Parliamentary questions

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

158. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) recently published wealth tax measures that the Government could take that could raise up to €8 billion; if he will announce measures such as this in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43153/23]

Coast Guard Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

175. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if a transfer of undertakings protection of employment rights (TUPE) will apply to all Irish Coast Guard staff as regards the transfer from VHC Ireland to Bristow following the new tender being awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43226/23]

Coast Guard Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

176. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 336, 337 and 338 of 11 September 2023 where it was stated that Bristow Ireland supports the principles of TUPE in relation to the transfer of the Irish Coast Guard staff, to outline in detail what these principles that Bristow supports are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43227/23]

Coast Guard Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

177. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport whether Irish Coast Guard workers can be allowed access to the search and rescue tender document recently awarded to Bristow under FOI or by any other means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43228/23]

Coast Guard Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

178. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport whether the tender documents for the new contract for the Irish Coast Guard recently awarded to Bristow referenced TUPE and to provide the details of this reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43229/23]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

51. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to ensure that an application by a person (details supplied) for a passport is processed and any issues are referred back to the applicant. [42986/23]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Boyd Barrett

82. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on any upcoming plans to install electric vehicle charge ports in the Blackrock area and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43024/23]

Education Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

112. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if there is any planning in place to facilitate Islamic holidays where children are required to spend time celebrating the holidays during school hours in primary and post-primary schools and where it is currently at the discretion of the principal to make a decision on whether or not Muslim children are permitted time off, which is not the case for other religious holidays, such as Christmas, where students and staff are expected to take time off; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42884/23]

School Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the total parental contribution made for school transport for primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43021/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funds that are available to someone who is eligible for the full housing aid for the older persons' grant, but where the work done in the house is over the €8,000 maximum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42883/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in view that the grant maximum for housing aid for older people has not gone up in a number of years, he will consider increasing the grant maximum, to fall in line with the increase in costs for essential housing maintenance, such as rewiring, which costs €10-€15,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42882/23]

Medical Records

Richard Boyd Barrett

194. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the way a person (details supplied) can access old medical records in order to follow up on some historical issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42885/23]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with disability will next meet. [41209/23]

Cabinet Committees

Richard Boyd Barrett

64. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [41217/23]

Public Sector Pay

Richard Boyd Barrett

277. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the full-year cost of ensuring that every public sector worker is paid a minimum of €17 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42625/23]

Departmental Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

410. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing all illness and injury payment benefits to €300 per week, excluding disability-related payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42233/23]

Disability Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

543. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to re-instate the funding for transport to and from a location (details supplied) in Wicklow for a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42474/23]

Departmental Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

597. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the €110,000, which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for this new post; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42285/23]

Departmental Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

598. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the funding which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit in conjunction with the National Office of Clinical Audit, NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for these new posts; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42286/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

665. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to provide a full list of those who were paid the €1,000 Covid bonus payment, broken down into the different groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42672/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

699. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if the security officers working in vaccination centres and those working in hospitals were awarded the Covid €1,000 bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42760/23]

National Security

Richard Boyd Barrett

38. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the report from the fora on international security policy to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41694/23]

Visa Agreements

Richard Boyd Barrett

425. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice to outline the rationale for changing the requirements and procedures for visas for those from Bolivia; the reason for the short notice of same; what measures she intends to put in place to facilitate those who had already booked flights and made plans under the old rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41473/23]

School Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the expected Exchequer spending for the Safe Routes to School Programme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39523/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Richard Boyd Barrett

113. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he has met with or will meet with the IAA in relation to their decision to cease payment of increases in pensions, in contravention of The Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993, Article 41 (5) and Article 22 para 4 (a) of EU Commission Regulation No. 2019/317, and whether he can explain the rationale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/23]

Rail Network

Richard Boyd Barrett

137. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of introducing light rail transport systems in the cities of Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40585/23]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

146. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance to outline his plans for a windfall tax, and the EU-wide plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39526/23]

