Parliamentary questions

Naturalisation Applications

Ged Nash

860. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if, under the circumstances, an early decision will be made on a naturalisation application which was made in January 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36472/23]

Forestry Sector

Ged Nash

941. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons for the delay in the implementation of a new Forestry Programme; if he will detail the concerns the European Commission is reported to have with the programme submitted by his Department; the action his Department is taking to address those concerns; if he will confirm a timeline for the commencement of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36866/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Ged Nash

1017. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) has yet to receive an assessment of needs through the local HSE system, despite two requests having been made by his family since 2018; when they will receive the assessment they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36134/23]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

1075. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the European Commission's announcement of 13 July that it is to send Ireland a reasoned opinion for the failure to fully transpose the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) by the agreed deadline of 28 June 2022, when he expects the Government to fully comply with its obligations in respect of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36865/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

1138. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if an individual (details supplied) qualifies for the pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when they will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35850/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

1139. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when they will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35851/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

1223. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to consider correspondence from a disability sector provider (details supplied) whose staff have been incorrectly excluded from accessing the pandemic recognition payment; if he agrees that a direct and objective comparison can be made between the status of workers in private nursing homes who have received the payment and workers at the facility referred to in the correspondence who have been excluded from the scheme; if he will have this matter addressed in the interests of the equitable and consistent application of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36149/23]

Mental Health Services

Ged Nash

1224. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has not been accepted as a client of CAMHS in Louth despite presenting with severe behavioural problems for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36152/23]

Health Service Executive

Ged Nash

1372. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason a HSE employee (details supplied) who has met the criteria to qualify for the pandemic recognition payment has not received the payment to which they are entitled; when the application will be processed and paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36863/23]

Job Losses

Ged Nash

102. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned about the series of proposed collective redundancies at a company (details supplied); if he will confirm the date on which he was formally notified by the company; if the IDA is working with the company to minimise the number of potential redundancies and identify cost savings as an alternative to redundancies at the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34502/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Ged Nash

167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the extreme difficulties often presented for many workers in the early years sector and other sections of the broader education system in making claims for jobseeker's payments at the end of school terms; if she will commit to streamlining this system in order to make it more efficient and effective for claimants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34746/23]

International Protection

Ged Nash

229. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to accommodating an individual (details supplied) in a certain accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34739/23]

Departmental Schemes

Ged Nash

671. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including testosterone cypionate in the drug payment scheme in view of the financial hardships being endured by patients (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33492/23]

Road Projects

Gerald Nash

187. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that works being carried out on the historic Obelisk Bridge at Oldbridge, County Meath will see the bridge close from 1 August 2023 for one year; if he is aware that the closure of this bridge/route from the north to the south of Drogheda will force motorists to use the toll bridge on Donore Road, Drogheda; if he will engage with CRG to lift the toll for the duration of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32111/23]

Rental Sector

Gerald Nash

230. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance to outline the public policy rationale for the changes made in the Finance Act 2022 in relation to the obligations of tenants and collection agents of non-resident landlords; if he will provide details on the number of non-resident landlords recorded by the Revenue Commissioners in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32433/23]

Local Authorities

Gerald Nash

369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the number of new operatives and new trades apprentices hired into each of the 31 local authorities for each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32586/23]

Rental Sector

Gerald Nash

371. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline, on a step-by-step basis, the process provided for in section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) whereby the full administrative area of a housing authority i.e. an entire local authority area is capable of designation as a rent pressure zone; if this process is capable of being utilised to designate the Clogher Electoral District in County Louth as an RPZ given the fact that it is the only electoral district in County Louth that is not, for reasons set out in a Parliamentary Questions reply (details supplied) to ensure fairness and equity for tenants in this electoral district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32630/23]

Housing Schemes

Gerald Nash

385. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made on an application by Louth County Council for additional funding for the housing adaptation grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32808/23]

Pension Provisions

Gerald Nash

397. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to introduce a pensions cost-transparency initiative, as referenced in the Pensions (Amendment) (Transparency in Charges) Bill 2021 Second Stage Dáil Éireann debate on 22 September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32434/23]

Pension Provisions

Gerald Nash

398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has carried out an “examination and assessment of the issues pertaining to the provision of information to pension scheme members in relation to costs and charges incurred by pension schemes and, if deemed to be required, to identify and develop the appropriate policy responses and associated methodologies”, as referenced in her Second Stage speech on 22 September 2022 on the Pensions (Amendment) (Transparency in Charges) Bill 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32435/23]

An Garda Síochána

Gerald Nash

419. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice to outline in detail the number of members of An Garda Síochána in place at the station in Drogheda, County Louth in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32142/23]

