Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Brian Leddin

95. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures that the Government is implementing to attract new recruits to the Air Corps, ensuring a skilled and motivated workforce for our defence needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42600/23]

Defence Forces

Brian Leddin

121. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures the Government is implementing to attract new recruits to the Naval Service, ensuring a skilled and motivated workforce for our defence needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42601/23]

Electric Vehicles

Brian Leddin

201. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the progress in the development of the residential neighbourhood charging scheme; when he expects the scheme to launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42458/23]

United Nations

Brian Leddin

103. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on his recent UN visit with respect to climate finance and in anticipation of COP 28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41884/23]

Student Accommodation

Brian Leddin

98. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of institution-owned accommodation places of third-level institutions in Limerick; the projected bed space demand for third-level institutions in Limerick; the steps being taken to increase the number of on and off-campus institution-owned accommodation places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40688/23]

Further and Higher Education

Brian Leddin

103. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he expects the tender will be issued to establish a new veterinary school in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40689/23]

Public Transport

Brian Leddin

119. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the number of Leap cards that have been used at least once in each month to date in 2023. [40222/23]

Transport Costs

Brian Leddin

120. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the number of times the weekly fares cap has been applied to Leap card customers in 2023; and the number of times the monthly fares cap has been applied to Leap card customers in 2023, across all cities where Leap is in operation. [40223/23]

Defence Forces

Brian Leddin

205. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update in relation to the application for a meritorious service promotion in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37436/23]

Foreshore Issues

Brian Leddin

830. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of foreshore licence applications for development of offshore wind farms in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [37437/23]

Public Transport

Brian Leddin

194. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the amount collected in fares for child tickets on public transport in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [35763/23]

Electric Vehicles

Brian Leddin

195. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent to date on the electric mobility grant and eSPSV grant scheme for taxis, hackneys and limousines. [35764/23]

Tax Yield

Brian Leddin

285. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details on the estimated VAT revenue generated by the hire of bikes, e-bikes, cargo bikes and e-cargo bikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35757/23]

Animal Welfare

Brian Leddin

11. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what welfare measures have been taken in the greyhound sector in the past 12 months to satisfy the programme for Government commitment that State funding of the sector will be contingent on a guarantee of welfare standards being upheld on an annual basis. [34755/23]

Construction Industry

Brian Leddin

17. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what steps have been taken to establish an interdepartmental and industry working group on timber in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34756/23]

Broadcasting Sector

Brian Leddin

58. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the review of public service broadcasting will examine the role of advertising and programme sponsorship on influencing public opinion with respect to climate action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34707/23]

Defective Building Materials

Brian Leddin

433. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on extending the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to non-principal primary residences, such as holiday homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34822/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brian Leddin

195. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the proposed trial on micro biodigesters has commenced; what supports are in place for micro biodigesters in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34562/23]

Housing Policy

Brian Leddin

86. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress on the commitment in Housing for All to implement a minimum building energy rating requirement for rental properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33188/23]

Legislative Measures

Brian Leddin

102. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the legislation to allow for directly elected mayor with executive powers for Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33189/23]

National Transport Authority

Brian Leddin

204. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport when the NTA’s bus stops upgrade programme will be extended to Limerick city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32436/23]

Water Pollution

Brian Leddin

346. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to allocate additional funding to recruit a sufficient number of new inspectors for water pollution as reported (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30988/23]

Public Sector Staff

Brian Leddin

347. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the adequacy of timeframes for replacing public sector staff; the associated internal processing delays in financing staffing changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30989/23]

Food Promotion

Brian Leddin

466. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is developing value-enhancing alternative market avenues in the context of live exports and animal welfare, as per the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32592/23]

Tax Yield

Brian Leddin

195. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if, in the context of the higher rate of VAT at 23% which is charged to customers who undertake car rental and car sharing journeys for a period of five weeks or more cumulatively in a given full year, he will outline the full-year VAT yield arising from both the 13.5% and 23% VAT rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30609/23]

