Parliamentary questions

Housing Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

292. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commission the Housing Agency or another appropriate body to undertake a comparative study of housing and apartment construction and professional fee costs in the public and private sector to determine the reason for the recent significant increase in costs in a number of social housing tenders in Dublin City Council. [6510/21]

Homelessness Strategy

Eoin Ó Broin

293. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the policy of Dublin City Council and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive of removing tents being used by persons sleeping rough in Dublin City and when removing these tents to remove and destroy the person belongings of the persons sleeping rough; and if he will request Dublin City Council to discontinue this practice. [6511/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

294. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the recent significant rise in tender prices for social housing developments in Dublin City Council; and if he will examine the use of multi-annual framework agreements and breaking up larger development sites into tenders for enabling works and sub-lots of social housing within the social housing developments to increase competition and ensure value for money for the taxpayer in the delivery of social housing. [6512/21]

Water Services

Eoin Ó Broin

306. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the creation of the single utility for water services and the drafting of a White Paper on the future of the utilities' SLA with local authorities including the Government's intentions on whether Irish Water will become a non-commercial semi-State company and whether the Government plans to hold a referendum on the public ownership of water services. [6541/21]

County Development Plans

Eoin Ó Broin

325. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in issuing the updated county development plan guidance and the methodology for the housing demand needs assessment to local authorities; his views on whether this delay will have a negative impact on those local authorities that are at an advanced stage in their development plan review; and when both the plan guidelines and the housing demand needs assessment methodology will be complete and issued to local authorities. [6942/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Eoin Ó Broin

338. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department in responding to the collective complaint brought to the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg regarding conditions in local authority properties; and the breakdown of those costs by type including legal fees, communications, research and any other category that may be relevant. [7133/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

512. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an extension of employment on a community employment scheme will be facilitated for a person (details supplied) given continued occupational focus would be greatly beneficial to the person. [7166/21]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

82. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the strategic housing development planning process deadline beyond its current expiry date of February 2022; and the preparations he has put in place to restore or reform the planning process post-February 2022. [6303/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

83. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing leases funded through his Department to investors availing of the international investment programme; and the annual cost of these leases for each year since such leases commenced. [6304/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

84. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the implementation of the nZEB regulations for residential developments in social and private housing; and the engagement he has had with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to ensure full compliance with these important regulations. [6305/21]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

133. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement claimants on 31 December 2020, by local authority area; the average cost of a claim in each area; and the cost per week and in total for 2020. [6306/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

37. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the savings made by the EEOS by type of customer, that is, commercial, private and energy poverty; and the social impact analysis and the average efficiency gain per customer, that is, average depth of retrofit. [5993/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

38. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the impact of the EEOS on customer bills. [5995/21]

Energy Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

39. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an annual update on the implementation on the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty was made between 2016 and 2019; if so, if a copy will be provided; and if not, the reason. [5996/21]

Energy Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

40. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the social policy and public service reform division received annual progress updates from Ministers responsible for energy poverty between 2016 and 2019; if so, if a copy of same will be provided; and if not, the reason. [5997/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

213. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of the 2014-2020 cohesion policy funds for energy efficiency in buildings that have been spent. [5994/21]

Famine Artefacts

Eoin Ó Broin

250. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to create a permanent exhibition remembering An Gorta Mór. [5799/21]

Departmental Functions

Eoin Ó Broin

280. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the functions of the built environment advisory unit within his Department; the number of staff; the role of each; the work the unit undertakes with regard to the promotion of building standards including informing the building industry and building control authorities of the current building regulations and the updating of those regulations; if the unit has functions or powers to inspect construction sites; and if so, the basis and purpose. [5433/21]

Construction Industry Register Ireland

Eoin Ó Broin

281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the failure of successive Governments to place the construction industry register on a statutory footing; his further views on whether this failure affects the strength of the 2014 building control reforms; and if a commitment will be given to introducing the Bill at second stage in 2021. [5434/21]

Local Authority Functions

Eoin Ó Broin

282. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation to each local authority for their building control functions in each of the years 2013 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of staff employed in each local authority funded through this budget allocation; and the mechanisms in place within his Department to ensure that building control authorities are adequately resourced, trained and conducting onsite inspections to fulfil both the spirit and the letter of the 2014 building control reforms in tabular form. [5435/21]

