Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 37 of 42
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
written
Covid-19 Pandemic
Patrick Costello
313. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if persons living in temporary accommodation due to household construction are exempt from level 5 restrictions banning construction. [11989/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Social and Affordable Housing
Patrick Costello
329. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the person or body with responsibility for the cost of repairs in circumstances in which poor building standards are subsequently exposed post-purchase from an affordable housing scheme facilitated by a council; and if responsibility lies with the owner of the unit, the developer of the property or the council facilitating the scheme. [11302/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Cross-Border Co-operation
Patrick Costello
356. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the implementation of each point of Annex B: Irish Government Commitments in the New Decade, New Approach agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11037/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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DEIS Scheme
Patrick Costello
427. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will commit to a reduction in class size at all class levels in DEIS band one schools. [11297/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Teacher Training
Patrick Costello
499. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the commitment in action 31 of the national migrant integration strategy to review the effectiveness of training for teachers on managing diversity and tackling racism; the proportion of teachers that have received such training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11991/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
573. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of play therapists and child art psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla by local health office, LHO. [11002/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
574. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla by LHO. [11003/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
575. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals to outside therapeutic services not including CAMHS by Tusla in 2019, by LHO. [11004/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
576. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals to outside therapeutic services not including CAMHS by Tusla in 2020, by LHO. [11005/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
577. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by Tusla on external therapeutic services in 2019 and 2020, by LHO for each year. [11006/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Departmental Strategies
Patrick Costello
611. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the commitment in action 61 of the National Migrant Integration Strategy for all Departments and agencies to provide intercultural awareness training; if staff in each Department and agency have been offered this training; the proportion of staff in each Department and agency that have done this training in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11993/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Garda Strength
Patrick Costello
662. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí stationed at Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Kilmainham, Sundrive Road and Terenure stations by rank in tabular form. [11090/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Residency Permits
Patrick Costello
697. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on the commitment in action 11 of the National Migrant Integration Strategy to introduce a statutory scheme for long-term residency; when such a scheme is expected to commence; the criteria that will apply to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11990/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Patrick Costello
853. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if therapeutic horse-riding sessions for children with autism is allowed to continue under level 5 restrictions; and if families can travel outside the designated 5 km limit to avail of such services. [11529/21]
Wed, 3 Mar 2021
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Vaccination Programme
Patrick Costello
856. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if persons with disabilities will be prioritised on the Covid-19 vaccination list; the progress of vaccinations for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11541/21]
Thu, 25 Feb 2021
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School Curriculum
Patrick Costello
166. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education her Department's policy on distributing homework to primary school students; if studies have been conducted on the matter; the appropriate levels; and if she will look at re-evaluating homework in view of the onset of remote learning. [10737/21]
Thu, 25 Feb 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
202. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of psychotherapists, family therapists, filial therapists and counsellors directly employed by Tusla by Tusla area and service or team they are working in. [10926/21]
Thu, 25 Feb 2021
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Child and Family Agency
Patrick Costello
203. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of play therapists, drama therapists, dance therapists and child art psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla by Tusla area and service or team they are working in. [10927/21]
Thu, 25 Feb 2021
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Vaccination Programme
Patrick Costello
292. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE have a policy on which the Covid-19 vaccine is administered to persons, for example, which takes into account existing medical conditions such as gastrointestinal side effects. [10731/21]
Wed, 24 Feb 2021
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Animal Welfare
Patrick Costello
284. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions taken by his Department and his predecessor in relation to 2018 whistleblowing reports of euthanasia being carried out by a controlled drug at a dog pound (details supplied); and the structures put in place to prevent future replication of same. [9416/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Brexit Issues
Patrick Costello
10. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the post-Brexit reality of the application of the rules of origin laws that sees Irish bread producers facing higher production costs than their UK counterparts due to having to import flour that is not being milled domestically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7976/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Housing Policy
Patrick Costello
247. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the referendum on the right to housing will be held in accordance with the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7851/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Direct Provision System
Patrick Costello
533. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the confidential freephone support service for residents in direct provision has been shared with all residents; if so, the way in which it has been shared; and if not, if he will correspond with each resident with details of the freephone number. [8416/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Children in Care
Patrick Costello
541. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider enshrining independent advocacy services in legislation to help protect children and young persons in care from abuse and poor practice, further to more than 20 investigations or reports over the past three decades into the State’s ability to adequately protect children in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8692/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Care Services
Patrick Costello
542. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending the age of aftercare to 26 years of age on a needs assessed basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8693/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Departmental Reviews
Patrick Costello
543. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the recommendation made more than 12 years ago by the report of the commission to inquire into child abuse that a longitudinal study be carried out over ten years, which would follow young persons who leave care in order to map their transition into adulthood, will be implemented given that a working group has been set up in his Department to advise on this objective but with no clear timeline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8694/21]
