Parliamentary questions

Road Projects

Noel Grealish

213. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the current status of a pedestrian footbridge over the Owenriff River in Oughterard, County Galway; the latest correspondence between TII and Galway County Council in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11315/23]

Hospital Staff

Noel Grealish

611. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts among nursing staff, consultants, physiotherapists and other health or medical staff within the Saolta hospital group, by occupation and by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11188/23]

Hospital Staff

Noel Grealish

612. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts among nursing staff, consultants, physiotherapists and other health or medical staff at Galway university hospitals, by occupation and department, currently and in each of the past five years; and the steps taken to address the issue. [11189/23]

Hospital Staff

Noel Grealish

613. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of health professional staff employed at Galway university hospitals who are currently not at work due to illness, and the number who are on maternity leave or leave for any other reason. [11190/23]

Hospital Staff

Noel Grealish

614. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff employed at Galway university hospitals, by occupation, currently and in each of the past five years. [11191/23]

Third Level Fees

Noel Grealish

139. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason returning emigrants who have established residency for over three years in Ireland cannot reclassify from non-EU to EU status mid-course of study but if a non-EU citizen obtains EU citizenship mid-course of study, they are immediately eligible to apply for EU re-classification, which affords more moderate third level fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10453/23]

Health Services Staff

Noel Grealish

184. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the reason priority is given to CEO entry applicants within the HSE Internship placement programme in addition to or instead of percentile marking; the reason applicants for internship posts who accepted a place in Irish medical school through a CAO officer will be allocated posts ahead of applicants who accepted an Irish medical school place directly from the medical school; his views on whether this practice is discriminatory given that all students registered in a college course should be treated fairly and equitably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10452/23]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

199. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport to list the public transport services provided under public service obligation contracts in Galway city, including the individual routes and the companies that are operating them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10002/23]

Social Welfare Code

Noel Grealish

388. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the living alone allowance to people who qualify for an increase for a qualified adult to their spouse's or partner's State pension, but whose partner is in long-term nursing home care, and they are now living on their own; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9501/23]

Healthcare Policy

Noel Grealish

563. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health where a person is in the fair deal scheme for 18 months, and the spouse who is still residing in the family home decides to sell the property to downsize, how the capital from the sale of the family home is assessed under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/23]

Abortion Services

Noel Grealish

651. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health whether the review into Ireland's abortion laws has considered the issue of foetal pain relief, in view of the interest in this topic expressed by members of the public and the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10094/23]

Aquaculture Industry

Noel Grealish

699. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department only issues a licence for a particular hatchery (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9794/23]

Aquaculture Industry

Noel Grealish

700. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is allowing Inland Fisheries Ireland to currently operate a hatchery (details supplied) in County Galway under his Department’s licensing regime, without a legally required appropriate assessment screening in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9795/23]

Community Development Projects

Noel Grealish

2. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the scheme for funding new community centres will be open for applications, given that the scheme has now been announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9206/23]

National Car Test

Noel Grealish

198. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the average waiting times for an NCT inspection in each centre in the country; the reason for the long delay in securing an appointment in Galway; the reason for the disparity in waiting times between centres; his plans to ensure that testing is carried out within a reasonable period of time following an application being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8637/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

113. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland, which operates under his Department’s aegis, has never completed an appropriate assessment screening, as required under the EU habitats directive, for the operation of a hatchery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6515/23]

Aquaculture Industry

Noel Grealish

881. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department on 7 December 2017 issued an aquaculture licence (details supplied) when it has been established under FOI legislation that no appropriate assessment screening as required under the EU Habitats Directive was conducted by either Inland Fisheries Ireland or a third party to evaluate any potential impacts on the integrity of a site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6516/23]

Aquaculture Industry

Noel Grealish

882. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department in the past five calendar years has never issued an aquaculture licence for the operation of trout hatchery in County Galway when the hatchery is listed as an aquaculture establishment on the Marine Institute’s Fin Fish FHA Register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6517/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Noel Grealish

203. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland will support the eradication of invasive perch from lakes in Connemara (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5332/23]

Inland Fisheries

Noel Grealish

204. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason person (details supplied) gave her their resignation letter in person following their last board meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5333/23]

Driver Test

Noel Grealish

213. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport when he expects the average waiting time for an invitation to a driving test will be returned to the service level agreement time of ten weeks; the current waiting time by test centre; the reason for the current long waiting times; the reason for the wide disparity in waiting times in test centres in County Galway, which range from 13 to 33 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5330/23]

Driver Test

Noel Grealish

214. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driving test, by county and test centre; the number of persons waiting in the same period in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5331/23]

