Parliamentary questions

Tax Appeals Commission

Darren O'Rourke

206. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated full year cost of recruiting two additional full-time IT specialists at the grade of assistant principal officer for the Tax Appeals Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6676/21]

Property Tax

Darren O'Rourke

217. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if there are provisions or plans in place for households to defer payment of the local property tax in view of the financial constraints related to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6937/21]

Garda Stations

Darren O'Rourke

242. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount the OPW spent on refurbishment to Kells Garda station in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the nature of the refurbishment works that were carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6665/21]

Ministerial Meetings

Darren O'Rourke

364. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken to the US Senate Majority Leader, Mr. Chuck Schumer since the presidential election in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6683/21]

School Enrolments

Darren O'Rourke

421. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the estimated number of children that will commence national school in September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6681/21]

Appointments to State Boards

Darren O'Rourke

422. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of vacancies in each State board under the remit of her Department in tabular form; the length of time each position has been vacant; the reason for the failure to fill the vacancy in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6682/21]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

430. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposed new build for a school (details supplied); the stage the proposal has reached; when works will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6785/21]

Social Welfare Appeals

Darren O'Rourke

495. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare appeals that were lodged in 2019 and 2020, by type of appeal per scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6671/21]

Youthreach Programme

Darren O'Rourke

585. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Youthreach coordinators in the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board who have received payment above their annual salaries and qualification allowances since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6668/21]

Education and Training Boards

Darren O'Rourke

586. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of external training contractors running courses in County Meath under the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6669/21]

International Relations

Darren O'Rourke

623. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if she has spoken virtually with her Australian counterpart since her appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6677/21]

Garda Equipment

Darren O'Rourke

624. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the age of the trucks attached to the Garda water unit; if there are plans to replace either truck in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6678/21]

Garda Equipment

Darren O'Rourke

625. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of marked and unmarked Garda vans, 4x4 vehicles and jeeps attached to the Garda collision forensic investigation unit as of 1 February 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6679/21]

Visa Applications

Darren O'Rourke

626. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of visa applications processed in each processing office in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6680/21]

Health Services Provision

Darren O'Rourke

782. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the facilities and options available for persons with epilepsy in view of the lack of investment in neurology services and staff shortages in neurology centres nationwide. [6672/21]

Hospital Staff

Darren O'Rourke

783. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of staff by job title working in the ophthalmology department of the Mater Hospital, Dublin; the number of vacancies by job title; the estimated cost of filling each of the vacancies in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6673/21]

Hospital Staff

Darren O'Rourke

784. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of additional full-time consultants in endocrinology and diabetes mellitus for Our Lady's Hospital, Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6674/21]

Hospital Staff

Darren O'Rourke

785. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants by specialist posts that are currently vacant in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin in tabular form; the length of time each post has been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6675/21]

Dairy Sector

Darren O'Rourke

999. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown in volume and value in 2020 of dairy ingredients exports to South Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6670/21]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the sanctions in place for those who breach the smoky coal ban either by the continued burning or selling of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6104/21]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

26. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if a route by route analysis of rail lines has been conducted in order to assess whether diesel, electric or hydrogen powered trains are the most appropriate; if not, if he plans to carry out such an analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6090/21]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

27. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if there is a date by which polluting diesel trains should all have been removed from the rail network and replaced by more environmentally sustainable alternatives as in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/21]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

50. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the budget allocated to each retrofit scheme (details supplied) in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5353/21]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

51. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a maximum amount a person or household is allowed claim in various grants from the SEAI in one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5354/21]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

52. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount each of the top ten persons and households claimed from the SEAI using various grant schemes in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5355/21]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons and households that claimed more than €20,000 in various grants combined from the SEAI in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5356/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if gold prospecting is defined as essential work during the current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5668/21]

Road Safety

Darren O'Rourke

126. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the road traffic (miscellaneous provisions) Bill; when the legislation will be brought before Dáil Éireann; the way in which this legislation will address the use of e-scooters on the roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5669/21]

Electric Vehicles

Darren O'Rourke

131. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of EV grants awarded by the SEAI for each model of eligible EV listed on its website in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5804/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

149. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the airlines that have in 2020 and 2021 sought financial support as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; the amount of financial support sought by each airline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6004/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

150. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the additional and specific supports he will put in place for workers in the aviation sector in response to the increased restrictions on international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6005/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

151. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the way in which he plans to use the proceeds of the sale of the State's shares in a company (details supplied) now contained in the connectivity fund to protect and enhance Ireland's air connectivity given the damage the pandemic will do in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6006/21]

Turf Cutting

Darren O'Rourke

255. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has estimated the number of persons who continue to cut turf on bogs here for domestic heating or the number of individual private holdings on bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5375/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Darren O'Rourke

454. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if self-employed persons will receive PRSI credits while in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5929/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

607. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the definition of "essential international travel" under the current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5670/21]

Vaccination Programme

Darren O'Rourke

795. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when search and rescue crew can expect to receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5604/21]

Ministerial Communications

Darren O'Rourke

28. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of times he has spoken with or written to his counterpart in the UK Government and in the Stormont Executive in relation to co-ordinating international travel restrictions to combat Covid-19; the date of each physical and virtual meeting, phone call or letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4538/21]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

31. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered a further extension of TaxSaver tickets due to the severe Covid-19 travel restrictions currently in place; the cost to date of the existing extension; the estimated cost of a further extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4729/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

66. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which commitment four of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018 to enhance citizen engagement in policy making has been achieved in his Department and agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4806/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

68. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the review of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/21]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which commitment four of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018 to enhance citizen engagement in policy making has been achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4804/21]

Ministerial Communications

Darren O'Rourke

221. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of times he has spoken with or written to his counterpart in the UK Government and in the Stormont Executive in relation to coordinating international travel restrictions to combat Covid-19; the date of each physical and virtual meeting, phone call or letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/21]

Health Services

Darren O'Rourke

268. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the commitments he and the HSE have made to include patient, service user and public opinions in the design, planning and delivery of health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4805/21]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

30. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of State-owned buildings that will require retrofitting by county; the number that have been completed to date; the estimated investment that will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3584/21]

National Broadband Plan

Darren O'Rourke

40. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of homes that will remain without access to high-speed broadband after the national broadband plan is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3701/21]

Departmental Funding

Darren O'Rourke

41. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which it is ensured that State retrofitting funding is directed to areas it is most needed, that is, to the lowest income, coldest and most vulnerable households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3702/21]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Darren O'Rourke

70. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding introducing a nationwide smoky coal ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4380/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support the chauffeur and coach industries whose sectors have been severely hit by the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4742/21]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

91. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of diesel, petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles registered in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3582/21]

Greenways Provision

Darren O'Rourke

98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated by county for greenways in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3700/21]