Wed, 17 Feb 2021
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Garda Data
Patrick Costello
602. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of districts and divisions of An Garda Síochána that have protective services units; and the number of personnel assigned to each, in tabular form. [8228/21]
Thu, 11 Feb 2021
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Programme for Government
Patrick Costello
21. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the actions that have been taken to carry through on the commitment in the programme for Government that each local authority will be mandated to carry out an assessment of its road network to examine the reallocation of space for pedestrians and cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7465/21]
Wed, 10 Feb 2021
written
Driver Licences
Patrick Costello
103. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport his plans for asylum seekers to obtain a driver licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6333/21]
Wed, 10 Feb 2021
written
Garda Vetting
Patrick Costello
536. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a legal lacuna (details supplied) which is causing serious issues for early years providers will be addressed; if he will instruct his officials to engage with the relevant officials in the Department of Justice in order to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6389/21]
Wed, 10 Feb 2021
written
Garda Vetting
Patrick Costello
606. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if a legal lacuna (details supplied) will be addressed which is causing serious issues for early years providers; if she will instruct her officials to engage with the relevant officials in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in order to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6388/21]
Wed, 10 Feb 2021
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Forestry Sector
Patrick Costello
1029. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tree felling for the purpose of clearing a site for non-essential construction is or is not deemed to be forestry; and his views on whether it should be classified as construction. [7171/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
Airport Passenger Data
Patrick Costello
88. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the number of incoming passengers at Dublin Airport since 16 January 2021. [5101/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
Covid-19 Tests
Patrick Costello
555. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of not detected PCR tests officials have checked and registered at Dublin Airport since 16 January 2021. [5098/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
Covid-19 Tests
Patrick Costello
556. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has identified fraudulent PCR results presented at Dublin Airport; and if so, the number. [5100/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
European Court of Justice Rulings
Patrick Costello
570. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the details of the pending cases taken by the European Court of Justice against Ireland; and if she will itemise the daily fines pending or being currently levied. [5301/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
Garda Procedures
Patrick Costello
591. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if it is Garda policy to leave the engines of Garda vehicles running while at checkpoints; if the effects of the emissions of these vehicles on the occupational health of members of An Garda Síochána, the health of the public, the cost of fuel to the State and the damage to the environment are assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5797/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
Health Services Staff
Patrick Costello
624. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if community prison links workers can be included in the section 39 pay restoration process. [5045/21]
Wed, 3 Feb 2021
written
Covid-19 Tests
Patrick Costello
632. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to determine if PCR test results are real and not fake. [5099/21]
Thu, 21 Jan 2021
written
School Textbooks
Patrick Costello
173. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if the pilot DEIS schoolbook scheme will be reopened and expanded in 2021 (details supplied). [3026/21]
Wed, 20 Jan 2021
written
Irish Aid
Patrick Costello
257. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the full details in the 2019 annual report of overseas development aid disbursements, that are usually included as annexes in previous reports, are to be published by his Department. [2267/21]
Wed, 20 Jan 2021
written
Covid-19 Tests
Patrick Costello
628. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 729 of 6 October 2020, if he will confirm the PCT cycle thresholds in relation to the range of assays used by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2766/21]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Living City Initiative
Patrick Costello
205. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Finance the amount allocated annually to date to the Dublin City Council living city initiative; and the details of future expansion of funding and the geographic remit within Dublin city as facilitated by departmental funding. [1164/21]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Heritage Sites
Patrick Costello
271. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of tour guides and information officers that have been employed at Kilmainham Gaol since 2000 on an annual basis in tabular form with a distinction made between seasonal, part-time and full-time employees. [1177/21]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Heritage Sites
Patrick Costello
272. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of complaints the Office of Public Works received from staff, past and present, relating to members of management, head guides level and above at Kilmainham Gaol; the outcome of each case; the measures taken on foot of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1178/21]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Heritage Sites
Patrick Costello
273. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the departure of a person (details supplied) from their position of employment in Kilmainham Gaol ; the details of an investigation arising from same; the actions taken on foot of this in terms of on-site measures and any legal criminal action taken against the person; and if the particulars of the case are subject to a FOI request. [1179/21]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Election Monitoring Missions
Patrick Costello
373. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts was assured by Irish Aid officials that an election observers competition fully met public standards when the competition was conducted without an equality section or accommodations for disability; the reason the forms were not marked by a person independent of Irish Aid; the reason almost all marks were allocated on five competencies by serving or retired officials who had no actual experience of election observation; the reason a senior official decided that disability could not be considered in the competition; the reason a formal notice was issued stating the consideration of disability would be unfair to other candidates; the reason the appeal mechanism was only a numerical check of the marks of candidates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45025/20]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Election Monitoring Missions
Patrick Costello
374. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which it is possible for an Irish election observer to obtain top marks in independent tests with the official election bodies of OSCE and EU yet the same tests administered by Irish Aid officials on a candidate (details supplied) placed the candidate much lower than other Irish observers who failed the OSCE and EU tests; his views on whether this suggests flaws in the competition run by his Department; his further views on whether the matter should be independently investigated; if so, if an independent investigation will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45026/20]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Schools Building Projects
Patrick Costello
470. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the timeline of works and proposed opening of a new autism spectrum disorder, ASD, school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1034/21]
Wed, 13 Jan 2021
written
Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
Patrick Costello
715. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if files have been handed over to the UK authorities in relation to investigations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1165/21]