Transport Policy

Noel Grealish

222. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport when the legislation granting additional certificates for certain renewable transport fuels will be published, which was as committed to in the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5518/23]

Energy Policy

Noel Grealish

180. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the hydrogen strategy will be published; the objectives it is likely to contain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4318/23]

Customs and Excise

Noel Grealish

239. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the personal duty-free alcohol and tobacco product limits between the Ireland and UK duty-free zone; how these limits are enforced by the appropriate authorities at Irish airport and ferry ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4509/23]

Customs and Excise

Noel Grealish

240. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the personal duty-free allowances and limits for alcohol and tobacco products for individuals traveling to Ireland from inside and outside the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/23]

Customs and Excise

Noel Grealish

241. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the additional resources and the appropriate authorities that have been allocated for the enforcement of the duty-free allowance limits on arrival at ports and airports following the reintroduction of duty free between the UK and Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4511/23]

Customs and Excise

Noel Grealish

273. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the number of seizures conducted by customs officials on duty-free alcohol and tobacco products which exceeded the personal limits at airports and ports in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/23]

Customs and Excise

Noel Grealish

274. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the quantities of duty-free alcohol and tobacco products brought into Ireland from the UK duty free zone in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4513/23]

Legislative Reviews

Noel Grealish

599. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a timeline for when the review into the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be concluded; if the research that was commissioned as part of the review will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3165/23]

EU Directives

Noel Grealish

71. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if by-law No. 840 of 2008 is compliant with the EU habitats directive and legally admissible for Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63371/22]

Primary Medical Certificates

Noel Grealish

382. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 13 October 2022, if there is an update regarding the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/23]

Housing Policy

Noel Grealish

591. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an entitlement to the current rate of RAS payment of a person will be affected in cases in which they receive an inheritance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2325/23]

Third Level Fees

Noel Grealish

1030. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will change guidelines in order that returning emigrants who have spent at least three of the previous five years in Ireland can change their status to qualify for the free fees initiative for any remainder of the college course that their children are attending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63490/22]

Nursing Homes

Noel Grealish

1216. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 450 of 27 September 2022, if the necessary administrative and operational changes have been made to the fair deal scheme in order that some income from renting out the family home can be deemed exempt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63457/22]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

1290. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in Galway city and county; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current DTSS will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63664/22]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

1291. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Galway city and the rest of County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past ten years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63665/22]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

1292. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Galway city and the rest of County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services in the past ten years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63666/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Noel Grealish

1757. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reopen applications for tranche 1 of the ACRES scheme, given that this is a new scheme and some applicants did not have an opportunity to prepare and submit their application on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63275/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

218. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet in the Galway division. [62389/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Noel Grealish

430. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if rental income is classed as working or self-employment, when a person over 65 years of age has ceased their full-time work and applied for benefit payment for 65-year-olds, given that the rules of the payment state that a person can continue in subsidiary employment, which could have been done while a person was in full-time employment and outside one’s normal working hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62283/22]

General Practitioner Services

Noel Grealish

314. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there are any financial supports or grants available from his Department for persons to set up a GP practice and health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61448/22]

Medical Cards

Noel Grealish

166. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the process under which income from saving and investments are assessed for an over-70s medical card; if it is only the interest on savings in excess of €36,000 for a single person and €72,000 for a married couple that is assessed as income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61375/22]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Noel Grealish

78. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proportion of business insurance injury claims that have been settled through Public Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60177/22]

Personal Injury Claims

Noel Grealish

79. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects legislative changes to be enacted on the level of duty of care requirement under personal injury claims; when he anticipates that psychological damages claims will be included as part of PIABs remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60178/22]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

132. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason that real-time passenger information and automatic vehicle location is available for Bus Eíreann services but not for private bus operators operating in Galway city and nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60169/22]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

133. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason there has been a 20% reduction in fares for Bus Éireann, but not for private bus companies given that private bus operators often provide services where there is no Bus Éireann service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60170/22]

Insurance Industry

Noel Grealish

169. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the reason that the Action Plan on Insurance Reform has been so successful in reducing motor insurance premiums but premiums for business insurance, which includes employers and public liability, continue to rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60173/22]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Noel Grealish

170. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the impact of the personal injuries guidelines on awards granted by PIAB; the way that the guidelines have impacted awards granted through the courts; the number and percentage of cases which are settled outside the courts but which still go through a solicitor rather than PIAB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60174/22]

Insurance Industry

Noel Grealish

171. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the reason that up to 16 providers are competing in the motor insurance market, but there is far less competition in the business liability insurance sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60175/22]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Noel Grealish

172. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the proportion of motor insurance injury claims that have been settled through PIAB to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60176/22]

Departmental Meetings

Noel Grealish

257. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Ireland’s relationship with Nicaragua; if there is regular contact with officials from that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60247/22]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) to relocate to a new site at Kilcornan, Clarinbridge, County Galway; when a decision is likely to be reached on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60215/22]

Disability Services

Noel Grealish

541. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of a plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60248/22]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

232. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable and social houses that are due to be completed within the next two years, by local authority; the number of affordable and social houses completed in the past two years, by each local authority area; the number of affordable and social houses for which planning permission is currently sought; the projected dates of completion, by each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60102/22]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

233. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses in new developments purchased by local councils and housing agencies in each of the past three years, broken down by local authority area; the number of houses purchased by local councils and housing agencies in new developments, where such purchases represented 50% or more of the total development, by council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60103/22]

Departmental Strategies

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm that he will publish the national hydrogen strategy before the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58947/22]

Aviation Industry

Noel Grealish

196. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the plans that he has to initiate domestic development and production of sustainable aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58948/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

584. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions for assault on a garda in each of the past five years; and is she plans to bring forward legislation in regard to stronger maximum sentences and penalties for those found guilty of assaulting members of An Garda Síochána. [59335/22]

Electric Vehicles

Noel Grealish

165. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the grants that are available for a bus operator to purchase a 100% electric, 70-seater bus; if grants are available for bus operators to install electric charging points; if grants are available for bus operators to operate 100% electric busses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58629/22]

Education Schemes

Noel Grealish

413. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made on the consultation process for the free schoolbooks scheme announced in Budget 2023; the categories of stakeholders that she intends to engage with as part of this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58123/22]

Education Schemes

Noel Grealish

414. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the timelines for the implementation of the consultation process on the free schoolbooks scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58124/22]

Education Schemes

Noel Grealish

415. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education when she expects to provide details to a range of stakeholders including parents and schools as to the way that the free schoolbooks scheme announced in Budget 2023 will operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58125/22]

Disability Services

Noel Grealish

708. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting services in network 4 of the community disability network teams, broken down by the age of children and the number of years that they are waiting for services; the total cumulative annual hours of service provision to this cohort of children in the children’s disability network team 4 Spiddal for the years 2020 to 2021, including the allocated and utilised budget in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57990/22]

Departmental Priorities

Noel Grealish

140. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 21 April 2021, if consultants have been appointed for the purposes of providing a pedestrian footbridge over the Owenriff river in Oughterard; when he expects this work to commence; when the work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57071/22]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

206. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the status of the working group to consider the taxation of funds, life assurance policies and other investment products, as mentioned during his budget 2023 speech; if he will provide the names of the working group membership; if representatives of the insurance and brokerage industries will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56416/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Noel Grealish

226. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of payments made for all public sector pensions, including Civil Service pensions, over the past five years, in tabular form; the projected cost for these over the next five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56415/22]

Vacant Properties

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects that the vacant property refurbishment grant will be extended to houses outside of settlements of 400 persons, to which the scheme was originally confined; the properties that will be eligible under the expanded scheme; the expected level of increase in applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56413/22]

Vacant Properties

Noel Grealish

280. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received and the number approved, by local authority area, for the vacant property refurbishment grant; the total expenditure on the scheme to date; and the anticipated expenditure in 2023. [56414/22]

Housing Policy

Noel Grealish

296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria for a local authority to purchase a house in cases in which the house is for sale on the open market and is currently occupied by a person who is on the housing waiting list and who is not in receipt of other State supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56694/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

474. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda vehicles in the Galway division, by station and type of vehicle, currently and in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56409/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

475. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda vehicles in each division, by type of vehicle, currently and in each of the past ten years. [56410/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Noel Grealish

552. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the plans he is putting in place to ensure the availability of the FreeStyle Libre 2 device in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56406/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Noel Grealish

553. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will ringfence funding under the diabetes care envelope in budget 2023 to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56407/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Noel Grealish

554. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to remove the age restriction on Freestyle Libre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56408/22]

Trade Agreements

Noel Grealish

614. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans for a sanitary agreement (details supplied) to be established between Ireland and Algeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56412/22]

Control of Horses

Noel Grealish

627. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the review of control of horses legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56693/22]

Agriculture Industry

Noel Grealish

345. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the period to spread slurry given that the inclement weather has prevented farmers from completing the task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54109/22]

Departmental Schemes

Noel Grealish

376. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any insurance scheme or support provided by the Government to help owners of thatched cottages to insure their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54500/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Noel Grealish

