Parliamentary questions

Vehicle Registration Tax

Marian Harkin

73. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance what steps, if any, he has taken in relation to a request by a person (details supplied) dated 8 May 2023 pursuant to section 144(2) of the Finance Act 2001 for a restoration order effective 24 April 2018 and the repayment of a disputed alleged penalty, arising from the Revenue Commissioners' seize and release VRT enforcement procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30122/23]

Health Services

Marian Harkin

207. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he plans to fast-track the roll-out of a standardised optometrist-led eye care programme for children over eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30051/23]

EU Directives

Marian Harkin

291. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will expand the remit of the review which is to be undertaken by the IP unit in his Department on outcomes from the transposition of the Copyright Directive into Irish law, to include Article 17 of the Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29856/23]

Pharmacy Services

Marian Harkin

566. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health under the Public Service Pay and Pension Act 2017, if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29087/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Marian Harkin

573. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [29097/23]

Technological Universities

Marian Harkin

739. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can provide an update with regard to the Technological University Development Fund, the proposed successor to the Technological University Transformation (TUT) Fund; if he will advise, if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT Fund on 31 August 2023, specifically in relation to the position of IR facilitators who are employed on a seconded basis under this fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29234/23]

Student Accommodation

Marian Harkin

742. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what he plans to do to deal with the student accommodation crisis facing hundreds of students due to student accommodation being repurposed to house refugees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29617/23]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Marian Harkin

217. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the NPWS is seeking or being granted CPO powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28920/23]

Departmental Meetings

Marian Harkin

258. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an organisation (details supplied) will be facilitated with its request for a meeting with Department officials. [28921/23]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

267. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the criteria that the HSE uses to consider whether it will provide funding to charities in the healthcare sector; how the HSE reviews its funding of charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28922/23]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

268. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the HSE's decision to provide funding or withdraw funding from a charity influences the work of the charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28923/23]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

270. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he believes it appropriate that a State body, such as the HSE, has the power to influence charities through granting or withholding funding; the potential negative impact this has on the freedom of charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28928/23]

School Accommodation

Marian Harkin

597. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an application for emergency works for a named school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28258/23]

Defective Building Materials

Marian Harkin

773. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the recent final report submitted by Sligo County Council, Sligo will be included in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28260/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Marian Harkin

234. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application by a person (details supplied) for disability allowance will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26802/23]

Hospital Staff

Marian Harkin

344. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if a radiologist is in place in a hospital (details supplied). [26899/23]

Medicinal Products

Marian Harkin

160. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the medication fenfleuramine, used in the treatment of severe epilepsy - Dravet syndrome, will be approved for reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26429/23]

School Staff

Marian Harkin

260. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on correspondence to her on behalf of a person (details supplied). [25571/23]

State Examinations

Marian Harkin

319. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will support the call by an organisation (details supplied) to introduce extra time for dyslexic students in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24789/23]

Care Services

Marian Harkin

650. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider, as a matter of priority, an increase in the weekly allowance paid to foster carers, which has not seen an increase since 2009, and before that, in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24050/23]

Planning Issues

Marian Harkin

101. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the appeal process, if any, that is in place for farmers who unsuccessfully applied to local authorities to have lands zoned for residential or mixed use but is currently in agricultural use rezoned for agricultural use as part of their submission to the relevant local authority on the draft map published in November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21855/23]

Environmental Policy

Marian Harkin

157. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on how Ireland intends to implement the EU Biodiversity Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/23]

Departmental Policies

Marian Harkin

20. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the provisions that will be put in place following the introduction of E10 petrol to make E5 petrol available for use in small petrol engine equipment, i.e. chain saws, strimmers, pole saws and generators, which will be negatively affected by the use of E10 petrol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23329/23]

School Transport

Marian Harkin

59. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm the retention of a school transport route in Sligo for the 2023-24 school year (details supplied) [22530/23]

School Curriculum

Marian Harkin

103. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will consider providing a Level 2 Leaving Certificate cycle for the 2023/2024 school year for students currently undertaking a Level 2 Junior Certificate Programme (details supplied). [22529/23]

