Parliamentary questions

Tax Reliefs

Seán Canney

206. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a VAT refund scheme on the purchase of a car for owners who provide respite services for people with a disability who use their car to transport the service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11408/24]

Bus Éireann

Seán Canney

214. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if he will instruct Bus Éireann to abolish its rule not to allow private bus operators who are contracted to Bus Éireann not to have drivers over 70 years of driving business on the contracted services in light of the scarcity of skilled drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11403/24]

Housing Schemes

Seán Canney

262. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the housing assistance payment scheme to increase the amount of supports to reflect the increase in private rental costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/24]

Forestry Sector

Seán Canney

302. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will introduce compensation for farmers whose forest have been affected by ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11402/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Canney

328. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will accept a child (details supplied) for the ECCE overage exemption for September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11422/24]

Departmental Funding

Seán Canney

425. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an application (details supplied) for funding under the remedial action list RAL will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10669/24]

Social Welfare Code

Seán Canney

439. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person paying PRSI contributions between the ages of 66 and 70 can use those contributions to reach the threshold of 520 contributions to access a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10164/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

529. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that TAMS applications are taking up to 24 months to be assessed by his Department and is causing great uncertainty in the industry including suppliers and contractors; if he will intervene to ensure that TAMS applications are processed in a timely way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10588/24]

Local Authorities

Seán Canney

71. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the Dáil debate on Questions on Promised Legislation on 25 January 2024 (details supplied), the actions, if any, that will be taken in the context of the State apology by the Taoiseach on 9 July 2019. [9542/24]

Bus Services

Seán Canney

128. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will upgrade the 350 bus service in counties Galway and Clare to ensure larger buses are provided and that the frequency of the service is improved to meet the increased demand for public transport by people living in Kinvara, Ballinderreen, Ballyvaughan and Doolin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9197/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

305. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the savings threshold for the exceptional needs payment from €5,000 to €10,000 to reflect the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8735/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Seán Canney

103. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if support will be provided in relation to a matter (details supplied). [8563/24]

Tax Exemptions

Seán Canney

118. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if persons on invalidity pensions are exempt from DIRT tax on savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8553/24]

Schools Building Projects

Seán Canney

146. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the new modular building for an autism class will be in place in a school (details supplied); what updates have been provided to the school since the announcement was made four months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8549/24]

School Transport

Seán Canney

148. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the euro amounts of net surplus cash derived from school transport by Bus Éireann that the auditors and directors categorised in the accounts as profit in the profit and loss balance sheet and cash flow statement for each of the years 2005 to 2015, in tabular form. [8560/24]

Parliamentary Questions

Seán Canney

149. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her officials obtained legal assistance from the Office of the Attorney General regarding complaints about information being withheld in answers to parliamentary questions between 2013 and 2015; and the assistance provided in relation to same. [8561/24]

Disability Services

Seán Canney

255. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when supports will be put in place for a child (details supplied). [8485/24]

Disability Services

Seán Canney

263. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on disability services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8567/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Seán Canney

203. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance when the new primary medical certificate criteria will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7417/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Seán Canney

204. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will facilitate appellants to the primary medical certificate decision by having the medical assessment appeals board disclose their qualifications to enable them sit on the appeals board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7418/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Seán Canney

205. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will facilitate appellants by having the medical assessment appeals board on the primary medical certificate sit in locations around the country to allow easy access for people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7419/24]

School Staff

Seán Canney

248. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the remaining ten retired school secretaries will receive their pay arrears which are outstanding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7420/24]

School Accommodation

Seán Canney

249. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be approved for an additional mainstream classroom which is required for the next school year commencing September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7422/24]

State Pensions

Seán Canney

374. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is in long-term nursing care rents out their principal private residence, which is vacant, will there be any negative implications on their State pension (non-contributory) or any other tax issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7653/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

378. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) are eligible for optical benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7694/24]

Hedge Cutting

Seán Canney

442. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the time for the planting of whitethorn hedging until net planting season due to the current state of groundwater on land and the scarcity of the hedging roots under the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7407/24]

Mental Health Services

Seán Canney

520. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he intends to regulate CAMHS and if he agrees that the CAMHS is in need of reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7412/24]

Medicinal Products

Seán Canney

539. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if a medication will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7623/24]

Animal Diseases

Seán Canney

302. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has tested wild deer in the Kilcolgan and Kinvara area of County Galway for TB over the past five years; if so, the results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/24]

Animal Diseases

Seán Canney

303. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has tested badgers in the Kilcolgan and Kinvara areas of County Galway for TB over the past five years; if so, the results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7392/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Seán Canney

171. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the broadband connection point at Mountbellow mart will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6475/24]

Electoral Process

Seán Canney

378. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to introduce legislation to allow Irish people living abroad the right to vote in elections and referenda in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6101/24]

Nursing Homes

Seán Canney

561. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will review the draft design guide for long-term care, to ensure the facilities remain viable and that this is taken into account in determining the maximum size of such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6100/24]

Energy Prices

Seán Canney

26. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps an energy bill holder (details supplied) should take when neither they nor their late father received the energy credit on their household account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5653/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Seán Canney

131. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the additional flood relief measures his Department can put in place to alleviate flooding of 20 acres of land which occurs each year from August 2023 to January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5484/24]

Planning Issues

Seán Canney

277. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make changes (details supplied) to exempted development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5486/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

404. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider extending the fodder support scheme to include a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5483/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Canney

453. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the ECCE capitation grant to childcare providers to meet the additional cost of providing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Seán Canney

593. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the different rates of pay given by SOLAS to apprentices who are undertaking the same off-the-job training programme, will get the same qualification and do the same work; if he will address the pay difference paid by SOLAS to electrical apprentices in the engineering industry and electrical industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5602/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Seán Canney

115. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that householders who install solar panels on their home will not be liable for any tax for the green electricity fed to the grid from the solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2961/24]

National Car Test

Seán Canney

182. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport the reason new checks for check straps on door hinges have been added to the checklist for the NCT; what the rationale is for this, as it does not impinge on the mechanical ability of the car; if he is aware of the additional expense that this is placing on motorists; if there is any analysis of the effect on consumers conducted before such checks are added to an already onerous system; if consumers have any voice in this process or who represents them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3652/24]

School Staff

Seán Canney

264. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education her views on the awarding of incremental credits for teachers for prior work in a related field; if she believes that the current system is overly restrictive; if she believes that the Appeals Committee established under section 6C of the scheme for the Award of Incremental Credits should have to issue comprehensive judgements following an appeal; if she would consider establishing an independent appeals process for this matter; if such appeals can be appealed to the Ombudsman; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3763/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

379. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the review process by which carers are having their carers allowance reviewed and the invasive nature of the information being requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4092/24]

Energy Policy

Seán Canney

106. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he intends to ban the use of sulphur hexafluoride in wind turbines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Seán Canney

128. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider putting a stay on on-shore windfarms in line with the UK decision as they are causing much concern for communities in which they are being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3056/24]

Energy Conservation

Seán Canney

133. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide more resources to ensure that the warmer homes scheme is delivered in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2962/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Seán Canney

137. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline he has set for legislation and regulations to be enacted to allow off-shore wind energy projects to be installed off the coast of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/24]

Road Projects

Seán Canney

195. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport what progress is being made to build a by-pass of Claregalway village, County Galway to ease traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3568/24]

Active Travel

Seán Canney

199. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct the NTA to support active travel projects in rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3587/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Canney

281. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if the credit scheme for electricity users will also cover consumers who have a credit built up on their account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3563/24]