Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

172. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the Reserve Defence Force recruitment competition; the number of recruitment liaison officers currently working on the reserve recruitment competition; the Reserve Defence Force's role in the future plans for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11337/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

173. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to clarify whether personnel leaving the Permanent Defence Force are able to join the Reserve Defence Force while retaining the rank they previously held in the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

174. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to comment on the medical resources currently assigned to the Reserve Defence Force and the issues highlighted in the past with a lack of resourcing resulting in slow progression of applications; what measure he will take to ensure efficient progression of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

175. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the work undertaken by the Office of Reserve Affairs to strengthen the Reserve Defence Force; the number of staff currently working in the Office of Reserve Affairs; the number of vacancies currently within the Office of Reserve Affairs; to clarify whether the Office of Reserve Affairs will only be staffed by current and former Defence Forces personnel or also civilian staff; the timeline on the delivery of the Office of Reserve Affairs regeneration plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11340/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

176. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider changing the application for former Defence Forces members to join First Line Reserve and extending the window of opportunity in which former members could apply rather than only being asked during their retirement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11341/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

177. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason he believes the number of former officers who were members of the Defence Forces First Line Reserve dropped sharply since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11342/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

178. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the plans to assign representatives of the Defence Forces to Irish embassies around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11343/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

179. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of personnel and their rank assigned to the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11344/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

180. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of vacancies and, at what rank, there were in the Defence Forces Medical Corps annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11345/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

181. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of applications made to join either the general service or cadet ranks of the Army, Naval Service or Air Corps in 2023 and up to the present date in 2024; how many of these applicants were invited to take part in training; how many of these trainees completed their training; the rank at which they were commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11346/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

182. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of people currently employed within his Department highlighting their grade; how many vacancies there currently are within his Department, highlighting their grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

183. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the recent increase in the age limit entry requirement for An Garda Síochána, if he will consider increasing the age limit entry requirements to join the Defence Forces, for both general service and cadetships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11348/24]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Patrick Costello

184. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the responsibilities that Minister of State at the Department of Defence currently has within the Defence remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11349/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

378. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the families of those affected by the Cherry Orchard Hospital move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11327/24]

Hospital Services

Patrick Costello

379. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health his views on the scope and significance of the structural problems identified by HIQA within Cherry Orchard Hospital; and to outline timeline on when and how they will be addressed. [11328/24]

Assisted Decision-Making

Patrick Costello

380. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if residents were afforded the opportunity to avail of the Assisted Decision Making Act, which became law in April 2023; if not, the reason this did not happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11329/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

381. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health how many vacant units there are within the Cherry Orchard Hospital facility; how many of these could have been used to house residents whilst works were ongoing; what is the current state of repair of any vacant units onsite; how long have these units been vacant; how much would it cost to bring these units back into use and whether this is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11330/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

382. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to outline the other plans considered by the HSE to address the works required which would have allowed residents to remain on-site during completion of works in the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital; why these plans were deemed to be unworkable; when these decisions were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11331/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

383. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health to outline what will happen to the staff members assigned to the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital for the duration of the move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11332/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

384. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Covid outbreak in Cherry Orchard Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11333/24]

Hospital Facilities

Patrick Costello

385. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health how many of the residents from the Sycamore and Willow Units Cherry Orchard Hospital have passed away since residents were given notice of the move in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11334/24]

Control of Dogs

Patrick Costello

439. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report 2023 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11225/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

124. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of dedicated funding that will be provided to each local authority to monitor and enforce the smoky coal ban and any future solid fuel regulations as part of the clean air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10503/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

125. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the forthcoming Clean Air Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

126. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the maximum fine administered for breaches under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10505/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions reported by local authorities in each of the years 2019 to 2023, and to date in 2024, under the updated Solid Fuel Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/24]

Energy Conservation

Patrick Costello

128. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the updated average cost for retrofitting a social housing unit as part of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10509/24]

Energy Conservation

Patrick Costello

129. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes retrofitted, and heat pumps installed to date as part of the national retrofitting programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10510/24]

Waste Management

Patrick Costello

130. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the public consultation on disposable vaping devices; the timeline for the proposed ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution or free offer of disposable vaping devices under the Waste Management Act, 1996, Section 28(4)(i); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10512/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

131. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 22 November 2023, if he can provide an update on new legislation to strengthen the enforcement powers of local authorities to support increased compliance with the air quality regulations, particularly given recent reports that the regulations are being flouted in some towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10514/24]

Electric Vehicles

Patrick Costello

188. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the total number of electric vehicles in Ireland to date in 2024; the number of electric vehicles registered annually over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10492/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

189. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of cars and percentage of the national vehicle fleet powered by fossil fuels in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10493/24]

Road Safety

Patrick Costello

190. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of schools enrolled in the safe routes to school in 2023 and to date in 2024; the number of schools waiting to be enrolled; the breakdown of the number of schools enrolled in the programme by each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10494/24]

Road Safety

Patrick Costello

191. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the level of funding that has been allocated to the safe routes to school programme in 2024; the number of schools that are availing of the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10495/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

192. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport which local authorities have drawn down funding to establish active travel teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10496/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

193. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport which local authorities have active travel teams in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10497/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

194. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the 248 new posts for active travel teams in local authorities by county, in tabular form; the number that have been filled to date; the number of vacancies at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

195. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the amount each county council has drawn down from its allocated active travel funding in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10499/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

196. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the amount of the €290 million allocated to walking and cycling infrastructure in 2023 that has been spent; if he will provide a breakdown of where the funding has been spent to date in each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10500/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

197. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown of the €290 million assigned to walking and cycling that has been allocated to each county council; if he will provide information on the amount of funding that has been spent to date in 2023 by each county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10501/24]

Public Transport

Patrick Costello

198. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the total cost arising from the reduced 20% public transport fares to the public and the reduced 50% public transport to students and young people under 24 years of age nationwide; if he is considering making the reduction permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10502/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

225. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications under the cycle-to-work scheme in 2023 and to date in 2024; if he will provide a breakdown between the number of bicycles, pedelecs, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10486/24]

Active Travel

Patrick Costello

226. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance his views on expanding the reach of the bike-to-work scheme beyond PAYE workers to everyone, including employers, sole traders, students, jobseekers, disabled, unpaid home-work and the retired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10487/24]

Tax Data

Patrick Costello

227. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the amount of category A vehicles that were charged with the nitrogen dioxide emissions levy in 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024; the revenue raised each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10488/24]

Tax Data

Patrick Costello

228. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised if the current nitrogen dioxide levy was doubled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10489/24]

Tax Data

Patrick Costello

229. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised annually if the current nitrogen dioxide levy was applied to both categories A and B vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10490/24]

Tax Data

Patrick Costello

230. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised if the carbon tax was doubled and the 2030 levy target was doubled to €200 per tonne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10491/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Patrick Costello

451. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for the fuel allowance; the number of refusals for the fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10513/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

557. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of special care places nationwide; the number of children currently on the special care waiting list; how many special care orders are active for children who are not currently able to access special care; what is the plan to tackle the growing waiting list for special care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10189/24]

National Cultural Institutions

Patrick Costello

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the proposed national centre for research and remembrance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9191/24]