Parliamentary questions

Electric Vehicles

Brian Leddin

116. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider developing a scheme, separate to grants provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, to support home help, home care and domiciliary carers who are car-dependent due to their work to purchase electric vehicles in order to support this sector and contribute to the Government’s climate goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2437/23]

Flood Risk Management

Brian Leddin

158. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost to the Exchequer associated with the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2436/23]

Public Transport

Brian Leddin

72. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the initiatives that he has facilitated, or plans to facilitate, to encourage the engagement of IDA Ireland with Irish Rail and the National Transport Agency to provide public transport services to IDA Ireland parks, such as Raheen industrial estate, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62128/22]

Greyhound Industry

Brian Leddin

681. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dogs in the greyhound racing pool for each of the months January to December 2020 and each of the months January to December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62233/22]

Greyhound Industry

Brian Leddin

682. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has knowledge of the circumstances in which an organisation (details supplied) recently cancelled its contract with Curraheen Park for its Friday evening fixture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62234/22]

Greyhound Industry

Brian Leddin

683. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a feasibility study of the proposed development works at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium has been carried out; if so, the results of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62235/22]

Greyhound Industry

Brian Leddin

684. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a representative of Rásaíocht Con Éireann accompanies consignments of dogs transported to the US as part of the Irish greyhounds to America programme; if so, the amount for each journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62236/22]

Environmental Impact Assessments

Brian Leddin

175. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department's review of the environmental impact assessment regulations; when he expects to bring an updated statutory instrument before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61362/22]

Housing Schemes

Brian Leddin

234. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the retrofit budget on a local authority basis to date in 2022, in tabular form; the quantum of money drawn down on a local authority basis; the houses retrofitted on a local authority basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61478/22]

Housing Schemes

Brian Leddin

235. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the retrofit budget allocation and housing retrofit target on a local authority basis for 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; the quantum of money drawn down in 2019, 2020 and 2021 on a local authority basis, the houses retrofitted in 2019, 2020 and 2021 on a local authority basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61479/22]

Architectural Heritage

Brian Leddin

26. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the range and nationwide impact of the built heritage investment scheme and the historic structures fund; when the next round of funding will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59867/22]

Housing Schemes

Brian Leddin

66. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safeguards that he will put in place to ensure that croí cónaithe aligns with the town centres-first policy and approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59866/22]

Further and Higher Education

Brian Leddin

143. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to develop a policy to address the deficit in sustainable transport and spatial planning expertise, in particular to support level 8 and 9 study programmes in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59860/22]

Climate Change Negotiations

Brian Leddin

81. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding progress stemming from COP27 on climate finance for the developing world for climate mitigation and adaptation measures, including a loss and damage facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57846/22]

National Monuments

Brian Leddin

6. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to make funding streams available to King John's Castle in Limerick, following the recent handover of the castle to Limerick City and County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56959/22]

Ukraine War

Brian Leddin

101. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals from Ukraine who are being housed in private properties where the owner is in receipt of the recognition payment; if he will provide an update on the number of pledged properties which have been deemed suitable for the placement of a person or family from Ukraine; the number of such persons who have been placed in pledged accommodation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56921/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brian Leddin

120. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare services that have signed a core funding contract to date; the average payment to a service under core funding; the aggregate monetary support provided to early years' services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56920/22]

Flood Risk Management

Brian Leddin

93. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress which has been made by the steering group to advance the flood mitigation works at Ballycar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56453/22]

Ports Policy

Brian Leddin

10. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport his plans to develop the port infrastructure here to enable the deployment of offshore wind farms, particularly on the west coast, in view of a report finding that Belfast Harbour is the only port capable of supporting large fixed and floating wind projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55750/22]

Flood Risk Management

Brian Leddin

86. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the progress made by the steering group to advance the flood mitigation works at Ballycar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55751/22]

Electricity Grid

Brian Leddin

31. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to develop strategies to develop grid infrastructure to advance and accelerate the deployment of offshore wind technology off Ireland’s west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55421/22]

Climate Change Policy

Brian Leddin

55. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress of the local authorities’ climate action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55420/22]

Energy Policy

Brian Leddin

142. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to identify the research needs of the emerging hydrogen economy, particularly in the area of economic research; if he will support the development of the hydrogen economy in Ireland and in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51680/22]

Health Services

Brian Leddin

1225. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health his views on restoring home birth services in the mid-west region, following the suspension of such services by the UL Hospitals Group earlier in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55497/22]

