Parliamentary questions

Broadcasting Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

79. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Government is committed to ensuring there will be no diminution in the quality and offering of public service broadcasting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53637/23]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the film industry stakeholder forum will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53634/23]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

92. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how the film industry stakeholder forum will be instituted and who will be invited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53635/23]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

168. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the reason the 7.45 a.m. service on the No. 7 bus from Brides Glen to the city centre is cancelled so frequently (details supplied); if the matter will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53349/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

475. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will remove the requirement for childcare providers to provide a separate set of financial records to the ones filed with the Revenue Commissioners in the core funding model (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53433/23]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

204. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he believes the actions of the Israeli Government with regard to the onslaught in Gaza should be referred to the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50268/23]

Official Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

216. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what efforts he has made with the Israeli Government to end the onslaught in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50267/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

383. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) is receiving a reduced rate of social welfare of €129.70; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52213/23]

Alcohol Sales

Richard Boyd Barrett

415. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice to report on the general scheme of Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, which seeks to reform alcohol licensing legislation in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52136/23]

Family Reunification

Richard Boyd Barrett

420. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the options for Irish citizens who have family members in Gaza in terms of refugee or family reunification programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52374/23]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance his views and recommendations with regard to introducing a wealth tax;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51575/23]

Inflation Rate

Richard Boyd Barrett

100. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the basis of his projection for inflation in 2024 of 2.9% when the annual inflation rate in September was 6.4%, and has been increasing recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46961/23]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

107. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has reviewed the report on Section 481 tax relief from the Budget Scrutiny Committee; what actions he is planning in relation to the recommendations from that report, in particular those with regard to quality employment and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51574/23]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

108. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is planning to implement the recommendations of the report on Section 481 tax relief from the Budget Scrutiny Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51573/23]

Family Reunification

Richard Boyd Barrett

183. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if there is any expedition for families applying for reunification of their family members in Gaza who cannot access original documents as necessary in usual circumstances given this is an abnormal situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50364/23]

Ukraine War

Richard Boyd Barrett

219. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the options that are available for Ukrainian families when host family can no longer accommodate them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50365/23]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

84. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for details surrounding a "military photoshoot" conducted on Knockfierna hill in Limerick on 14 October; what measures the Defence Forces have in place to inform the public that soldiers dressed in military equipment, carrying real or replica rifles and other firearms, are carrying out drills in areas open to the public so that they are not surprised by the apparent sight of armed individuals on patrol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49558/23]

Taxi Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive their SPSV licence, given that they applied over seven months ago, with no information on its status being communicated to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48843/23]

Middle East

Richard Boyd Barrett

126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on the plans and procedures in place to secure safe return home for Irish citizens currently trapped in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48455/23]

State Properties

Richard Boyd Barrett

354. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a complete list of all buildings owned by the State or any of the State agencies across Dún Laoghaire, Rathdown; and the occupancy rates and status of each. [47698/23]

School Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

561. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made on a report she received proposing the introduction of a teacher relocation scheme; what her plans are going forward in addressing this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48720/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

604. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider including those who wish to down-size to free up a family size home in the 'fresh start' principle for local authority affordable purchase housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47437/23]

Equality Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

1062. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made on the report he plans to publish summarising submissions regarding discrimination on the basis of disadvantaged socioeconomic status under the Employment Equality Act 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48366/23]

Nursing Homes

Richard Boyd Barrett

1126. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether the standard of care in private care homes, as well as the standard of training and vetting of staff, are the same as the standards employed in HSE-run care homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47428/23]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

1382. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the meaning of 'irreconcilably estranged' in the context of proof of independence from parents for a SUSI grant application; and what proof will be accepted in the absence of involvement of Tusla, a social worker or the courts; whether an affidavit from a solicitor will be accepted as proof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47422/23]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

1386. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to accept that those over the age of 23 years are not living at home as independent of their parents, regardless of the type of accommodation or the length of time living way from home. [47521/23]

Budget 2024

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is considering a revision to budget 2024, given the context of the wide range of inflation projections for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46960/23]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

27. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he expects to revise his allocation of capital spending across any Departments in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46959/23]

Budget 2024

Richard Boyd Barrett

32. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he expects to revise funding for any public services in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46958/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the basis on which he decided to increase capital expenditure by only €250 million in 2024, given the large surpluses in the public finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47028/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

244. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to ban log imports following the confirmation of the spruce bark beetle (ips typographus) in Scotland; if so, the date he will bring in the ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47172/23]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

196. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if there has been any reduction in the VAT rate applied to sports and fitness classes in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46309/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Boyd Barrett

279. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education how a person (details supplied) can take a matter further as advised by the Board of Education when their daughter who is legally blind was refused a place on the basis that she could not complete the visual part of the entry assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46324/23]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether she supports the calls of representatives of actors, writers and directors for an end to use of buy-out contracts by film producers as a condition for those producers continuing to receive public funding for film productions in Ireland. [45792/23]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress she has made in convening the film industry stakeholder forum as recommended in the recent report by the budget oversight and scrutiny committee on section 481 film tax credit and the Irish film industry. [45790/23]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

59. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what further actions, if any, has she taken to address the concerns repeatedly raised by representatives of actors, writers, directors and film crews in relation to their remuneration, conditions and contracts of employment and the failure of film producers in receipt of public funding to meet the requirement of quality employment and training. [45791/23]

Film Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what action, if any, she intends to take to ensure recognition of service of film crew in the Irish film industry and to address the vulnerability of film crew to black-balling given the ongoing use of successive fixed-term contracts for the employment of crew by film producers who are in receipt of public funding for film production. [45793/23]

Third Level Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address precarious work in third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45702/23]

Budget 2024

Richard Boyd Barrett

150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount that has been allocated in Budget 2024 to student accommodation; the number of units this will supply; how he will ensure the affordability of this accommodation for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45699/23]

Education Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

151. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science considering the chronic shortage of skilled labour, the reason he chose to reduce fees by only €1,000 and to make this only a once-off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45700/23]

State Properties

Richard Boyd Barrett

148. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a complete list of all buildings owned by the State or any of the State agencies across Dún Laoghaire Rathdown; the occupancy rates and status of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43681/23]

Rental Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

268. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the scale of no-reason evictions being carried out by a corporate landlord (details supplied) in Dublin in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43656/23]

Rental Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

269. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of the scale of no-reason evictions being carried out by other corporate landlords in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43657/23]

Rental Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

270. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to amend the law to offer protections to people whose pre-June 2022 tenancies are terminated by landlords refusing to offer further part-four tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43658/23]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

271. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to allow compulsory purchase of residential properties in circumstances, consistent with section 43.2 of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43659/23]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

59. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport what plans he has to increase frequency on existing routes and expand the number of routes and reduce fares, in light of the climate and cost-of-living crises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43120/23]

Bus Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport what plans he has to resolve the ongoing problems with the 59 bus route and many other Go Ahead routes; his views on whether it is now time to reabsorb these routes back into the Dublin Bus network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43119/23]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

103. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will announce in budget 2024 the abolition of the universal social charge for those earning under €100,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43154/23]

Budget 2024

Richard Boyd Barrett

127. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering additional tax measures in budget 2024 on information and communication companies, including social media and digital streaming companies, to fund public broadcasting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43150/23]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering any changes to the tax treatment of REITs and other property-related investment vehicles in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43151/23]