Parliamentary questions

Derelict Sites

Ged Nash

63. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to review the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and its operations; if so, the status of those plans; if his attention has been drawn to the Geo Directory Residential Buildings Report for Q4 of 2021 which has identified approximately 90,000 vacant residential properties and 20,000 derelict residential properties across the country; if his Department is considering or has plans to bring these properties back into active use; the steps taken by his Department to ensure the collection of outstanding derelict sites levies by each local authority; the guidance and or circulars that have been issued by his Department to each local authority in relation to the collection of the derelict sites levy and the manner in which this should be pursued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3277/22]

Derelict Sites

Ged Nash

111. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure that the position of derelict sites officer is full-time in each local authority; the number of derelict sites officers employed in each local authority; if they are employed in a part-time or full-time capacity in tabular form; the guidance and or circulars issued by his Department to local authorities relating to the employment of derelict sites officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/22]

Housing Policy

Ged Nash

121. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress of the examination by all Departments of their existing portfolio of properties; if properties have been placed on the market to date; the number of those properties that have been deemed suitable for conversion to residential accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3282/22]

Vacant Properties

Ged Nash

145. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the introduction of the new local authority-led programme for compulsory purchase orders of vacant properties for resale on the open market; the funding he is providing for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3278/22]

Derelict Sites

Ged Nash

146. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure that the position of vacant sites officer is full-time in each local authority; the number of vacant sites officers employed in each local authority; if they are employed in a part-time or full-time capacity in tabular form; the guidance and or circulars issued by his Department to local authorities relating to the employment of vacant sites officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3279/22]

State Examinations

Ged Nash

361. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the status of the junior certificate in view of the disruption caused to the academic year by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2937/22]

School Facilities

Ged Nash

362. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the status of ventilation enhancements in schools; the amount of funding allocated for ventilation enhancements to date under the Enhanced Minor Works for Primary Schools and the Exceptional Minor Works Grant Funding for Post-Primary Schools, respectively; the number of schools that have received funding for ventilation enhancements to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2938/22]

Schools Building Projects

Ged Nash

374. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if the land on which a permanent building for a school (details supplied) will be built has been transferred from the current owner; when a planning application for the proposed permanent building will be submitted to Meath County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3098/22]

Nursing Homes

Ged Nash

665. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed amendment to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 to remove disincentives against the rental of vacant properties by participants in the fair deal scheme; the way that appropriate safeguards for vulnerable older persons will be incorporated into that amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3281/22]

Departmental Programmes

Ged Nash

2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to produce a White Paper on an expansion of the digital services offered by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2803/22]

Departmental Programmes

Ged Nash

6. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to produce a White Paper on the expansion of the digital services offered by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2483/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

11. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the national recovery and resilience plan; the steps taken to date to meet the nine reform commitments under the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2485/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

17. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps the OPW has taken to improve ventilation in properties under its aegis in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; the funding available to the OPW for ventilation enhancements in such buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2484/22]

Public Sector Staff

Ged Nash

52. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of additional new civil and public service positions the State is expected to create in 2022; the number of retirements in whole-time equivalent terms across the civil and public service who are expected to retire in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2486/22]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Ged Nash

67. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of efforts to streamline the delivery of large-scale capital projects; the steps he is taking to ensure cost-effective and timely delivery of future projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2487/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

307. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reason that he approved, as the majority shareholder in a bank (details supplied), an arrangement whereby mortgages transferring from a bank are to be outsourced to and serviced by a company once the business is transferred to the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63416/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

320. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies registered under the employment wage subsidy scheme that have been subjected to audit under the compliance programme of the Revenue Commissioners to 31 December, 2021; the amount that has been clawed back as a consequence of the programme as a result of initiated contact by the Revenue Commissioners and as a result of voluntary amendments made by companies liable to repay subsidies; the amount outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1192/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

321. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of firms that have benefitted from the temporary wage subsidy scheme that were found to have not met the requirements for eligibility for the scheme; the amount that has been returned as a result; the amount outstanding in terms of repayments as of 31 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1193/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

322. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies that were eligible for the employment wage subsidy scheme that have voluntarily returned funding paid out under the scheme up to 31 December 2021; the number of companies that have paid back the full amount they received over the period of their use of the scheme; if the Revenue Commissioners will provide the names of the companies that have done so to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1194/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

323. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will request that the Revenue Commissioners undertake an examination of all companies that have benefitted from both the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the employment wage subsidy scheme to establish the extent to which relevant companies have paid out dividends to shareholders while benefitting from Covid-19 related wage subsidies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1195/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

324. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to introduce new conditions on firms in relation to the use of and access to the employment wage subsidy scheme; his views on the fact that some companies have paid dividends to shareholders in the same financial year in which they have accessed State wage subsidies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1196/22]

Departmental Consultations

Ged Nash

358. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the expected commencement date for the retail banking review public consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2287/22]