Water Services

Eoin Ó Broin

295. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the move towards the creation of a single water utility; and if legislation will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 on this matter. [5681/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

296. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the last national conditions survey of local authority social housing stock took place; the findings of the survey; the action taken since to address the findings of the survey; and when the next survey is due. [5684/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

297. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to facilitate greater tenant participation in community development, empowerment and estate management within local authority housing estates. [5686/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Eoin Ó Broin

816. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department in responding to the collective complaint brought to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg regarding conditions in local authority properties; and the breakdown of those costs by type, including legal fees, communications, research and any other category that may be relevant. [5685/21]

Health and Social Care Professionals

Eoin Ó Broin

854. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 694 of 27 January 2021, the reason the South African dentistry qualification is not comparable to Irish and European dentistry under the respective qualification frameworks. [5853/21]

Fuel Poverty

Eoin Ó Broin

907. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if the impacts of energy poverty on health are monitored by his Department. [5992/21]

Building Regulations

Eoin Ó Broin

96. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to address the issues of embedded carbon construction through revisions to building regulations, planning laws and in social and affordable housing developments funded by his Department; and if he has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) on the issue of embedded carbon in construction. [4724/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

99. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the 35 social housing projects that have used the one stage approval process; the location of these projects; the number of units in each project; and the cost of each project, in tabular form. [4800/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing projects that have accessed the one stage approval process since the cap was increased to €6 million that would otherwise have accessed that process; and the number of units of accommodation in these projects. [4801/21]

Home Tuition Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

152. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if an application for home tuition funding by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin has been approved; and when the family will be notified of the decision. [4643/21]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

256. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the number of properties tied up in the fair deal scheme; and the number of these homes that are currently vacant. [4728/21]

Central Statistics Office

Eoin Ó Broin

1. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach when he expects the project with the CSO to be complete to establish indicators for energy poverty. [3608/21]

Departmental Consultations

Eoin Ó Broin

32. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the consultation results are publicly available on the website of his Department for each public consultation held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department over the past ten years; if the consultation discussion documents are publicly available on the website; if the consultation replies are published on the website; and if he will provide a link in regard to cases in which they are published and the reason in cases in which they are not published in tabular form. [3605/21]

Electricity Grid

Eoin Ó Broin

33. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the cause of the recent electricity shortages and amber alerts; and if the increased demand from data centres has been taken into account. [3606/21]

Turf Cutting

Eoin Ó Broin

34. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has information to show to the extent to which domestic turf cutting mitigates energy poverty; and the measures taken to alleviate energy poverty specifically. [3607/21]

Home Building Finance Ireland

Eoin Ó Broin

183. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the status of the work of Home Building Finance Ireland; the number of loans offered; the size of the loans; the recipients of the loans; the number of housing units to be delivered by each loan; the number of units commenced to date; the number of units completed to date; and the projected commencement and completion dates for all housing units funded by Home Building Finance Ireland. [3576/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

297. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average construction and all-in development cost of social housing tender approvals for local authorities (details supplied) in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and the items included in the construction costs and the non-construction costs in tabular form. [3569/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

298. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the new serviced sites fund limit per unit of accommodation as agreed in December 2020. [3570/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

299. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the delivery of social and affordable housing in Poolbeg strategic development zone, SDZ; his views on whether the failure of his Department to purchase land within the SDZ will make the delivery of these homes more difficult or more expensive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3571/21]

Housing Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

300. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the programme for Government commitment to establish a commission on housing; the proposed members of the commission; the terms of reference of the commission; the duration of same; the engagement of the commission with Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3572/21]

Homeless Persons Data

Eoin Ó Broin

301. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the report he commissioned into the deaths of persons experiencing homelessness; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3573/21]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

302. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the problem of private sector mortgage-to-rent providers outbidding not-for-profit mortgage-to-rent providers in the acquisition of homes from mortgage holders in mortgage distress with the consequence of increasing the cost to the State of these properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3574/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

303. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the serviced sites fund allocation for a social and affordable housing project (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and the restructuring of the EIB loan finance being discussed or that has been agreed by his Department with Dublin City Council. [3575/21]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

306. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Dublin City Council issues loans under the shared ownership scheme of 2003 to 2010 greater than the amounts permitted both in terms of the overall lending caps and the loan to income limits; if this matter was ever examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3628/21]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

307. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, DDDA, offered affordable homes, under the 2003 to 2010 shared ownership scheme, at a more advantageous price and interest rate than Dublin City Council. [3629/21]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

308. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the shared ownership scheme from 2003 to 2010 had an increasing interest charge on the shared equity rent repayment that left the purchaser with a larger level of monthly mortgage repayment compared with a standard mortgage. [3630/21]

Homeless Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

312. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it will be ensured that a report on all inspections of homeless emergency accommodation, funded by his Department, are published and that his Department will publish its own annual report on such inspections. [3693/21]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

331. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing first tenancies delivered in 2020; and the target number of housing first tenancies for 2021. [3993/21]

Vacant Properties

Eoin Ó Broin

355. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with the Minister for Health to determine a scheme to encourage families with vacant properties tied into the fair deal scheme to rent those properties into the private rental or social rental sector; and if not, if he will give a commitment to do so in view of the thousands of vacant fair deal homes across the State. [4410/21]

Home Loan Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

356. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the mortgage offer period in the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme from six to 12 months in light of the difficulties many buyers are having in pursuing a home purchase in light of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. [4412/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Eoin Ó Broin

563. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the phone number provided by his Department for inquiries by survivors regarding the mother and baby homes report is subsequently directing them to the institutions in which they spent time. [4162/21]

Residency Permits

Eoin Ó Broin

645. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications received under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 for a residence card on the basis of being a permitted family member, that is, a member of the household of a European Union citizen; and the number of such residence cards granted in each year. [4280/21]

Residency Permits

Eoin Ó Broin

646. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications received in each year under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 for a residence card on the basis of being a permitted family member, that is, a dependant of a European Union citizen; and the number of such residence cards granted in each year. [4281/21]

Dental Services

Eoin Ó Broin

694. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to lengthy delays in obtaining a date to sit the Dental Council examination; and the steps being taken to ensure those who need to sit the examination can do so at the earliest opportunity. [3716/21]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

862. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to determine a scheme to encourage families with vacant properties tied into the fair deal scheme to rent those properties into the private rental or social rental sector; and if not, if he will give a commitment to do so in view of the thousands of vacant fair deal homes across the State. [4411/21]

Housing Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

78. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance if the banking section of his Department is currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government and the banking sector on the issue of the proposed €75 million shared equity loan scheme; if so, the nature, frequency and content of these engagements; if additional funding for the scheme from private banks is being sought; if so, the rates of interest being discussed; and the involvement the banks will have in the administration of the shared equity loan scheme. [3362/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

128. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average construction and all-in development costs for one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom social houses and one-, two- and three-bedroom social housing apartments delivered under the social housing capital investment programme, SHIP, in the past 12 months as distinct from the departmental expenditure ceilings for such units which was provided in an earlier reply, in tabular form. [2978/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

129. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average construction and all-in development costs for one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom social houses and one-, two- and three-bedroom social housing apartments approved under the SHIP in the past 12 months as distinct from the Departmental expenditure ceilings for such units which was provided in an earlier reply, in tabular form. [2979/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

131. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if exceptional needs social welfare payments are not taken into account when determining social housing eligibility when the social housing need assessment threshold is carried out; if this means that the pandemic unemployment payment from March to August 2020 is also not taken into account for the same purposes as during that time PUP was deemed to be an exceptional needs payment. [3113/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

136. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is currently engaging with the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the banking sector on the issue of the proposed €75 million shared equity loan scheme; the nature, frequency and content of these engagements; if additional funding for the scheme from private banks is being sought; if so, the rates of interest being discussed; and the involvement the banks will have in the administration of the shared equity loan scheme. [3364/21]

Protected Disclosures

Eoin Ó Broin

76. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to an outstanding protected disclosure (details supplied) made to his office in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/21]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

198. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his position in respect of the opposition of the planning regulator to an out-of-town shopping centre in County Cork as set out in a letter to Cork County Council in December 2020; and if the letter will be published on the website of his Department. [2299/21]

