Parliamentary questions

Departmental Expenditure

Louise O'Reilly

187. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total amount of funding provided to businesses for support digitisation over the past five years; and the funding allocated to support firms with digitisation in 2024. [5838/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Louise O'Reilly

188. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the expenditure base for his Department for the years 2024 to 2027, or as far as is projected, broken down for the expenditure base for the programme expenditure under 'jobs and enterprise development', 'enterprise innovation and commercialisation', 'regulation', listing all subheads within each, in tabular form. [5869/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Louise O'Reilly

189. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the expenditure base for IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Development, InterTradeIreland, Science and Technology Development Programme, Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, Workplace Relations Programme, and the Health and Safety Authority for the years 2024 to 2027, or as far as is projected, in tabular form. [5870/24]

Legislative Measures

Pearse Doherty

190. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the provisions of the Digital Services Act with respect to online platforms which platform fraudulent advertising on their channels, the requirements, obligations and sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5899/24]

Enterprise Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

191. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to review the key outcomes and key impacts for the LEO network in performance budgeting; his views on the introduction of key outcomes and impacts for green budgeting across all departmental programmes, as reported on in the annual Public Service Performance Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5953/24]

Enterprise Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

192. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the targets for Green for Business take up in each county for 2024 and for an update, if available, on the applications approved, training attended or completed assessments broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5954/24]

Labour Court

Bernard Durkan

193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which action is underway to meet staff shortages in the construction sector with particular reference to the need to meet such deficiencies in full in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5971/24]

Work Permits

Bernard Durkan

194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit-related visa applications currently awaiting process with particular reference to various aspects of the economy particularly affected by staff shortages; the extent to which this issue is being addressed in the shortest time possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5972/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which Irish people overseas can be encouraged to return in order to meet staff vacancies throughout industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5973/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which employment has fluctuated in this jurisdiction over the past four years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5974/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Bernard Durkan

197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which working from home or working through digital hubs is being optimised and progressed with a view to ensuring the optimum results for employer, employee and the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5975/24]

Trade Data

Bernard Durkan

198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which Ireland’s trade with EU countries has fluctuated over the past four years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5976/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Bernard Durkan

199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which his Department continues to support small and medium sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5977/24]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether any further particular incentives are being considered to encourage the entrepreneurial skills of younger people throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5978/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which this country’s workforce continues to have the increased skills necessary to meet modern market requirements; the extent to which this issue continues to be examined and addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5979/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of job opportunities for women likely to emerge in the manufacturing or services sectors over the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5980/24]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

203. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil cinneadh déanta maidir le líon na sraithphictiúir atá le déanamh ag daltaí atá ag ullmhú don Ardteist; an bhfuair a Roinn aon chomhfhreagras ó dhaltaí ag léiriú míshástacht faoin mbrú a chuireann an 20 sraithphictiúir reatha orthu; agus cén iarrachtaí atá ar bun aici chun an brú i measc an chúigiú agus an séú bliain a laghdú [5817/24]

School Staff

Cathal Crowe

204. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) can expect to hear the outcome of their application to have their salary increments reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5839/24]

School Transport

Pearse Doherty

205. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education when a response will issue to communication regarding school transport for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5891/24]

School Funding

Michael Lowry

206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if an environmental grant is available for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6011/24]

Schools Building Projects

Bernard Durkan

207. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she will give an update in relation to the development of upgrading/provision of new schools at primary and second level in Naas, County Kildare; the degree to which plans are in hand to cater for the expanding population with particular reference to September 2024; the extent to which a solution has been found to facilitate the continuation of works on site at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6023/24]

School Enrolments

Bernard Durkan

208. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which it has been found possible to meet the pupil accommodation requirements in all schools throughout Kildare north, an area of rapid population expansion with particular reference to the need to ensure an adequacy of school places in time for enrolment in September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6031/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Robert Troy

209. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has she received a proposal from RTÉ for the removal of its plus one channels and its digital radio stations, as outlined in its New Direction strategy, as required under section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 (details supplied); if he received RTÉ's proposal, when she plans to commence her decision making process under the Act; and if that process will include taking submissions from the public. [5850/24]

Television Licence Fee

Pearse Doherty

210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of summonses applied for, and the number of cases brought to court, respectively, with respect to non-payment of the TV license in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [5895/24]

Sport and Recreational Development

Michael Healy-Rae

211. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media where the results of the national swimming strategy survey of 2022 can be accessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5960/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

212. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what follow-up she gave to correspondence relating to allegations of historic bullying within RTÉ (details supplied); if she or a representative has engaged with the individual with a view to resolving the matter; how she intends to deal with similar cases surfacing in relation to RTÉ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5970/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date weekly figures regarding TV licence renewal and purchase of TV licences for January 2024 versus January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5996/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department contributes in any way to the monetary cost of the advertisement of the TV licence fee on platforms; if she will outline details of such expenditure; if she and her Department contribute to the formulation of messaging in any such advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5997/24]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul Murphy

215. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline what action is being taken to implement the recommendation of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity that Ireland adopt the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and the recommendation that the legal rights of nature be recognised via a constitutional referendum. [5957/24]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul Murphy

216. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he intends to establish an expert group with resources to design and draft the potential question or questions on the rights of nature as recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee in its report on the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity. [5958/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Alan Dillon

217. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the review conducted as part of the NDP review process and supply a list of villages and settlements in each county that do not currently have access to public wastewater infrastructure, including those specific for County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/24]

Rental Sector

Patrick Costello

218. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average wait time for a Residential Tenancies Board mediation session after application and the subsequent wait time for a dispute session when mediation ends in no resolution. [5851/24]

Naval Service

Patrick Costello

219. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure in the future that historically significant vessels, such as LÉ Éithne and the Naomh Éanna, will be evaluated and feasibility studies carried out by his Department to consider potential heritage options are fully considered before any decisions about their future are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5886/24]

Housing Schemes

Ged Nash

220. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide current guidelines and policy documents in respect of his Department's policy and advices to local authorities with regards to tenant transfers between local authorities on compassionate or exceptional grounds particularly with respect to elderly persons and senior citizen housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5896/24]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

221. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the delayed actions that his Department is leading on as part of the Climate Action Plan 2023; the proportion that have been completed; the proportion that are delayed; if any are still outstanding from the 2021 Climate Action Plan; the expected timeline for delivery for all delayed actions; the estimated emissions impact of delayed actions; the impact on carbon budgets; what measures he is taking to mitigate these impacts and make up any possible shortfalls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5905/24]

Wildlife Protection

John Paul Phelan

222. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that the proposed stakeholder forum on the sustainable hunting of protected wild birds will include all relevant stakeholders in its membership, including game conservation organisations (details supplied). [5914/24]

Planning Issues

Patrick Costello

223. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown in tabular form of the number of staff, and their grade currently, employed within An Bord Pleanála, highlighting if they are employed on a part-time or full-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5935/24]

Planning Issues

Patrick Costello

224. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown in tabular form of the number of vacant staffing positions and their grade within An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5936/24]

Local Authorities

Louise O'Reilly

225. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that local authorities are establishing designated activity companies as special purpose vehicles, thereafter disposing of lands for the purpose of development under a service level agreement; if this is considered good practice; if he has concerns about such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6014/24]

Legislative Measures

Louise O'Reilly

226. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to bring forward the required amendments to the section 25 (2) (b) (II) of the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019. [6015/24]

Housing Schemes

Louise O'Reilly

227. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of the rental accommodation scheme will be published. [6018/24]

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]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

229. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection what progress has been made to realise recommendation 41.2 of Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (0-24) 2023-2028 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5795/24]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

230. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 828 of 13 June and 829 of 13 June 2023, what if any benefits accrued to Department of Social Protection employees who were former community welfare officers under the HSE and who paid a 5% levy on their incomes from October 2011 to December 2015; if no pension benefit has accrued in respect of these payments, if her Department will sanction the return of these payments to the employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6010/24]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

231. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster carers will be included in the access to the State pension (contributary) measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5794/24]

Departmental Staff

Cathal Crowe

232. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a cohort of workers funded by her Department (details supplied) have not received a pay increase in 15 years; if any pay increases are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5813/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Haughey

233. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has taken place in relation to the issue concerning class S PRSI contributions arising solely from personal pensions and the implications for those who are applying for the benefit payment for 65 year olds; if it will be acknowledged that these potential claimants are not self-employed and that they should be considered for this payment provided all other criteria are met; if this payment can be made to claimants in these circumstance who reached 65 years in the last 12 months; the position regarding a particular claimant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5814/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Joan Collins

234. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 882 of 17 January 2024, if the case will be reviewed, given the person (details supplied) did not receive the payment.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5831/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

235. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements under class P PRSI contributions; how long a person needs to pay class P contributions in order to benefit; if there are other qualifying requirements for persons to claim class P; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5840/24]

State Pensions

Duncan Smith

236. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the old age pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied) has been processed and awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5902/24]