Transport Policy

Brian Leddin

36. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that his Department is taking to complement the local government provision of local infrastructure and connectivity enabling sustainable travel, such as public transport, cycling and walking with sustainable travel infrastructure on IDA land banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53875/22]

Departmental Schemes

Brian Leddin

92. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the progress of establishing town teams under the Town Centres First Initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53868/22]

Recycling Policy

Brian Leddin

123. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the progress of the pilot Bike and E-Bike Upcycling Initiative; if she is considering extending the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53856/22]

Live Exports

Brian Leddin

199. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will adopt recommendations by the veterinary official who accompanied a livestock shipment and the recommendations highlighted in the recently published scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority and will not authorise future shipments of livestock when sea temperatures of 25 degrees or above are predicted in view of the extremely high temperatures and humidity during recent shipments to Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53783/22]

Live Exports

Brian Leddin

200. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that he is taking to ensure that cattle are not subjected to temperatures and humidity levels that cause severe heat stress to the animals for a large part of the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53784/22]

Environmental Impact Assessments

Brian Leddin

74. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the current environmental impact assessment, EIA, regulations are fit for purpose as a deterrent against the removal of hedgerows and other on-farm vegetation; if he will revise the regulations to provide for greater environmental protections for rural landholdings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53243/22]

Live Exports

Brian Leddin

82. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a livestock vessel (details supplied) did not dock at Alexandria port on 13 October 2022 as was authorised by him, but instead docked the following day at Damietta port; if he was advised of this change in destination during the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53244/22]

Crime Prevention

Brian Leddin

37. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Justice her plans to bring forward legislation to enable the use of automatic number plate recognition systems to assist gardaí in their law enforcement duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52445/22]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Brian Leddin

169. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop new healthcare infrastructure in the mid-west to match the demographic targets set out in Ireland 2040, the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52449/22]

Departmental Policies

Brian Leddin

230. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the number of new active transport infrastructure projects completed in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51369/22]

Departmental Policies

Brian Leddin

231. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the number of upgraded active transport infrastructure projects completed in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51370/22]

Departmental Policies

Brian Leddin

232. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of active transport infrastructure completed in 2021 including location of delivery, length of active transport route at each location, cost of project and nature of work completed in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51372/22]

Departmental Policies

Brian Leddin

233. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the funds allocated to each local authority in 2021; the amount of funds unspent, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51373/22]

Departmental Policies

Brian Leddin

234. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of all the proposed active transport projects that applied for funding in 2021 but were incomplete by the end of Q4 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51374/22]

Parental Leave

Brian Leddin

103. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the various types of family and caring leave that have expanded in Ireland over the past ten years; if his attention has been drawn to any data measuring how beneficial this has been to families in this time; the plans under consideration for the future provision of leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50606/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brian Leddin

139. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the way core funding has operated since coming into operation; the number of childcare services that have signed a core funding contract; his plans with regard to expanding the scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50607/22]

Special Educational Needs

Brian Leddin

78. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education the steps that are being undertaken now to plan for summer provision in summer 2023; if the programme still appropriately serves the children for whom it was initially designed to help; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50029/22]

Special Educational Needs

Brian Leddin

111. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education the number of education professionals who engaged with summer provision in 2022; if that matched the demand for places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50030/22]

Flood Risk Management

Brian Leddin

95. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of solutions identified to decrease the impact of seasonal flooding at Ballycar Lough (details supplied) on local land and strategic infrastructure; the details of such plans to implement the solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48341/22]

Public Sector Staff

Brian Leddin

122. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress of the plan of the Office of Public Works to move Revenue Commissioners staff from Sarsfield House to the planned opera development in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48342/22]

Sport and Recreational Development

Brian Leddin

14. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way the sports action plan is delivering on greater participation for disadvantaged communities and women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47523/22]

Climate Change Policy

Brian Leddin

47. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she will take to promote and activate climate action in the wider sports sector, national governing bodies and Sport Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47522/22]

Housing Schemes

Brian Leddin

15. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and delivery timelines of cost-rental equity loan-funded cost-rental homes that will be made available for tenants in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47325/22]

National Planning Framework

Brian Leddin

73. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to initiate the review of the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47324/22]

Road Safety

Brian Leddin

58. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport if the action within the new Road Safety Strategy to explore the potential of an online portal for road users to upload footage of road traffic offences which could assist in prosecution, is on schedule for completion in Quarter 4 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46322/22]

EU Funding

Brian Leddin

80. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the steps that his Department is taking to ensure that Ireland harnesses the potential of the Connecting Europe Facility fund which will make €5.12 billion available for projects to help increase the sustainability of the transport network, including rail infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46323/22]