Building Control Management System

Eoin Ó Broin

224. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the functions of the National Building Control Office; the number of staff assigned to same; the division of responsibilities for staff; and if any other relevant information will be provided. [2715/21]

Building Control Management System

Eoin Ó Broin

225. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of building control officers in each local authority; the number of same represented as full-time equivalents; the number of inspections of residential homes under construction in numbers and as a percentage of the overall number of residential units in that administrative area; and the cost of the building control function in each local authority area in each of the years 2014 to 2020 and to date 2021, in tabular form. [2716/21]

Construction Industry Register Ireland

Eoin Ó Broin

226. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction industry register; the status of legislation to place the register on a statutory footing; the time frame for the introduction of the legislation at second stage in Dáil Éireann; if a report on the voluntary register will be provided including the number of persons and organisations registered; the number of complaints received annually since the register was established; and the number of complaints in which the finding was against the construction professional or organisation in each year. [2717/21]

Traveller Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

227. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a report will be provided on the Traveller accommodation budget spend by each local authority in 2020, by new accommodation, refurbishment of existing accommodation and site improvements to meet Covid-19 public health advice; and if any of the funding was spent on mainstream or general needs housing for Travellers. [2718/21]

Housing Data

Eoin Ó Broin

228. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of Call for Housing 2020; the number of properties offered for sale; the number purchased; and the number occupied by house size and local authority area. [2719/21]

Housing Data

Eoin Ó Broin

230. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the figures for the quarter 4 social housing output; and if he will provide a report on the total social housing output for 2020, by categories (details supplied). [2721/21]

Defective Building Materials

Eoin Ó Broin

231. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the detail of the working group established to examine the issue of latent defects including the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; the number of times the group has met; and if the group will be making a call for submissions from interested parties and members of the public. [2722/21]

Traveller Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

232. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of each of the recommendations of the Expert Review Group on Traveller Accommodation; and the status of the implementation of each of the recommendations by the group in tabular form. [2723/21]

Housing Data

Eoin Ó Broin

233. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing developments currently in the new one stage approval process; and the number of units of accommodation in these schemes. [2724/21]

Home Loan Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

234. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the costs for each year since 2016 for the design, hosting, branding and other media and communication-related costs arising from the Rebuilding Ireland plan, including the website, social media account (details supplied), events, publications and other related matters. [2725/21]

Public Private Partnerships

Eoin Ó Broin

235. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the public sector benchmarking exercise used in the first bundle of the social housing PPPs. [2726/21]

Departmental Bodies

Eoin Ó Broin

236. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the homeless working group established by the Minister has met; the dates on which it has met; the outcomes of those meetings in terms of specific actions; if he will publish all minutes and other related documents from these meetings since it was established; and if he will publicise all future minutes and related documents for future meetings as they occur on his Department’s website. [2727/21]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the national architecture policy. [2739/21]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Eoin Ó Broin

238. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. [2740/21]

Departmental Bodies

Eoin Ó Broin

239. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the housing delivery group has met; the dates on which it has met; the members of the group; the specific outcomes of the group in terms of actions; if he will publish all minutes and documents arising from this group on the Department's website for meetings that have happened to date and any future meetings. [2742/21]

State Pensions

Eoin Ó Broin

338. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce an electronic payment system for those claiming the contributory or non-contributory State pensions during Covid-19 to help reduce the risk of contracting the virus by removing their need to withdraw their pension weekly from their local post office. [2300/21]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Eoin Ó Broin

96. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual expenditure and the number of properties remediated annually under the pyrite resolution scheme in each of the years 2014 to 2020; and the budget allocation and anticipated number of properties to be remediated in 2021, in tabular form. [1944/21]

Building Regulations

Eoin Ó Broin

97. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost to the State arising from the issue of defects and remediation at a location (details supplied); the breakdown of the cost of remediation of the apartments; the number of apartments remediated; the cost of emergency accommodation; the cost of legal fees incurred by Government and Dublin City Council; the other area of costs not included in this list; and the amount recouped by the State from the sale of the remediated apartments at the location. [1949/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action taken with respect to the 20 local authority housing estates that were the subject of the IFHS collective complaint against the Irish State to the European Committee of Social Rights in from 2014; and his plans to address the Committee of Ministers' findings that the Irish State was in breach of Article 16 of the European Social Charter with respect to the substandard quality of accommodation for a substantial number of local authority tenants and the failure of the State to address these standards in a timely manner. [2058/21]

