Parliamentary questions

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

254. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the status of the MetroLink development as of July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40772/21]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

255. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated to the LocalLink bus service in Fingal in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40773/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Duncan Smith

256. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the State supports being provided to assist travel agents to maintain operation due to restrictions and the effects of the pandemic on international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40774/21]

Tax Code

Duncan Smith

408. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland plans to join with 130 other jurisdictions with the OECD plans to implement a 15% global corporation tax rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40807/21]

Social Media

Duncan Smith

496. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to help regulate social media companies to prevent online abuse and to ensure safety of their users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40813/21]

Wildlife Regulations

Duncan Smith

604. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if clarification will be provided in relation to a series of matters (details supplied) in respect of the 2021-22 General Derogation Declaration for the control of certain wild bird species and in respect of each bird species listed for controls in schedule 1 of the Declaration. [39266/21]

Departmental Surveys

Duncan Smith

605. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a contract has been awarded by his Department in respect of the etender for a national survey of urban gulls published on 16 March 2021; if so, the cost of the contract; when the survey will be completed; and when the results of the survey will be published. [39267/21]

Departmental Surveys

Duncan Smith

606. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the challenges to providing such accurate estimates in respect of the etender published on 16 March 2021 for a national survey of urban seagulls and in relation to his Department’s statement on page 45 of its five-yearly obligatory report to the EU Commission in 2019 (details supplied); the steps being taken by the contractor to meet these challenges and or offset any impact they might have on the accuracy of the survey; and the degree of confidence he and his Department has that the challenges will be met by the survey to ensure its accuracy. [39268/21]

Departmental Surveys

Duncan Smith

607. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department considered use of digital aerial reconnaissance for the national survey (details supplied) in respect of the etender published on 16 March 2021 for a national survey of urban seagulls; the reason digital aerial reconnaissance was not specified as a counting method in the etender documents; and the advantages of digital aerial reconnaissance over his Department’s prescribed counting method in its etender document, that is, observation and ground walked in addressing the challenges acknowledged by his Department in its five yearly report to the EU Commission in 2019. [39269/21]

Departmental Surveys

Duncan Smith

608. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the urban seagull studies carried out in north Wales and in greater Birmingham in 2018 and 2019 (details supplied); and the implications this might have for his Department’s survey particularly if it is to inform policy in the interests of public health and safety under Article 9.1.a of the 1979 Birds Directive. [39270/21]

Departmental Surveys

Duncan Smith

609. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has deferred policy formation and or decisions on potential actions to be taken in the interests of public health and safety under Article 9.1.a of the 1979 Birds Directive in respect of the etender published on 16 March 2021 for a national survey of urban seagulls (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39271/21]

Wildlife Regulations

Duncan Smith

610. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal purpose and public administration role particularly with regard to licensing controls on wild bird species of section 59 of the Wildlife Act 2000; and the circumstances in which he envisages availing of section 59 of the Act to preserve public health and safety. [39272/21]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Duncan Smith

673. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of information on his Department's review of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and review of exemptions for educational and community buildings as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; the details of the stated need to consider environmental assessment reporting before finalisation; when the interim planning regulations will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40061/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

861. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps his Department is taking to help the ongoing situation in areas of Palestine with a lack of Covid-19 resources, such as testing and vaccines Covid-19 vaccines in areas of Palestine under Israeli occupation; his views on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40808/21]

United Nations

Duncan Smith

862. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to help bring an end to the blockade of Cuba by the United States of America through work on the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40809/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

863. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will be supporting the TRIPS waiver campaign to waive patents on vaccines and shore up supply of vaccinations to developing countries; the number of vaccines that Ireland has donated to developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40811/21]

School Accommodation

Duncan Smith

958. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the acquisition of a zoned school site at a location (details supplied); the acquisition costs; the timeline for delivery of this permanent school site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39620/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

1052. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the resourcing of primary and secondary schools with Covid-19 equipment such as masks, sanitisers, ventilation and testing kit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40815/21]

Public Services Card

Duncan Smith

1142. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied) to receive their PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40482/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Duncan Smith

1160. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of broadening entitlement to the household benefits package to households in which a civil or public service occupational pensioner aged 66 to 69 inclusive is not in receipt of a qualifying payment or is not an excepted person for the purposes of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40816/21]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Duncan Smith

