Parliamentary questions

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

355. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current length of time it takes for housing assistance payments (HAP) to be made to a landlord, when a qualified tenant takes up occupancy of a rented house; the current average length of delays in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7994/24]

Legal Services Regulation

Noel Grealish

427. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice what progress has been made in establishing the conveyancing profession; when the results from the Legal Services Regulatory Authority report on the matter will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7696/24]

Legal Services Regulation

Noel Grealish

428. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice what actions she is taking to address delays in the property purchasing processes pertaining to conveyancing; if she will consider implementing a seller's legal pack under the Bill of the same name, or a similar measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7697/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Noel Grealish

593. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health what an individual, who is employed in a private company, but worked on a contract in a clinical setting in a hospital during the peak of the Covid pandemic can do in order to apply for the Covid bonus when their employer refuses to lodge an application on their behalf, but they meet the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7850/24]

Community Development Projects

Noel Grealish

654. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when applications for the new Community Recognition Fund 2024 will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7502/24]

Climate Action Plan

Noel Grealish

159. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when five-year contract positions for the post of climate action officer and climate action coordinator in local authorities will be converted to permanent positions for those staff who have been appointed, particularly considering all those employed during the course of 2023 will have their employment contracts expire in 2028, the year prior to the end of the lifetime of the Local Authority Climate Action Plan (2024-2029), and before 2030 targets will have been measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7114/24]

Road Safety

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport how much funding was allocated to Bóthar Dhoirefhearta, Carraroe, County Galway, in 2021, 2022 and 2023; if any funding allocated was unused; if so, what happened to this unused funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7115/24]

School Transport

Noel Grealish

192. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she will increase the upper age limit for school bus drivers from 70 to 75 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7117/24]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

193. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7118/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Noel Grealish

444. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons that are in receipt of a reduced rate of disability allowance as a result of a legacy pension following the death of a parent, and the disability allowance is reduced on a euro for euro amount, did not qualify for any bonus or cost of living payment, given that they are still only in receipt of an income up to the maximum rate of disability allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6334/24]

Commemorative Medals

Noel Grealish

53. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider awarding 1916 commemorative medals to veterans of the Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5713/24]

Road Safety

Noel Grealish

67. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if permanent speed cameras and driver feedback signs can be erected on the main N84 in Cloonboo village, County Galway to try to reduce speeding in the 50kmp/h zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5131/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Noel Grealish

130. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will retain the current link between pensions of retired members of An Garda Síochána with pay for serving members, which was previously agreed with all staff associations and was scheduled to change at the end of January 2024 to a link between pensions and the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5482/24]

Rental Sector

Noel Grealish

245. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps a landlord needs to take to avail of the landlord guarantee scheme (details supplied); how long the scheme will operate when a tenant does not make their contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4976/24]

Pension Provisions

Noel Grealish

503. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for processing pensions for recently retired staff in the HSE, particularly in the CHO2 district; the steps being taken to speed up the processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5132/24]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

313. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if changes to the tenant incremental purchase scheme, which come into force on 29 January 2024, mean that tenants of Part V houses can purchase their homes under the tenant incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3615/24]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

314. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many houses have been purchased, broken down by each local authority, under the tenant-in-situ scheme; how much money has been allocated to each local authority for purchasing houses under this scheme for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3617/24]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

326. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an individual can apply for the vacant home refurbishment grant if they have already started renovation works prior to applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Noel Grealish

364. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if her officials have been in discussions with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding a policy to have local authorities authorise works/ purchases under the exceptional needs/additional needs payments applications for individuals who have recently been allocated local authority properties, if this is a requirement to qualify for an exceptional needs/additional needs payment in these circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3616/24]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

183. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric buses purchased by the NTA in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; the overall investment made; if all of these buses are currently in operation; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56575/23]