Greenways Provision

Ged Nash

477. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Department of Rural and Community Development has sought his Department's views on plans by Louth County Council to use funding approved by that Department to develop the Boyne greenway on the northside of the River Boyne at Mell, Drogheda, County Louth; if his Department has reservations on the proposed project in view of the fact that part of the subject area for the greenway plan involves a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63237/21]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Ged Nash

543. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide information on his Department's review of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and the review of exemptions for educational and community buildings as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; if he will provide information on 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. [1741/22]

Teacher Training

Ged Nash

826. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on the issues raised in correspondence by final year bachelor of education students at a university (details supplied) regarding the upcoming adapted school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2006/22]

State Pensions

Ged Nash

917. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on an issue (details supplied); if she has plans to address the issue of a system of pension entitlements for persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1218/22]

Immigration Policy

Ged Nash

1179. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice her views on the policy issues raised by a person (details supplied) with regard to the criteria for the regularisation scheme for long-term undocumented migrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62953/21]

Hospital Services

Ged Nash

1396. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the level of specialist services available for patients presenting to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for ocular emergencies at weekends; if patients with eye-related emergencies who present to the hospital at late hours or at weekends are seen and treated immediately by a specialist ophthalmologist or a member of the ophthalmology team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63107/21]

Hospital Services

Ged Nash

1655. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason haematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment is not available to patients in Ireland with multiple sclerosis; if there are plans to change this approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1226/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

115. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to convert the current employment wage subsidy scheme into a permanent, remodelled short-time work scheme in view of the continued impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62144/21]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

120. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on his plans for the tax treatment of interest-free or low-interest loans in view of recent figures from an organisation (details supplied) that show a significant percentage, 42%, of first-time buyers used gifts to help fund deposits needed to secure a mortgage to purchase a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62147/21]

Exchequer Returns

Ged Nash

126. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the recent divergence between reported and previously forecast Exchequer figures may mitigate against proper planning and resource use and planning in the public finances; his plans to undertake a review of his Department’s forecasting methodologies in view of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62146/21]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

148. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on his plans to reduce the State’s shareholding in a bank (details supplied); the sale price and revenue raised to Exchequer from each reduction in the State’s shareholding in the bank since June 2021; the consultancy fees paid to date to a brokerage organisation for facilitating the sale of the State’s shareholding in the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62148/21]

Exchequer Returns

Ged Nash

160. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent comments by a person (details supplied) with regard to the potential for increased revenue to the Exchequer due to the planned increase in the minimum corporation tax rate from 12.5% to 15%; his plans to undertake an updated analysis on the impacts of a new minimum rate of 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62145/21]

Public Transport

Ged Nash

201. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied at levels of compliance with the requirement to wear face masks on public transport; if his Department and the CIÉ group of companies are monitoring compliance with and enforcement of the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62465/21]

Departmental Data

Ged Nash

279. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications made by Departments for data-sharing purposes under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62571/21]

Data Protection

Ged Nash

280. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings held by the Data Governance Board in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62572/21]

State Bodies

Ged Nash

281. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62573/21]

Data Protection

Ged Nash

282. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made on the personal access data portal as per Part 8 of the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62574/21]

Data Protection

Ged Nash

283. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the implications for the roll-out of online public services arising from the recent settlement between the Data Protection Commissioner and the Minister for Social Protection on proceedings relating to the public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62575/21]

State Examinations

Ged Nash

376. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on concerns and policy issues raised with regard to the 2022 leaving certificate examinations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62443/21]

Data Protection

Ged Nash

488. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to upgrade the functions and structure of the Data Protection Commissioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62576/21]

Driver Licences

Ged Nash

48. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify and review an application by a person (details supplied) to the National Driver Licence Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62236/21]

State Examinations

Ged Nash

111. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) with regard to the 2022 leaving certificate examinations; if she will consider the option of predicted grades for this cohort of leaving certificate students in view of the continuing impact of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62128/21]

Tax Data

Gerald Nash

203. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the revenue raised from the eight-year deemed disposal rule from 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; the expected annual cost of discontinuing the eight-year deemed disposal rule on collective investment funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61218/21]

Tax Data

Gerald Nash

204. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the concerns expressed by a person (details supplied) relating to the eight-year deemed disposal rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61219/21]

Dental Services

Gerald Nash

567. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an updated list of dental practices that participate in the dental treatment services scheme in counties Louth and Meath, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61217/21]

Tax Reliefs

Gerald Nash

204. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to extend the transborder workers' relief beyond the current deadline as proposed by an organisation (details supplied); his views on the long-term need for an agreed structure for the fair tax treatment of cross-Border employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60980/21]

Hospital Staff

Gerald Nash

325. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) for 100 additional neurology nurse specialists across Ireland including five additional nurses for Beaumont Hospital; his plans to increase neurology nurse specialists both nationally and at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60983/21]

Dental Services

Ged Nash

205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) with regard to a new VAT interpretation which impacts on their sector; if officials in his Department or the Revenue Commissioners have discussed this issue with the Department of Health; his further views on the potential impact this interpretation will have on the provision of dental services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60102/21]