1338. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of protection applicants who have presented as unaccompanied minors since the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015; the number of those that were age-disputed and subjected to an assessment by Tusla; the number that were deemed adults by the International Protection Office and placed into direct provision following the assessments; and the number that were deemed minors and placed in the care of Tusla. [39385/21]

Citizenship Applications

Duncan Smith

1396. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she has plans to implement a citizenship amnesty to applicants due to backlogs in the system and as a gesture from the State to all those who resided here during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40810/21]

Departmental Data

Duncan Smith

1397. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases that have been brought before the courts since the introduction of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40812/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

1398. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the Covid-19 compliance and welfare of prisoners in the prison system during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40814/21]

Dental Services

Duncan Smith

1913. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the dental treatment and benefits available to a person who is the holder of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35850/21]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

2136. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he plans to map public AEDs throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36652/21]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

2137. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he plans to provide more public AEDs particularly in areas in which there is a lack of facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36653/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

2684. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that can be invited to a wedding from 5 August 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38776/21]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

2820. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of vaccination booths per hundred thousand population within each community health organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39288/21]

Community Development Projects

Duncan Smith

3451. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40817/21]

Community Development Projects

Duncan Smith

3452. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40818/21]

Community Development Projects

Duncan Smith

3453. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in north Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40819/21]

Passport Services

Duncan Smith

245. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to expedite a passport application by a person (details supplied) which was submitted many months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38916/21]

Social Insurance

Duncan Smith

261. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the social insurance contribution record of a person (details supplied) in Ireland; if such contributions can be taken into account in determining pension entitlements in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38747/21]

Pension Provisions

Duncan Smith

271. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will furnish a detailed explanation for the significant difference in content of information in relation to the correspondence furnished to a person (details supplied) on 3 September 2020 and 1 July 2021, pertaining to their entitlement to a State pension (contributory); the reason for the difference in the treatment of their reckonable credited contributions for 2005 and 2006 in July 2021 when compared to record and treatment thereof furnished in September 2020; if same will now be reviewed further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38915/21]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

391. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of studies have shown that mixing vaccines, particularly mixing a mRNA vaccine after an initial dose of a vaccine (details supplied) may provide more efficacious outcomes against the variants than administering the same vaccine twice; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a number of countries including Canada, Sweden and Norway are adopting this approach; if he will permit individuals to choose which vaccine to take for their booster dose and in particular for the 60-69 age cohort who were required to take a particular vaccine for their initial dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32575/21]

Missing Persons

Duncan Smith

98. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the status of the work of her Department in relation to the identification of unidentified bodies and linking this data with the missing persons database; and the progress her Department has made in its work referenced in a reply to a Topical Issue matter raised by this Deputy on 4 March 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36632/21]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

225. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of a case (details supplied) which relates to two primary school going children with learning difficulties in the same family who were allocated reduced July provision hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36881/21]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

81. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if two children with learning difficulties from the same family both in primary school are entitled to the same hours for the July provision, that is, ten hours each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36715/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

268. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence when training and courses for the Defence Forces will resume given Ireland's current level status under the Living with Covid Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29705/21]

Dental Services

Duncan Smith

335. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to receive treatment without incurring a charge payable to their treating dentist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35848/21]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

501. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be offered a date for vaccination; the way in which the person can register given that they have been unable to source a vaccination through their general practitioner and the hospital could not give any time range; if he will address these issues as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29276/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Duncan Smith

189. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a company (details supplied) was not granted any funding via the live performance support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34944/21]

Rental Sector

Duncan Smith

29. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to prevent rent reviews in rent pressure zones from total rent increases of up to and including 8%, irrespective of whether or not the tenants concerned fall within the protections of the Planning and Development and Residential Tenancies Act 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33808/21]

Domestic Violence

Duncan Smith

56. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering a housing support scheme for victims of domestic abuse which has increased during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33755/21]

Housing Provision

Duncan Smith

59. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on and if he has concerns regarding the amount of homes the public sector is purchasing from the open market to make up for the lack of housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33754/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Duncan Smith

80. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to streamline HAP rates at the higher rate to the equivalent of the homeless HAP rates as the rationale for the mainstream HAP is insufficient funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33752/21]

