Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

309. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 29 February 2024, if he will provide the details on the following (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11223/24]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Fergus O'Dowd

109. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a full progress report on the draft wind energy guidelines considering the significant number of applications that continue to be submitted despite the use of outdated guidelines; the expected timeframe for publication of finalised deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10873/24]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

194. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised (details attached); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10840/24]

Housing Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

405. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to seek updates from both Louth and Meath county councils on projected affordable housing units that are schedule or in the pipeline for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

592. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date that the contract to provide accommodation for international applicants in a hotel (details supplied) was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

593. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a break clause in the contract between his Department and a hotel (details supplied); if so, the notice period for the break clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

594. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a cooling off period applied to the contract between the Department and a hotel (details supplied) in Drogheda; if so, the associated cooling off dates that were included in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10608/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

600. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek an update from IPAS on the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10795/24]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

611. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to follow up concerns in respect of mastectomy supports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9935/24]

Hospital Deaths

Fergus O'Dowd

747. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised in respect of the situation in Cherry Orchard (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10600/24]

Care of the Elderly

Fergus O'Dowd

54. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progression and timeline for the appointment of the members of the commission on care for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9516/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Fergus O'Dowd

63. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when he expects an inquiry into the national Covid response to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Fergus O'Dowd

136. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the current discussions within his Department in respect of the dual use proposal for accommodation services within a hotel (details supplied) in Drogheda considering it is the only remaining hotel of scale in the town of Drogheda, the largest town in the country. [9523/24]

Direct Provision System

Fergus O'Dowd

141. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the current discussions within his Department with regard to the long-term plans to deal for dealing with those arriving in the country seeking protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9551/24]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

184. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to respond to concerns raised by school (details supplied) in respect of the cut to SET resources in terms of the impact it will have on the overall ability of the school to provide appropriate special education to pupils in need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9779/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

260. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details on queries relating to international protection accommodation services for international protection applicants and Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) [9780/24]

Electric Vehicles

Fergus O'Dowd

23. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if any consideration has been given to extending the low emissions vehicle toll incentive since it ceased at the end of December to continue to incentivise the transition to EVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9545/24]

Education and Training Boards

Fergus O'Dowd

50. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of the proposed LMETB headquarters location (details supplied); to indicate if any funding request have been received to progress the plans to the next stage, if so when, can he also indicate when they expect any further progress to be made with targeted timelines provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9599/24]

Departmental Contracts

Fergus O'Dowd

111. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the contract that was signed between his Department and the D Hotel in Drogheda to provide accommodation services from March included any cooling off period in the contract in which one or both parties can examine, renegotiate or cancel the contract as agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/24]

Departmental Contracts

Fergus O'Dowd

112. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any contracts signed between his Department and providers of international protection accommodation services have been cancelled within a cooling off period over the years 2020 to date; if so how many; the reasons for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9603/24]

Institutes of Technology

Fergus O'Dowd

198. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can comment or advise on the best route for intellectual disability students in Dundalk Institute of Technology under St John of God Hospital (details supplied) who have been faced with serious placement obstacles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9546/24]

Housing Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

289. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost to date of the modular units built on State-owned lands itemised, by cost per unit and by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9216/24]

Victim Support Services

Fergus O'Dowd

364. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if he will respond to and his views on a press release from an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9370/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Fergus O'Dowd

523. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to detail any changes in available public funding for wigs or hairpieces and post-mastectomy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/24]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to respond to concerns raised by persons (details supplied) in respect of the SET provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8460/24]

Parental Leave

Fergus O'Dowd

188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8442/24]

Parental Leave

Fergus O'Dowd

249. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8440/24]

Regional Assemblies

Fergus O'Dowd

106. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reconsider his local government ministerial nomination to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly in view of recent matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8388/24]

Care of the Elderly

Fergus O'Dowd

166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the issues raised in the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs report: Taking Stock (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8238/24]

Driver Licences

Fergus O'Dowd

185. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider reviewing a proposal (details supplied) further in relation to driver licence exchange agreement with the USA, considering the precedent which has already been agreed with Canada,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7962/24]

Media Sector

Fergus O'Dowd

330. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7995/24]

Local Authorities

Fergus O'Dowd

343. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 8 February 2024, if he has the power to appoint an independent, competent and appropriate person to enquire into the issue and report back to him directly on the issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7529/24]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

364. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to urgent concerns raised from the local deaf community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7425/24]

Health Service Executive

Fergus O'Dowd

526. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will seek information on whether the audit tool as referenced in a response from the HSE (details supplied) has been completed and put in place by the national dementia office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7439/24]

Road Tolls

Fergus O'Dowd

169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the ongoing and frustrating campaign to remove the M1 tolls which consistently causes serious congestion in the largest town of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7178/24]

Disability Services

Fergus O'Dowd

187. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to respond to concerns raised by a local organisation and service users (details supplied) in respect of the difficulty in securing disability-adapted taxis in County Louth; what measures are being, or could be, considered to increase the number of disability-friendly taxi units in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6435/24]

Rail Network

Fergus O'Dowd

202. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if a response will issue to queries raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of InterCity rail price increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6233/24]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Fergus O'Dowd

233. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the measures and supports that are being considered to help alleviate the devastating pressure being exerted on homeowners who have been moved or are tied to vulture fund lenders, where in some cases they are paying over 10% interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6282/24]

Departmental Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

415. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the narrow water bridge project, including projected timelines and funding amounts for the long-awaited project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6509/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Fergus O'Dowd

529. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a response will issue to queries raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of the upcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6238/24]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

611. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns and details raised by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6614/24]

Local Authorities

Fergus O'Dowd

228. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will comment on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6022/24]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

325. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns raised (details supplied) in respect of the ongoing issues for children awaiting limb reconstruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5888/24]

Sports Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

218. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she can seek assistance for Irish Ice Hockey for their upcoming trip to the Scotiabank junior hockey tournament in Nova Scotia, Canada in April (details supplied); if the Minister can enquire or advise if any funding would be available to assist the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4929/24]

Departmental Contracts

Fergus O'Dowd

558. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to seek information from the management of all acute hospitals as to whether third party companies are contracted to provide medical consultation, advice, reading of scans and so on, outside of normal working hours, where consultants are already employed and on call for the same acute hospital; if so, the reasons for same; if a lack of IT systems are to blame for such an occurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5540/24]

Ports Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

27. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on any discussion within his Department in respect of the ongoing and urgent need to remove the Hebble Dredge from the River Boyne in Drogheda following its original sinking in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4441/24]

Driver Test

Fergus O'Dowd

32. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he and his Department can ensure that any and all resources are provided to ensure that an appropriate site is found to recommence driver testing in Drogheda, which is the largest town in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4440/24]

Tax Rebates

Fergus O'Dowd

114. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the ways that he is making processes easier for coeliacs to claim tax rebates, with particular consideration to the increasing cost of gluten-free foods which is hitting those on marginal incomes hardest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4445/24]

Tax Code

Fergus O'Dowd

149. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering any further easing of VAT rates for retrofitting or renewable energy works or products for domestic purposes, to assist homeowners in reducing reliance on energy providers in what is a crippling energy crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4444/24]

Pension Provisions

Fergus O'Dowd

242. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he expects to make a final decision on the ESB pensions increase request received in January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4831/24]