Departmental Funding

Marian Harkin

318. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied) and reconsider a decision to withdraw recognition and funding from this organisation. [22532/23]

Legislative Measures

Marian Harkin

482. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a timeframe for implementation of the legislation banning 18 m vessels within the six-nautical-mile zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/23]

Hospital Facilities

Marian Harkin

713. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of extra inpatient beds allocated to each hospital nationally for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21851/23]

Hospital Facilities

Marian Harkin

714. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the total number of inpatient beds by hospital nationally for the years 2006 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21852/23]

Hospital Staff

Marian Harkin

715. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of newly employed, full-time medical staff by hospital in the Saolta region for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21853/23]

Bus Services

Marian Harkin

85. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on bus route 981 in Sligo, which runs from Coolaney – St. Angela’s College; and if the Maugheraboy area of Sligo will be included in this route without further delay, as was promised when the route was announced and was included in all media releases at that time. [20373/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Marian Harkin

113. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what actions are planned to address the gap in pensions for An Post workers employed after 1984, as opposed to those employed pre 1984 who will receive a Public Service Pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20982/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Marian Harkin

413. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for orthopaedic outpatient appointments and surgeries at Galway University Hospital, by length of time, in tabular form; the steps being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20407/23]

Coillte Teoranta

Marian Harkin

431. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of the Coillte estate on peatland soils that are currently planted with trees and where forestry productivity is projected to be a particular yield class (details supplied). [18913/23]

Coillte Teoranta

Marian Harkin

432. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 26 October 2022, of the remaining 58,000 ha of Coillte lands on peat soil (details supplied), the area in hectares that is planted with trees managed by Coillte primarily for commercial timber production; and the area in hectares planted with trees managed by Coillte primarily for biodiversity protection. [18918/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Marian Harkin

509. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if the scheme for paid leave for public health service employees unfit for work post-Covid infection will be continued past the proposed finish date of 30 June, especially given the number of these staff still suffering ongoing effects of long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18970/23]

Medicinal Products

Marian Harkin

561. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update and timeline for the commencement and completion of the review on the reimbursement process for cariban for the first-line treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum, which was announced in early February 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19202/23]

Hospital Facilities

Marian Harkin

61. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he can provide a timeline for the construction of the new ED/Surgical Block at Sligo University Hospital. [18617/23]

Energy Policy

Marian Harkin

26. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport given the proposed changes from E95 to E90 grade petrol, if provision has been made for cars manufactured before 1998, and in particular, classic and vintage cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18400/23]

School Accommodation

Marian Harkin

51. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the application for additional school accommodation for a named school (details supplied); if she will provide a timeline for a letter of acceptance to this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18384/23]

Forestry Sector

Marian Harkin

95. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a timeline for the implementation of the Native Woodland Scheme, which was due to start in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18385/23]

Health Services

Marian Harkin

133. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place to address the long delays in testing for rare diseases and referral for genetic testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18394/23]

Health Services Staff

Marian Harkin

136. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for a timeline for the implementation of the HSE pay agreements for retired HSE staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18403/23]

Foreign Policy

Marian Harkin

149. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position on an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16075/23]

Departmental Schemes

Marian Harkin

350. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if there are any plans to increase the rate per litre of the fuel grant for disabled drivers given the current cost of fuel and the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16614/23]

Schools Building Projects

Marian Harkin

659. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education for an update on a new school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16770/23]

Departmental Schemes

Marian Harkin

1094. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the compensation payments will be paid to landowners whose lands were damaged during the Shass mountain landside in Drumkeerin. [16993/23]

Disability Services

Marian Harkin

1194. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with the national children disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16613/23]

Hospital Services

Marian Harkin

1509. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the plans currently in place to establish a genetics service at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin to help diagnose and treat rare diseases. [17018/23]

Business Supports

Marian Harkin

56. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what steps his Department is taking to assist Irish companies to avail of opportunities in the US by collaborating for projects under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. [15566/23]