Rental Sector

Duncan Smith

85. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering a rent freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33753/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

209. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to issues surrounding the definition of a sporting event during the current Covid-19 measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33983/21]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

66. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the funding of a rural route (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the NTA has requested funding for the route; the up to date position with the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33660/21]

Road Projects

Duncan Smith

67. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the up to date position of a roads project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33661/21]

Water Quality

Duncan Smith

119. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grants that are available to a local rural water scheme to combat nitrates in the supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33655/21]

Water Services

Duncan Smith

120. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grants that have been allocated to a rural water scheme (details supplied) over the past number of years; the number of grants drawn down by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33656/21]

Water Quality

Duncan Smith

121. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options open to a rural water scheme that does not wish to join the public scheme; if it can avail of grants to upgrade its own supply; if not, if the scheme can be instructed that its only option is to join the public scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33657/21]

Homeless Persons Supports

Duncan Smith

131. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of homeless deaths currently being undertaken on behalf of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in view of the increase in the number of deaths of persons sleeping rough or in contact with homeless services; his plans to address shortcomings in homeless provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33818/21]

Departmental Schemes

Duncan Smith

132. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the 2021 energy efficiency retrofitting programme for social housing; the allocation received by each local authority for 2021; the minimum targets of homes each local authority is required to retrofit in 2021; the number of homes that have been retrofitted to date in 2021 in each local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33819/21]

Vacant Sites

Duncan Smith

133. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the number of sites listed on the vacant site registers of local authorities; his views on whether each site that should be on the register has been listed and are subject to the levy; if he will consider putting the onus on such sites to self-declare with appropriate penalties on those that fail to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33820/21]

Vacant Properties

Duncan Smith

134. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authorities that have developed and activated vacant homes action plans; the statistical information his Department has on the number of vacant homes in each local authority area; the action that has been advised to local authorities in relation to homes left vacant for long periods of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33821/21]

Schools Building Projects

Duncan Smith

147. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33654/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Duncan Smith

171. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can be availed of to purchase a skip to help with the build-up of rubbish for an applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33658/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Duncan Smith

172. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments granted to those applying and indicating that they were using the payment for the purchase of a skip or to clean up their home following the build-up of rubbish over the past three years by area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33659/21]

Swimming Pools

Duncan Smith

58. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the provision of indoor public swimming pools and public swimming pools in appropriate outdoor settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33220/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Duncan Smith

88. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on maintaining pandemic supports to those working in tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht and sports given that these sectors being the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33223/21]

Sport and Recreational Development

Duncan Smith

101. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on a proposal (supplied supplied); if support will be provided to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33222/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Duncan Smith

108. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to increase funding to grassroots and community sports clubs following 18 months in which clubs have been unable to fundraise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33224/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

119. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the use of rapid antigen testing at proposed live events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33221/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

203. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a copy of the letter he and the Minister of State at his Department sent to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and other Ministers in April 2021 endorsing antigen testing as referenced by him in response to an oral Parliamentary Question on 17 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33468/21]

Invasive Species Policy

Duncan Smith

295. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the situation with regard to Ireland complying with its obligations under the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation (Regulation 1143/2014) to establish, implement and communicate under article 13 an action plan or plans concerning priority invasive alien species particularly in view of the announcement by the European Commission on 9 June 2021 that it was issuing Ireland a letter of formal notice over its ongoing failure to comply with its obligations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32920/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

523. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his Department will provide guidance as to when and the conditions under which the fairground industry may be permitted to reopen given the primarily outdoor nature of fairground events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26210/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Duncan Smith

13. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans for sector-specific supports for the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31503/21]

Departmental Schemes

Duncan Smith

27. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider piloting a free public transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31502/21]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

55. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans to decarbonise Ireland’s passenger rail fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31506/21]

Aviation Industry

Duncan Smith

67. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding and his views on the job losses and reduced wages affecting workers in the aviation sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31505/21]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

95. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding and if a copy will be provided of the detailed design works in relation to MetroLink as it relates to Estuary Court, Chapel Lane, and Ashely Estate in Swords, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31504/21]

