Parliamentary questions

Housing Schemes

Brendan Griffin

128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what changes could be made to ensure swifter processing of Croí Cónaithe applications to get more projects shovel ready; the latest figures relating to the scheme, per local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7016/24]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

174. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the up-to-date position regarding a rehabilitation project for a bridge (details supplied) in County Kerry; if a proposed and funded lighting project will be delivered as part of anticipated works on the bridge; the anticipated timeline for the delivery of each aspect of the overall works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7246/24]

Road Safety

Brendan Griffin

176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the up-to-date position regarding consideration of proposals for traffic calming and pedestrian crossings in Castlemaine village on the N70 and possibly the R561; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7342/24]

Social Welfare Schemes

Brendan Griffin

270. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position regarding the Irish Sign Language voucher scheme; if the scheme is being continued; if she will address concerns raised regarding the discontinuation of the voucher scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7345/24]

Bus Services

Brendan Griffin

102. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if the National Transport Authority will reinstate the extra capacity on a bus route in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7081/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

230. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend children's allowance to cover children over 18 years of age ahead of planned date of next September (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6730/24]

Social Welfare Inspections

Brendan Griffin

246. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the up-to-date position in relation to the scope investigation being carried out by her Department into work practices and historic liabilities by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7094/24]

Social Welfare Inspections

Brendan Griffin

247. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the scope investigation being carried out by her Department into work practices and historic liabilities by an organisation (details supplied), the number of individual employee’s cases being reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7095/24]

Social Welfare Inspections

Brendan Griffin

248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the scope investigation being carried out by her Department into work practices and historic liabilities by an organisation (details supplied), what the settlement figure paid back is to date, and in respect of how many individuals was this settlement amount; how many cases remain a outstanding and unsettled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7096/24]

Social Welfare Inspections

Brendan Griffin

249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the scope investigation being carried out by her Department into work practices and historic liabilities by an organisation (details supplied), what the estimated cost has been to her Department to date in monetary terms and in terms of personnel hours; on what date the review was initiated; when the process is anticipated to conclude; if the organisation has fully co-operated with her officials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7097/24]

Social Welfare Inspections

Brendan Griffin

250. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the scope investigation being carried out by her Department into work practices and historic liabilities by an organisation (details supplied), if her Department has the resources to conclude the process in the near future, or whether she expects a lengthy delay in finalising the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7098/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

425. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6080/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

426. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance appeal on behalf of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6081/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

451. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a late illness benefit application will be accepted from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6541/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

492. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if force majeure will be accepted in the case of a late fodder support scheme application by a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6325/24]

Brexit Supports

Brendan Griffin

515. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend a 2023 Brexit inshore fisheries business model adjustment scheme grant approval for a fisherman (details supplied) in County Kerry to allow them to submit the requested information to draw down the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6571/24]

Direct Provision System

Brendan Griffin

537. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to use a facility in County Kerry (details supplied) for direct provision; if so, what are his Department's intentions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

212. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what follow-up she gave to correspondence relating to allegations of historic bullying within RTÉ (details supplied); if she or a representative has engaged with the individual with a view to resolving the matter; how she intends to deal with similar cases surfacing in relation to RTÉ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5970/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date weekly figures regarding TV licence renewal and purchase of TV licences for January 2024 versus January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5996/24]

Television Licence Fee

Brendan Griffin

214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department contributes in any way to the monetary cost of the advertisement of the TV licence fee on platforms; if she will outline details of such expenditure; if she and her Department contribute to the formulation of messaging in any such advertising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5997/24]

Departmental Staff

Brendan Griffin

230. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 828 of 13 June and 829 of 13 June 2023, what if any benefits accrued to Department of Social Protection employees who were former community welfare officers under the HSE and who paid a 5% levy on their incomes from October 2011 to December 2015; if no pension benefit has accrued in respect of these payments, if her Department will sanction the return of these payments to the employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6010/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

271. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 eco payment will issue to a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5890/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Griffin

282. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5806/24]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

294. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the essential criteria that an offer of accommodation does not meet (details supplied); if future Parliamentary replies will provide adequate such details to Deputies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6024/24]

Central Statistics Office

Brendan Griffin

1. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Taoiseach the number of overseas visitors to Ireland for each year since 2018; to provide a breakdown of the country of origin of these visitors and the estimated revenue generated by each category of visitor, in tabular form. [4940/24]

