Parliamentary questions

Departmental Staff

Ged Nash

206. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in his Department work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if they will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3240/24]

Departmental Staff

Ged Nash

207. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in agencies and bodies directly under his aegis who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in relevant agencies and bodies work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if he will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3258/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Ged Nash

225. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in his Department work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if they will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3239/24]

Departmental Staff

Ged Nash

226. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in agencies and bodies directly under his aegis who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in relevant agencies and bodies work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if he will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3257/24]

Departmental Staff

Ged Nash

231. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in her Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in her Department work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if they will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3244/24]

Departmental Staff

Ged Nash

232. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in agencies and bodies directly under her aegis who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in relevant agencies and bodies work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if she will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3262/24]

Mining Industry

Ged Nash

233. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on correspondence (details supplied) from a union in relation to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2350/24]

Departmental Reports

Ged Nash

664. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1740 of 17 January 2024, when he will publish ‘Monitoring and Evaluating the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A report from the Public Health Alcohol Research Group 2020-2022’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/24]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

109. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and SEAI will consider a system of deposit guarantees or a form of a bond system to protect consumers who place significant deposits with solar panel providers and installers and to guard against such businesses going out of business; if he is aware of any significant providers or installers having gone out of business in 2023 and where customers lost deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1119/24]

Marine Accidents

Ged Nash

199. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the steps the Marine Survey Office is taking to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sinking of a fishing vessel off the coast of Louth on 15 December 2023 which resulted in the death of one fisher and injuries to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56821/23]

Public Transport

Ged Nash

287. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of difficulties being experienced in the replacement of Leap Cards for students, including in the case of a student (details supplied); if he intends to reform the system or make improvements in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1597/24]

Departmental Legal Cases

Ged Nash

314. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the total amount in legal costs that have been recovered by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor following an award of costs in favour of a party represented by the office in court or tribunal proceedings in each of the five years up to and including 2022; how many sets of proceedings to which those recovered costs are referable in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56566/23]

Office of Public Works

Ged Nash

379. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the attention of the OPW has been drawn to a possible bequest to the State of a property with a view to securing the property for cultural and heritage use (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56534/23]

Business Supports

Ged Nash

412. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he is considering designing such a scheme as suggested in the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56688/23]

School Funding

Ged Nash

666. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if all applications made by schools for funding under the STEM grant awards announced in December 2023 were fully read and objectively assessed by her Department; the reason her Department used a lottery system to allocate funding under this scheme; if she will accept that the scheme is underfunded based on the level of applications; if she plans to revisit the scheme and to make additional resources available to it based on clear demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1624/24]

Special Educational Needs

Ged Nash

693. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the reason an additional specific new-build autism classroom will not be developed at a school (details supplied) for four to five years; the reason her Department will not permit the addition of high standard prefabricated or modular alternatives to allow the school to meet local demand; if she will review this urgent situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2098/24]

Public Sector Pay

Ged Nash

898. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on proposals submitted to her Department by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform as referred to in correspondence (details supplied) containing proposals formulated in the Tripartite Forum involving trade unions representing Tús and RSS supervisors, ILDN and Department of Social Protection officials in relation to the question of pay parity for Tús and RSS supervisors with their equivalents (community employment supervisors); when a decision will be made by her officials on the proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57018/23]

An Garda Síochána

Ged Nash

1007. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which An Garda Síochána and the PSNI co-operate on joint training exercises and systems; if both police services are considering any alignment on training practices and courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56471/23]

Residency Permits

Ged Nash

1017. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 430 of 26 September 2023, to provide an update on the matter following this Deputy’s subsequent letter on this urgent issue to her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56591/23]

Legislative Programme

Ged Nash

1021. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when she expects the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 to be signed into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56687/23]

Residency Permits

Ged Nash

1122. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when a response will issue to written correspondence to her office on 27 November 2023 from the office of this Deputy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1638/24]

International Protection

Ged Nash

1446. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2007/24]

Departmental Projects

Ged Nash

1740. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the current status and work of the Public Health Alcohol Research Group; when a report will issue from the group; if he intends to publish the group’s report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1636/24]

Departmental Projects

Ged Nash

1741. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the mechanisms in place for the monitoring and evaluation of outcomes of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1637/24]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

154. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is prepared to address a policy anomaly in respect of the SEAI solar PV scheme that has seen the exclusion of an individual (details supplied) and potential other homeowners from access to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55929/23]

Departmental Funding

Ged Nash

298. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to confirm that relevant qualifying media organisations will be in a position to draw down funding from the recently announced local democracy reporting scheme and the court reporting scheme before the local and European Parliament elections in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55898/23]

Nuclear Plants

Ged Nash

171. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the Government was first made aware of reported leaks from the Magnox swarf storage silo, MSSS, at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria (details supplied); if the Government was formally notified of the issue by the UK authorities; the actions the Government has taken in order to make the company and the UK authorities accountable for the matter; what if any actions the UK authorities have taken arising from any intervention from the Irish Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55134/23]

Business Supports

Ged Nash

290. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of SME insolvencies recorded to 1 December 2023; the numbers for 2021 and 2022 respectively; the number of SMEs that utilised the SCARP process to 1 December 2023 and separately for 2022; the proportion of businesses that used the SCARP process and that restructured and emerged successfully from that process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54884/23]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Ged Nash

291. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to request from the CRO information on the number of SMEs, broken down by sole traders; limited companies; partnerships; and other relevant structures, that formally ceased trading in 2021, 2022 and 2023; if that information will be provided by defined economic sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54887/23]

Library Services

Ged Nash

881. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a request has been made by Louth County Council for capital funding to develop the former Dominican Order church on Dominic Street, Drogheda, County Louth, into a local authority library facility; if she will confirm the status of any request that has been made; when a decision will be taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54442/23]

School Funding

Ged Nash

206. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the name and location of all the schools that applied for funding under the summer works scheme in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; if she will provide a list of all the schools that successfully secured funding in those years under the scheme; the value of the summer works scheme grant for each respective project, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53356/23]

Trade Agreements

Ged Nash

66. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can give a report on the recent WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade meeting of November 2023 and matters regarding Ireland's law requiring health warnings on alcohol products on, or before, May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53925/23]

Health Services

Ged Nash

159. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he plans to ensure the integration of spinal muscular atrophy screening in the heel prick test before the end of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53924/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

101. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied). [53063/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

102. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form. [53064/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

103. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied). [53065/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Ged Nash

239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if the Summer Works Programme is currently open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53355/23]

School Funding

Ged Nash

260. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education why there has been no new Summer Works Scheme since 2019; the number of Summer Works Schemes applications received in 2019 and since 2019 which are awaiting approval, broken down on a county-by-county basis, and under the primary and post-primary headings; if she will provide an update on the number of projects, broken down on a county-by-county basis, and under the primary and post-primary headings, that have been largely completed each year since 2019 out to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53783/23]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

273. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the names of businesses that applied for a scheme (details supplied); how much has been allocated to each of the successful applicants in County Louth, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53247/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

253. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53053/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

254. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53073/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

255. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53090/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

264. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53051/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

265. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53071/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

266. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53088/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

271. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53048/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53068/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

273. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53085/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

288. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53062/23]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

289. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53082/23]