EU Bodies

Duncan Smith

387. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary No. 174 of 19 May 2021, the reason Ireland has failed to provide the information relating to procedural time limits on the eJustice portal after more than three years; the actions she and her predecessor have taken during this time to ensure that this information is made available on the eJustice portal; the reason for the delay in providing information for the eJustice portal; if she will be amending or repealing section 18(h) of the Act in order that Irish citizens can enjoy the same data protection rights as all other EU citizens; and if not, the reason therefor. [32536/21]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Duncan Smith

570. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a copy of the briefing notes and recommendations provided to him by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service towards informing his view on the implementation of the Wild Birds Derogations for the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022 will be made available. [30641/21]

EU Directives

Duncan Smith

571. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that the annual State wide derogation declaration that he signed on 30 April 2021 is compliant with the EU Birds Directive; and if so, if he will provide the legal advice that he relied upon. [30642/21]

Naturalisation Applications

Duncan Smith

1095. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the status of a naturalisation application for a person (details supplied); if she will arrange for them to receive a citizenship application reference number; if she will expedite the return of his or her passport; if she will prioritise the application given its exceptional nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30521/21]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Duncan Smith

1132. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position with the proposed community based CCTV systems nationwide; if the GDPR issues have been addressed; if she will be announcing a new scheme; if not, if the current scheme will be readvertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30993/21]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Duncan Smith

1133. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if grant funding is available for a community wishing to install CCTV community-based schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30994/21]

Climate Change Policy

Duncan Smith

228. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ban the sale of peat-based compost similar to the planned ban in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30397/21]

Departmental Schemes

Duncan Smith

68. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households that have applied for the national home retrofit scheme since its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30012/21]

Programme for Government

Duncan Smith

69. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the programme for Government commitment to develop a solar energy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30013/21]

National Broadband Plan

Duncan Smith

70. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30014/21]

Electricity Grid

Duncan Smith

71. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to complete the Celtic interconnector to connect Ireland’s electricity grid to France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30015/21]

Food Waste

Duncan Smith

72. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department plans to develop a strategy to tackle food waste in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30016/21]

EU Programmes

Duncan Smith

208. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 19 May 2021, the reason Ireland has failed to provide the information relating to procedural time limits on the eJustice portal after more than three years (details supplied). [30009/21]

Central Statistics Office

Duncan Smith

134. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Taoiseach the reason the Central Statistics Office is no longer publishing annual statistics derived from marriage registrations which it gathers (details supplied). [29349/21]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

243. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the BusConnects and DART west proposals that are putting over 60 trees at risk along the Navan Road and in Martin Savage Park; if additional avenues will be taken to mitigate against cutting down the trees; if there are plans by the NTA to replace any trees lost in the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29594/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

282. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will update the 1979 public sector circular governing the Reserve Defence Forces to allow leave in instances such as aid to civil power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29678/21]

Local Authorities

Duncan Smith

335. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the local authorities that have a social inclusion unit or officer; the social inclusion training that is provided by his Department to local authorities to meet the aims and objectives of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29593/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Duncan Smith

373. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if upgrades will be made the Defence Forces internal IT systems in view of the cyber attack; the funding being made available; the headcount of personnel being dedicated to defence IT cyber defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29669/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

374. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel vaccinated; the hierarchy of defence personnel to be vaccinated; if the roll-out is dependent on HSE staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29670/21]

Air Corps

Duncan Smith

375. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the status of the purchasing of dedicated troop carriers for the Air Cops; the expected costs and timeline involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29671/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

376. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if all documents and data on serving and retired personnel is held in digitised or paper form; if this is GDPR compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29672/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

377. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the expenditure on Defence Forces food in 2019 and 2020; the starting income and other allowances for Defence Forces chefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29673/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

378. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the current and capital funding dedicated to the Army Ranger Wing and Naval Service divers in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29674/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

379. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the cost of purchasing petrol and diesel for Defence Forces vehicles in 2019 and 2020; the number of electric vehicles; the number of electric vehicle charging points in Defence Forces installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29675/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

380. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost of providing tech pay to defence personnel in the CIS corps in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29676/21]

Defence Forces

Duncan Smith

381. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if there will be a recruitment competition aimed at attracting skillsets such as cyber security, statisticians and data analysts in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29677/21]