Parliamentary questions

Vacant Properties

David Stanton

286. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with reference to the compulsory purchase order activation programme which his Department launched in April 2023, the targets that have been set for each local authority for the number of identified vacant and derelict properties to enter the programme; the number of such properties in each local authority that have been brought back to use under the programme; the number of properties in each local authority where the owners could not be identified or where they were unwilling to engage and where the available legislative powers have been used or are in the process of being used to compulsory purchase such properties, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4844/24]

Departmental Schemes

David Stanton

309. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims lodged with her Department from County Cork households under the humanitarian assistance scheme following the damage caused to households by Storm Babet in October 2023; the number of claims that have been processed to date; the number of these claims allowed; the total amount paid out to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4846/24]

Vacant Properties

David Stanton

85. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list, in tabular form, the number of Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant applications and derelict top-up grant applications received to date by each respective local authority; the number of applications approved and rejected; the total funding paid out to date; the number of applications that remain to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4506/24]

Community Development Projects

David Stanton

79. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her policy initiatives, if any, that strive to identify communities with no local community representative structure; the way she is supporting such communities to have a voice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3989/24]

Departmental Strategies

David Stanton

94. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way she is assisting communities across the country to organise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3990/24]

Conflict Resolution

David Stanton

22. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on the current situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3377/24]

Foreign Conflicts

David Stanton

48. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on the current situation in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3390/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

David Stanton

120. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the membership of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT); the number and dates of meetings held by the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3350/24]

Environmental Policy

David Stanton

143. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the methods that are being used to determine the Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) boundaries; the companies that have been awarded contracts to carry out surveys and any other associated functions required to create the DMAPS; the method used to award each contract; the value and duration of each contract; to outline a timeline by which the work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3336/24]

Driver Licences

David Stanton

174. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the reason it is not possible to exchange a driving licence issued by the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia and be issued with an Irish driving licence; if there are any plans to allow such exchanges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

David Stanton

238. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering supporting owners of business properties who were not operational and not covered by flood insurance at the time of the flooding caused by Storm Babet so that the property can be repaired for future business use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2596/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

David Stanton

239. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if outdoor businesses which have not been able to secure flood insurance and who were subsequently affected by flood damage caused by Storm Babet will be considered for funding under the Red Cross emergency business flood relief scheme; if not, why such businesses are not considered for the replacement of business fixtures and fittings under the scheme; if there exists any scope for the review or appeal of an application refusal in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2597/24]

Ukraine War

David Stanton

413. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the status of Ukrainian citizens who also hold Hungarian passports as a result of the 2010 Hungarian Citizenship Act and who were living in Transcarpathia, Zakarpattia Oblast, (reference the 1921 Treaty of Trianon), who travelled to Ireland as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine using a Hungarian passport; if these people are recognised under the Temporary Protection Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2383/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

David Stanton

69. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding to the HSE to develop a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1745/24]

Health Service Executive

David Stanton

71. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health with reference to the current HSE recruitment pause, if permanent members of staff returning from career breaks will be facilitated to return to their previously held roles in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1744/24]

Youth Work Supports

David Stanton

119. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current number of Youthreach centres; the number of students attending Youthreach centres, by county; if his Department has carried out any studies to ascertain areas in the country not served by Youthreach; if so, the details of same; his plans, if any, to open further Youthreach centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2033/24]

Educational Disadvantage

David Stanton

125. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department is supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalised groups to access further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2047/24]

Business Supports

David Stanton

174. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current supports for small business available from his Department or from agencies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2132/24]

Business Supports

David Stanton

175. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way the increased cost of business grant will be implemented; when he expects first payments to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2142/24]

Ports Policy

David Stanton

280. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a request from the Port of Cork seeking approval for a full border control post designation for Ringaskiddy container and ferry terminals; if he will be in a position to support such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2205/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

David Stanton

305. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, to develop a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2130/24]

Wind Energy Generation

David Stanton

66. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to the order of business debate of 5 December 2023, to outline the consideration being given to the development of floating offshore wind infrastructure in phase 3 of the Climate Action Plan; when he expects details on phase 3 to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56482/23]

Environmental Policy

David Stanton

127. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 21 November 2023, to provide an update on the development of the National Biomethane Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1721/24]

Electricity Generation

David Stanton

128. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 28 September 2023, the number of submissions received by his Department as part of the public consultation on private wires; when he expects the policy on private wires to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1734/24]