Departmental Bodies

Gerald Nash

420. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to provide an extension to the operational period of the Drogheda Implementation Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32144/23]

Employment Support Services

Gerald Nash

2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline his engagement with the owners of a company (details supplied) and the trade unions at the company; if he will detail the supports he is prepared to provide to assist in avoiding 650 potential layoffs at the operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31836/23]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Ged Nash

27. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how his Department arrived at the estimation (details supplied) as included in his Statement of early May 2023 when he announced the zero VAT rate on the sale of solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31535/23]

Rail Network

Ged Nash

45. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if, in light of the increase in demands on the Northern Rail Line that the Dart+ Coastal North project will bring, his Department has considered increasing the number of tracks from two to four on the busy stretch of the line between Malahide and Connolly Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31553/23]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Ged Nash

187. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is planning to create a special infrastructure development fund or equivalent vehicle with funds identified from forecasted surpluses based on windfall corporation tax receipts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31364/23]

Ethics in Public Office

Ged Nash

188. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he has formally taken back responsibility for the ethics reform agenda; if he will provide an update on his legislative priorities in respect of the ethics and standards in public office agenda for the remainder of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31365/23]

Public Sector Staff

Ged Nash

269. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the estimated number of new whole-time equivalents in the Civil Service and public service up to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31363/23]

Family Reunification

Ged Nash

271. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that healthcare assistants who have been recruited by the HSE from abroad, are facing terrible difficulties reuniting with family members in Ireland because their income does not meet the income threshold for family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31056/23]

Family Reunification

Ged Nash

272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will move to increase the minimum wage of non-EEA healthcare assistants to €30,000 to help them reach the threshold for family reunification; if the Government will move to grant a Stamp 1G Visa for non-EEA healthcare assistant, HCA, spouses and-or allow dependents a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31057/23]

Health Services Staff

Ged Nash

710. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite promotion of suitably qualified non-EEA healthcare assistants as nurses with an employer letter, without the need for a language proficiency exam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/23]

Health Services

Ged Nash

763. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the progress he is making on expanding the national heel-prick test, given that 28 June is International Neonatal Screening Day; how many diseases babies born today in Ireland are currently being tested for; when he will decide on including spinal muscular atrophy in newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31309/23]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

208. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the Government plans to transpose the credit servicers directive by statutory instrument, and not primary legislation; if the Government is making efforts to have the trading of mortgages explicitly excluded from the terms of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30397/23]

Employment Support Services

Ged Nash

209. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views, based on the experience of the EWSS, on the need to embed a modernised short-time work scheme modelled on the successful German Kurzarbeit scheme, especially in light of the threat of 650 layoffs at the Tara Mines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30398/23]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Ged Nash

210. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering providing any assistance to mortgage holders impacted by the series of interest rate increases from the ECB over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30399/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

247. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 20 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30270/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

248. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the AHB housing unit approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 has finished construction; if so, its completion date; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30271/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

249. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ten AHB housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30272/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

250. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the seven AHB housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30273/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

251. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 24 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30274/23]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

252. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 12 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30275/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will introduce a ministerial Order that will recognise the new generation apprenticeships that are, and will, progress from the construction skills certification scheme model to the more advanced apprenticeship model, in light of the possible solution identified in the answer provided to Parliamentary Question No. 296 of 25 May 2023 now not being viable (details supplied). [30412/23]

Waterways Issues

Ged Nash

63. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport for an update in relation to proposals to remove the Hebble Sand from the River Boyne; for an update on Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 19 April 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30065/23]

Flood Risk Management

Ged Nash

76. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has any plans to address flooding at an estate (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30060/23]

Employment Support Services

Ged Nash

133. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given alongside the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, respectively, to the introduction of a short-term employment support model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme, especially in view of the threat of 650 layoffs at a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30064/23]

Employment Support Services

Ged Nash

140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to the reform of supports for workers who are placed on temporary layoff as reported previously, especially in light of the threat of 650 layoffs at a company (details supplied); if she will give consideration to the introduction of a model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30063/23]

General Practitioner Services

Ged Nash

184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of capacity issues in GP surgeries in the Drogheda area and that some practices are not in a position to take on new patients; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29941/23]

Disability Services

Ged Nash

497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the HSE will establish a community neuro-rehabilitation team in the CHO 8 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29400/23]

Health Services

Ged Nash

671. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has any plans to introduce an over eight’s voucher scheme for optometry assessment and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29394/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ged Nash

740. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of first-year apprentices in the system on 1 January 2023, broken down thematically across the individual wet trades; the total number of apprentices across all years in the system as it relates to the wet trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29395/23]