1034. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when front-line workers will receive the payment given that on his visit to Galway on 21 October 2022, he stated that contract services front-line workers who worked in hospital settings should receive the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54636/22]

Legislative Measures

Noel Grealish

162. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the expected impact of the Sick Leave Act 2022; the number of businesses that currently pay sick pay for a medically certified absence; the number of businesses that do not; the number of employees currently entitled and not entitled to sick pay for a medically-certified absence due to an illness; the employment sectors that are least likely to pay an employee who has a medically-certified certificate of illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53425/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Noel Grealish

270. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clearly outline the maximum lump sum and pension benefits payable for civil and public service retirees in all grades from junior to senior; if there are caps on any part of applicable pensions whether a retiree is in a junior or senior grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52810/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Noel Grealish

682. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when staff who worked in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic period will receive their €1,000 bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53396/22]

Health Services

Noel Grealish

326. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the Government will call for an extension of medical device directive certificates (details supplied) until the notified body capacity is resolved, in order to maintain patient access to vital medtech that are already safely in use in the market, given that as much as 85% of the 500,000 devices covered under the previous medical devices directive are yet to be certified under the new MDR due to bottlenecks in the overburdened notified bodies system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52494/22]

Energy Conservation

Noel Grealish

185. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will introduce a grant towards the purchase of battery units for solar panels, which provide electricity at night-time and create the opportunity to sell excess solar electricity to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51322/22]

Energy Conservation

Noel Grealish

186. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of companies currently acting as one-stop-shops for retrofitting of homes under the Government’s energy upgrade scheme; the criteria that must be met by a company to obtain such a status; if he expects their numbers to increase in the near future; if he will allow more smaller private contractors to get involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51323/22]

Energy Conservation

Noel Grealish

187. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current expected waiting time for a home to avail of a deep retrofit under the national home energy upgrade scheme, by county; the main causes of delays in homes being able to avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51324/22]

Energy Conservation

Noel Grealish

188. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current average cost of a deep retrofit under the national home energy upgrade scheme; if he intends to further increase grant-aid to counter the rapidly rising costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51325/22]

Energy Conservation

Noel Grealish

189. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications that have been received to date for grant-aid towards deep retrofitting of homes, by county; the number of grants that have been paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51326/22]

Driver Licences

Noel Grealish

253. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if there is a system in place where a person who travels extensively for work and needs to exchange their UK driving licence for an Irish driving licence can retain the UK licence until the Irish licence is printed to enable them to continue to travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51893/22]

Planning Issues

Noel Grealish

347. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the 31 local authorities that have housing applications lodged with An Bord Pleanála; the number of housing applications lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51755/22]

School Transport

Noel Grealish

463. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to change or remove the upper age limit for driving a school bus from 70 years of age; if he will increase the number of bus drivers eligible to drive a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51754/22]

Health Service Executive

Noel Grealish

718. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has plans to set targets for green procurement in 2022 and in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51321/22]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

789. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the drugs pentoxyphylline and clasteon are available in Ireland; if so, if there is a shortage of these drugs; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that doctors are prescribing these drugs that are in short supply; if a person who has been prescribed these drugs from a doctor in an Irish hospital can seek a prescription to obtain these drugs from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51756/22]

Primary Medical Certificates

Noel Grealish

213. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 414 of 8 September 2022, the status of the disabled drivers' medical board of appeal; if a new board has been appointed; when it will commence hearing appeals; the estimated timeframe to clear the backlog of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50812/22]

Forestry Sector

Noel Grealish

472. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if felling licences which were issued in 2019 can be extended for another year, given that Covid-19 restrictions prevented felling taking place for large parts of 2020, and that there is now a backlog and waiting lists for contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50813/22]

Departmental Funding

Noel Grealish

185. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the funding allocations for the Western Lakes draft management plan for loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49769/22]

International Agreements

Noel Grealish

281. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance his views on suggestions from the European Commission and some European Union member states that an enhanced cooperation procedure should be used for the implementation in the EU of pillar two of the OECD agreement on international taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50283/22]

International Agreements

Noel Grealish

282. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that the use of an enhanced cooperation procedure at EU level in the realm of taxation would impinge on the ability of Ireland and other small EU member states to retain their sovereignty over taxation matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50284/22]

Wildlife Protection

Noel Grealish

319. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the regulations which he recently made to protect the basking shark cetorhinus maximus under Section 23(2)(a) of the Wildlife Act 1976, entitled the Wildlife Act 1976 (Protection of Wild Animals) Regulations 2022, can be policed and enforced by Inland Fisheries Ireland out to the 12-mile jurisdictional limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49770/22]