Ports Policy

David Stanton

292. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 10 May 2023, to outline the way his Department is supporting and assisting the relevant ports and private companies within the remit of NewERA, to access funding via the Connecting Europe Facility and other grant funding in order to develop a competitive and responsive ports sector in order that Ireland can meet our targets of 7GW of offshore wind by 2030; the deadlines, if any, pertaining to applications; when he expects decisions to be made in this regard; the amounts involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1703/24]

Electric Vehicles

David Stanton

306. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport to outline the rationale behind the reduction in the home charger grant scheme which came into effect on 1 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2080/24]

Flood Risk Management

David Stanton

378. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has received a request from Cork County Council for funding to carry out flood prevention measures in Castlemartyr in east Cork; if he will support such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56396/23]

Artificial Intelligence

David Stanton

443. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the work of the AI advisory council; to outline the scope of the council’s mandate; the membership of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/24]

School Facilities

David Stanton

462. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 17 October 2023, to provide an update on the review of the guidelines for the use of school buildings outside of school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56302/23]

School Facilities

David Stanton

478. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on proposed works to reopen a premises (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56447/23]

School Enrolments

David Stanton

591. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 30 November 2023, if her Department has published its new set of enrolment projections for primary and post-primary schools; if not, when she expects these projections to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1040/24]

Flood Risk Management

David Stanton

732. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support plans by Cork County Council to put in place flood mitigation measures in Castlemartyr in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56395/23]

International Agreements

David Stanton

821. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 1 December 2022, if an inter-departmental group has been formed to evaluate Ireland's possible participation in the Antarctic Treaty System; if so, the number of meetings that the group has held since its formation; the dates of these meetings; if the group has presented its report to him; if so, the findings of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1437/24]

International Protection

David Stanton

1076. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the number of labour market access permission applications received by her Department from international protection applicants in each respective year from 2018 to 2023, inclusive; the number of applications granted in this period; the number of applications currently outstanding; the current estimated processing time for such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1115/24]

Citizenship Applications

David Stanton

1145. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice to outline the definition of "affinity" as listed by her Department as a means of Irish association for naturalisation applicants; the number of applications received under such an association each respective year from 2019 to 2023 inclusive; the number of those applications that were successful over the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1883/24]

Agriculture Schemes

David Stanton

1269. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the number of complementary income support for young farmers applications his Department received in 2023; the number of applications approved and payments made to date; the number that remain to be processed; when he expects the remaining application payments to be approved and paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1660/24]

Health Strategies

David Stanton

1810. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, to establish a social prescribing service in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2042/24]

Beef Sector

David Stanton

16. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent publication of the new bull replacement and terminal index ratings by an organisation (details supplied); the potential impact this could have on beef suckler farms and the suckler carbon efficiency programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55528/23]

Coillte Teoranta

David Stanton

52. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he is supporting Coillte in its new Forestry Strategy and Strategic Vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55638/23]

Youth Services

David Stanton

123. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he is supporting youth clubs and youth services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55806/23]

Youth Services

David Stanton

125. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his policy with respect to youth services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55808/23]

Constitutional Amendments

David Stanton

254. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on plans to hold a referendum on the Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55887/23]

Departmental Schemes

David Stanton

18. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which older people who have a right of residence in a property they do not own or which does not involve tenancy or lease agreements, can be assisted to improve insulation through the various energy upgrade schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55739/23]

Departmental Consultations

David Stanton

72. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice to outline, with reference to the development of strategies to combat economic crime and corruption, the number of submissions received through the recent online consultation process ahead of the submission deadline of 3 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55139/23]

An Garda Síochána

David Stanton

75. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 25 May 2023, to provide an update on the recruitment campaign for the Garda Reserve; when she expects new reservists to be appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54722/23]

Special Educational Needs

David Stanton

301. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 25 May 2023, her plans, if any, to evaluate the summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54559/23]

Schools Building Projects

David Stanton

307. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the date her Department plans to have a new school build (details supplied) completed and in use by students and staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54644/23]

Animal Welfare

David Stanton

596. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation with respect to the microchipping of dogs and storing of such data within a national database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54448/23]

Control of Dogs

David Stanton

882. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 31 January 2023, her plans to enhance the role of An Garda Síochána in assisting dog wardens to carry out their duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54446/23]

Control of Dogs

David Stanton

883. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans, if any, to classify dog breeds by their potential to injure, to license all dog owners by the classification of the dog and to introduce ownership training according to the higher classification of the breed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54447/23]