their own home on private land; the supports available in this scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38412/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

205. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the Departmental advice to schools with respect to CO2 monitoring; the basis for 1400 to 1500 ppm being considered poor ventilation given that other Government bodies including the HSE put the figure closer to 800 ppm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38416/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

206. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the number of CO2 monitors her Department has purchased for the coming school year; the projected date for their delivery to schools; if she proposes to have one in every classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38417/21]

Medicinal Products

Steven Matthews

384. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign to make a drug (details supplied) available to patients in Ireland; and the status of this review process. [31270/21]

Nursing Education

Steven Matthews

73. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the €100 per week special payment agreed for student nurses; if all arrears accrued since September 2020 have been paid; and the further steps he will take to recognise the contribution of both student nurses and all other front-line staff to the Covid-19 pandemic. [37734/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

93. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the mixing of non-mRNA and mRNA vaccines for first and second doses being permitted in other EU jurisdictions; his views on whether such a practice would be appropriate under any circumstances in Ireland; the advice he has received from NIAC and NPHET in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37735/21]

Third Level Education

Steven Matthews

519. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to cases in which students who were previously in receipt of the special rate threshold SUSI grant are now ineligible for the same grant funding in 2021 due to their receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment pushing them marginally over the income threshold; his views on whether this may lead to an increase in students pulling out of courses for financial reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37398/21]

Third Level Education

Steven Matthews

531. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by an organisation (details supplied) amongst others in relation to the impact that the pandemic unemployment payment is having on SUSI grant applications given many students who would normally be in receipt of grant funding are no longer qualifying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37791/21]

Third Level Education

Steven Matthews

532. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to cases of students who have not moved address or college who have been informed in 2021 that they do not qualify for the SUSI non-adjacent rate due to a new method of calculating the distance to their home; his views on whether this will act as a barrier in returning to third-level education this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37792/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Steven Matthews

52. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices recruited in 2021 under the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme; the targets for the scheme for the remainder of 2021 and for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36689/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Steven Matthews

60. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is considering additional measures or initiatives to help recruit mature apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36687/21]

Anti-Racism Measures

Steven Matthews

273. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the work of a group (details supplied); if he will consider meeting with the group in order to show solidarity with its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36688/21]

Electric Vehicles

Steven Matthews

42. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding funding applications by Wicklow County Council in 2021 with respect to electric vehicle charging points; and if the number of applications and level of funding applied for in both successful and unsuccessful applications will be provided in tabular form. [36650/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

186. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to case of home carers who have received one dose of a vaccine (details supplied) and have to wait 12-weeks for the second dose given that in many cases those they care for are now fully vaccinated; if their wait time will be expedited in view of variant concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30597/21]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

86. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date on the implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision and replace it with a new international protection support service; the expected timeline of implementation going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36290/21]

Invasive Species Policy

Steven Matthews

250. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a rhododendron management plan for Wicklow National Park; if his attention has been drawn to the growing presence of this invasive species in this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36456/21]

Employment Schemes

Steven Matthews

363. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is considering additional measures or initiatives to help address the extremely high rate of youth unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36293/21]

Vaccination Programme

Steven Matthews

484. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding Irish citizens returning home after residing abroad who are fully vaccinated using a non EMA approved Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29659/21]

School Staff

Steven Matthews

16. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the loss of a teaching post in a school (details supplied) since the 2019-2020 school year that resulted in an increase in class size due to the amalgamation of classes; if she will review this decision in view of the Programme for Government commitment to reduce class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35174/21]

School Admissions

Steven Matthews

82. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the serious challenges related to the provision of secondary school places for September 2021 in Greystones, County Wicklow; the steps she will take to ensure that the solutions offered are future proofed to avoid the same issues in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35175/21]