Tax Yield

Brian Leddin

196. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details on the projected difference in annual VAT revenue for a scenario whereby a reduced VAT rate of 13.5% would apply to car rental and carsharing journeys that occurred cumulatively instead of consecutively for journeys of five weeks or more per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30610/23]

Cancer Services

Brian Leddin

760. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full breakdown of the hospitals in Ireland that offer and provide a cold cap machine to patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31306/23]

Cancer Services

Brian Leddin

761. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health if there is a national protocol on the provision of the service of a cold cap machine to patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31307/23]

Cancer Services

Brian Leddin

762. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health the capital cost of cold cap machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31308/23]

Greenways Provision

Brian Leddin

12. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the status of the Limerick to Scariff and Limerick city to Shannon greenway projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30202/23]

Rail Network

Brian Leddin

41. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline plans for the further development of the rail connection from Limerick to Shannon Airport over the next five years; if his Department intends to increase investment in new stations on the Ennis-Limerick-Foynes rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30203/23]

Fiscal Policy

Brian Leddin

141. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to allocating some of the general Government surplus to investment into sustainable transport infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30152/23]

Defence Forces

Brian Leddin

173. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the timelines for application decisions and the appeals process for applicants to the 2023 Army cadetship competition; how a candidate can request feedback; when the next round of applications will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30415/23]

Transport Policy

Brian Leddin

180. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has or is planning to develop a policy to support the development of active travel infrastructure serving healthcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26727/23]

Transport Policy

Brian Leddin

212. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the pathfinder projects for Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29453/23]

Public Transport

Brian Leddin

230. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the progress of the implementation of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan for Kerry, and in particular routes 2A from Skibbereen to Killarney and the 280 Ring of Kerry route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29677/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Brian Leddin

288. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Workplace Relations Commission intends to publish the Code of Practice on the ''Right to Request Remote Working"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29684/23]

Air Quality

Brian Leddin

80. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress of the expansion of the national air quality monitoring network under the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28883/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Brian Leddin

113. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the findings of the EPA’s Ireland’s GHG Emissions Projections 2022-2040 report; his plans to revise the Climate Action Plan to achieve the 51% emissions reduction target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28843/23]

Departmental Data

Brian Leddin

74. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 23 May 2023, the average VRT band, and the average emissions from the average car registered in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 for internal combustion engine vehicles only, that is, excluding electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28675/23]

Flood Risk Management

Brian Leddin

416. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the costs of the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of all arterial drainage schemes over the past five years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27759/23]

Further and Higher Education

Brian Leddin

85. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure that there is a sufficient increase in capacity in veterinary schools in Ireland to meet the growing demand for vets and reduce reliance on education abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25295/23]

Healthcare Policy

Brian Leddin

201. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the planning policy and guidelines regarding the establishment of new hospitals and new healthcare centres to ensure they are aligned with the Climate Action Plan, the National Planning Framework's compact-growth objective and the Government's Town Centres First policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26750/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brian Leddin

68. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the issues regarding a pre-school (details supplied); if any supports will be provided to the pre-school from his Department; the steps he will take to prevent similar issues from arising elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25996/23]

International Protection

Brian Leddin

89. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on the current total number of refugees in accommodation provided by the State; the number accommodated this year; the total change since 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25993/23]

Live Exports

Brian Leddin

58. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department has taken to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to increase the veterinary presence available on all live export consignments to third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25214/23]

Departmental Data

Brian Leddin

228. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of new car sales based on car body type in each VRT band for 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 [24123/23]

Departmental Data

Brian Leddin

229. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance the average VRT band, and the average emissions from the average car registered in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 for internal combustion engine vehicles only, i.e. excluding electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24124/23]

Departmental Data

Brian Leddin

215. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the breakdown of new car sales in each VRT band for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23950/23]

School Transport

Brian Leddin

119. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education if her Department is collaborating with the Connecting Ireland planning in order to expand her Department’s school transport capacity and coverage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22908/23]