Sports Funding

Brendan Griffin

236. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for support on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5490/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

303. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5218/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Griffin

310. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a jobseeker's payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5426/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

382. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application form for the young farmer scheme will be finalised in respect of a person in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4961/24]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

439. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding an application by an accommodation provider (details supplied) to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Refugees at a location approved by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5222/24]

Medical Cards

Brendan Griffin

504. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if MRI scans on one hand has been removed from the general medical card scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5149/24]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

11. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if the completion of the N86 Tralee to Dingle Road upgrade is a priority of his; the fatality figures on this road; the reason the progress made on the first phases has not been continued at the same pace; if he understands the challenges caused by peninsular peripherality in this location and the need for modern road infrastructure to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4553/24]

Road Safety

Brendan Griffin

33. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if data exists in relation to the experience of and effectiveness of raised pedestrian crossings or junctions in built up areas on busy regional and national secondary roads such as the N86 in Annascaul, County Kerry or the R577 at Kishkeam, County Cork; if a funding stream will be provided to replicate these measures in other locations such as the N70 in Castlemaine village or the R561 in Boolteens village; the average cost for such interventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4554/24]

Banking Sector

Brendan Griffin

90. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that Irish banking customers are getting a good deal from their banks in areas such as interest on deposits, transaction charges, loan rates and other competitive metrics; what engagement he has had with the banks on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4552/24]

Tax Code

Brendan Griffin

154. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a finance Bill to re-introduce the 9% VAT rate for catering and tourist accommodation, as was done seamlessly in May 2011; if he appreciates the crisis in hospitality at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4551/24]

Road Projects

Brendan Griffin

182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport for a record of all applications from Kerry County Council to his Department for any works in respect of a bridge in Kerry (details supplied) since 2009; if a record of all funding granted in that period in respect of the bridge will be provided; if a record of all funding drawn down in respect of the bridge will be provided; if the most recent correspondence between his Department and the Council will be provided; if an explanation will be provided as to the precise stage the project is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4775/24]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Griffin

197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered requests from the Minister for Rural and Community Development and others for funding to be allocated from his budget towards the local improvement scheme programme; if he will state how much capital funding was carried over from his Department at the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4889/24]

Road Safety

Brendan Griffin

198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if safer protections will be put in place at a bridge in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4890/24]

Departmental Reviews

Brendan Griffin

199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the anticipated timeline in relation to proposed speed limit reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4891/24]

Ferry Services

Brendan Griffin

200. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the number of new passenger ferry routes in and out of Ireland since 2022; if he will identify these routes and the seasons they serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4892/24]

Departmental Data

Brendan Griffin

201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the number of vintage cars registered for use on Irish roads each year since 2017, in tabular form; a breakdown per county of these; if the types and years of vehicles will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4893/24]

Aviation Industry

Brendan Griffin

208. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the expected number of air routes directly between Ireland and North America for 2024; if he will identify these routes and the airlines operating each; if they are seasonal or year-round; which routes are new for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4942/24]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Brendan Griffin

265. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has requested a version of the Grant Thornton Toy Show The Musical report documenting names, where the published report only contains numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4653/24]

Broadcasting Sector

Brendan Griffin

269. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide additional funding to independent broadcasters as a matter of urgency to support their existing news and current affairs coverage in the context of the proliferation of misinformation in public discourse; if she recognises the urgency of this extra funding, particularly in a year of numerous national elections and referendums; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4830/24]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Griffin

284. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with ESB Networks in relation to seeking a more affordable cost of reconnecting a derelict or vacant home in the context of efforts being made to bring such properties back into use through initiatives such as Croí Cónaithe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4797/24]

World Heritage Sites

Brendan Griffin

296. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position regarding the joint application by Ireland and Canada for UNESCO world heritage site status for the Trans-Atlantic Cable project between Valentia Island, County Kerry, and Heart's Content, Newfoundland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4943/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Brendan Griffin

303. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of a carer's allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4741/24]

Gambling Sector

Brendan Griffin

318. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if primetime radio hours will be defined differently from primetime television hours for the purposes of advertising, in the context of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022, as was established as a precedent in the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; if he is conscious of possible unintended consequences of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 in relation to charity radio bingos; if he will address this issue in tandem with the overall objectives of the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4799/24]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

343. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4676/24]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Griffin

399. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if town and village renewal funding will be provided to a project in County Kerry (details supplied); the anticipated timeline for allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4944/24]