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Richard Boyd Barrett

147. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance to provide full details of the tax regime for REITs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39527/23]

Work Permits

Richard Boyd Barrett

228. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will add motor mechanics to the critical skills list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39636/23]

School Transport

Richard Boyd Barrett

247. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost to the Exchequer to provide free school transport to all primary and post-primary school students in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39518/23]

National Educational Psychological Service

Richard Boyd Barrett

248. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost to the Exchequer of a National Educational Psychological Service psychologist. [39519/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

532. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the annual capital spend by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in each year since 2005 of acquiring new emergency accommodation to increase the provision of emergency homeless accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40416/23]

Emergency Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

533. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the average current expenditure by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in each year since 2005 of leasing or renting emergency accommodation to increase the provision of emergency homeless accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40417/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

634. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the delays regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension, as well as the denial of supplementary welfare allowance, and who has had no social welfare supports since 17 August 2023, when their illness benefit was stopped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40147/23]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

770. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, in tabular form, the total number of private felling licences issued by his Department in each year since 2014; the number of felling licences issued to Coillte for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40186/23]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

771. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the length of time the director of forestry is in place; to list, in tabular form and date form, the associations, societies and semi-State bodies that the director has met since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40187/23]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

772. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, the definition of a farmer as outlined in the section acts as a disincentive for persons commencing farming, particularly the previous four years’ applicant for BISS or BPS, from entering the afforestation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/23]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

773. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, the definition of a farmer for farmer rate of forestry payments as defined was a decision made by his Department or one instructed by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/23]

Disability Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

975. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to investigate the reason that there is no board of management for the medical primary certificate application office, resulting in the refusal of all medical primary certificate grant applications and appeals; to advise when this will be rectified to facilitate people with disabilities and brain injuries to drive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40199/23]

Security Clearance

Richard Boyd Barrett

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how a non-governmental person can obtain personal security clearance in Ireland, which is required to undertake work in areas including the European Defence Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37434/23]

Genetically Modified Organisms

Richard Boyd Barrett

191. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many GMO products use licensed premises in the State; the location of each; the class of licence use issued to each; the licensing process, including if this process includes a site inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39177/23]

National Asset Management Agency

Richard Boyd Barrett

502. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the full-year cost of running NAMA, including details of number of employees, the average earnings of a NAMA employee and the range of incomes of these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39416/23]

School Accommodation

Richard Boyd Barrett

681. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm the accommodation plan for a school (details supplied) for the school year 2024/2025 i.e. where the school will be located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38547/23]

Artists' Remuneration

Richard Boyd Barrett

810. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated full-year cost of extending the basic income for artists to all those working in the arts who would be eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39414/23]

Fire Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

828. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in light of the recently published Fire Safety Code of Practice for defective apartment developments, he will confirm if a centralised scheme run by the Housing Agency and fully-funded by the State will be established to put in place the immediate actions required so that people can live safely in affected apartment complexes; if he will outline when these works will commence given the urgency and if he will commit to ensuring that these works and the associated funding will be brought forward so that people can live safely in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37412/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

956. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the annual projected breakdown of the € billion per year expenditure for Housing for All, including the following categories: social housing new build; social housing acquisition; cost-rental; affordable, HAP Ras and Leasing; and all other categories of expenditure under this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39182/23]

State Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

968. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the full cost of setting up the LDA in year 1 and the estimated full year cost to the exchequer in 2024 of the LDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39308/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

969. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes delivered in 2022 and in the first six months in 2023 under the following categories - social, affordable, cost rental and to divide out how many were delivered through building or acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39305/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

973. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an estimated unit cost to the Exchequer for providing cost rental homes (1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom) and for providing affordable homes (1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39415/23]

State Bodies

Richard Boyd Barrett

974. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full-year cost of running the LDA, including details of number of employees, the average earnings of an LDA employee and the range of incomes of these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39417/23]