Driver Licences

Eoin Ó Broin

195. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider granting an exemption to learner drivers who are essential workers and have completed 12 driving lessons to allow them drive to and from work unaccompanied by a fully licensed driver for the period of level 5 restrictions in view of reduced capacity on public transport causing issues for essential workers during level 5 restrictions and the lengthy delays in accessing the driving test. [1672/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoin Ó Broin

495. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to put in place a remote learning plan for vulnerable students and students with vulnerable household members in view of the increased incidence of Covid-19. [1357/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Eoin Ó Broin

638. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students attending a college (details supplied) are eligible for the Covid-19 third level payment. [1009/21]

Medicinal Products

Eoin Ó Broin

1003. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the status of the assessment of the atopic eczema treatment known as dupilumab; and when the treatment will be available to eczema patients here. [1342/21]

Environmental Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

333. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the requirements or communication his Department has made in respect of the use of sonar in Irish waters in view of the impact of sonar on certain cetaceans in particular and the protection Ireland is obliged to provide for such species under EU directives binding on Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44139/20]

Environmental Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

334. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps taken and considerations made in respect of limiting the impact on cetaceans in Irish waters from NATO exercises such as operation dynamic mongoose in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44140/20]

Naval Service

Eoin Ó Broin

359. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the information his Department holds on the widely reported operations of a vessel (details supplied) and associated submarine activity in Irish waters and use of sonar around 27 July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44141/20]

Naval Service

Eoin Ó Broin

364. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Defence if contact has been made by other naval services with Irish authorities ion the use of sonar in Irish waters in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44138/20]

Defence Forces Data

Eoin Ó Broin

366. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Defence the information his Department or the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps and Naval Service, hold on the incursion into or close to Irish waters and the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, and territorial waters of vessels, crafts, including submarine vessels belonging to naval services of other nations, during the period 1 April to 31 October 2018; if he will provide such information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44142/20]

Defence Forces Data

Eoin Ó Broin

367. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Defence the information his Department or the Defence Forces hold on the widely reported operations of a vessel (details supplied) in or around 27 July 2020 in Irish waters; if he will provide such information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44143/20]

Disability Support Services

Eoin Ó Broin

277. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the criteria that determine whether or not a dog can be classified as an assistance dog; and the body responsible for setting such criteria. [43907/20]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

394. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children who accessed Tusla-funded domestic violence refuge accommodation to date in 2020; the average length of time families spent in such accommodation; and the number of beds available on a given night in 2019. [42921/20]

Direct Provision System

Eoin Ó Broin

395. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children remaining in direct provision centres after their leave to remain has been granted for the most recent date available. [42922/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

271. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 632 of 3 November 2020 and 297 of 1 December 2020, the difference between the average social housing capital investment figures for Dublin city in 2019 and the SHCIP projects on which both sets of figures are based in tabular form. [42732/20]

Environmental Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

109. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the breakdown of the €108 million of State funding allocated to the bog rehabilitation scheme; the amount for decommissioning of power plants or peatland rehabilitation; the regularity with which this funding will be made available.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41218/20]

Electric Vehicles

Eoin Ó Broin

116. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the subsidies for electric vehicles by BEV and PHEV and by model and private or company purchases. [41529/20]

Driver Test

Eoin Ó Broin

155. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport if steps will be taken to expedite a driver theory test backlog for a person (details supplied). [41805/20]

Driver Test

Eoin Ó Broin

156. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport the way in which rescheduled driver theory tests cancelled due to level 5 restrictions are being managed alongside bookings already made; and if cancelled tests are being prioritised now that test centres have reopened. [41858/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

188. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the status of and position regarding the operations of National Asset Residential Property Services, NARPS, including the number of residential properties currently held by the vehicle; the number of same leased to social housing providers; the length of the lease terms; the annual cost of these leases to the State; and the future plans for NARPS including if his Department or NAMA are looking at either selling NARPS or expanding the activities of same to further develop social or affordable housing into the future. [41524/20]