Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

State Properties

Patrick Costello

437. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will install public water dispensers in the War Memorial Gardens, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the Phoenix Park, recognising the great public benefit they will bring along with a correspondent reduction in plastic consumption. [42070/22]

National Monuments

Catherine Murphy

438. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of Bunadober Mill, County Mayo; and his plans for further works with a view to opening a public amenity at the site. [42193/22]

Coastal Erosion

Éamon Ó Cuív

439. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of money sanctioned by the Office of Public Works for coastal erosion works at Leenane, County Galway; the progress made with this project to date; the reason work has not yet commenced on it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42232/22]

Flood Risk Management

Fergus O'Dowd

440. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the discussions between the OPW and Meath County Council in respect of progressing proposals for additional flood relief works, as identified by the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme. [42270/22]

National Monuments

Fergus O'Dowd

441. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the future use of St. Laurence’s Gate, Drogheda (details supplied); if costings and feasibility reports have been completed in respect of opening the landmark for public tours to encourage tourism into the town centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42316/22]

State Properties

Fergus O'Dowd

442. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status in relation to the long-term plans for the historic Westgate House on Narrow West Street in Drogheda, County Louth; if he will confirm whether the legal paperwork and all other processes to transfer the property to Louth County Council have been completed; the total cost of the transfer and any other relevant details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42317/22]

Public Sector Staff

Bernard Durkan

443. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants currently working from home; the extent to which adequate technology has been provided to enable such persons to fully undertake and complete their responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42377/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Richard O'Donoghue

444. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if discussions are expected on the actions the Government will take to ease the burden on middle-class families who are struggling to put food on the table and to pay their energy bills, along with other unforeseen daily costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42389/22]

State Properties

Patrick Costello

445. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that Kilmainham gate in the War Memorial Gardens, Inchicore is locked at night while the Islandbridge and Ballyfermot gates are open 24-7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42415/22]

Public Procurement Contracts

Patricia Ryan

446. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of the modular units being installed in Dara Park, Newbridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42525/22]

Telecommunications Services

Michael Healy-Rae

447. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures that can be taken to assist a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42537/22]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

448. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he intends taking to ensure, in view of the enormous deficits in infrastructure, that the total capital allocation to all Departments for 2022 is spent, particularly as the capital expenditure to the end of July 2022 was €694 million, or 17%, behind profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42629/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Niall Collins

449. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a pension for a person (details supplied) will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42672/22]

Office of Public Works

Ged Nash

450. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost to the Exchequer of waiving entrance fees to all OPW sites for students and young adult Transport for Ireland Leap card holders; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of waiving entrance fees for students and young adult TFI Leap card holders to include those under 26 years respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42721/22]

Public Procurement Contracts

Jackie Cahill

451. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the opportunities that there are for building companies to tender for the construction of the new modular homes for Ukrainian refugees and, most specifically, the opportunities that exist to tender for the construction of the 60 new modular homes that are set to be built in Thurles, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42812/22]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

452. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the totality of grant aid and-or subsidy provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 (details supplied). [42833/22]

An Garda Síochána

Fergus O'Dowd

453. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the development plans for Drogheda Garda station; if he will provide the overall details on the plans; the estimated costs of the plans; the projected date of commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42914/22]

Ministerial Staff

Carol Nolan

454. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43159/22]

Public Procurement Contracts

Catherine Murphy

455. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of companies that applied for the contract to provide restaurant services at Dublin Castle at the last tender process; and when the next tender process for this service is scheduled. [43195/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Mairéad Farrell

456. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which retired public sector workers received their pension increases in line with the pay increases received by their peers in employment (details supplied) and the increased pension-related expenditure paid out on that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43227/22]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

457. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will identify the relevant statutory instruments and the relevant sections that deal with procurement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43292/22]

School Transport

Seán Sherlock

458. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the engagement he has had with the Minister for Education on the matter of school transport since June 2022; and if he will publish any correspondence shared with the Minister for Education on same. [43361/22]

Departmental Advertising

Seán Sherlock

459. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount his Department has spent on advertising on social media in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount spent per platform; and the campaigns per platform, in tabular form. [43380/22]

Public Sector Pensions

James Lawless

460. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the spouse's, widow's and orphan's pensions for pre- and post-1995 retired State employee pensioners are calculated the same way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43507/22]

Local Authorities

Fergus O'Dowd

461. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details on the total amounts of moneys awarded to Louth County Council by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will seek details on the total moneys drawn down and spent by Louth County Council over the same years, in tabular form, and, if not spent, the total moneys that were returned to his Department over the same years, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43525/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Ged Nash

462. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the approval for an increase in the pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme by 2% per annum; if he will provide an update on the timeline for the agreed pension increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43555/22]

An Garda Síochána

Jim O'Callaghan

463. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the necessary funding will be secured to provide wheelchair accessibility for members of the public entering the public office to Mountjoy Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43578/22]

Office of Public Works

Neasa Hourigan

464. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the dwellings and habitable structures in the ownership of the Office of Public Works in the Phoenix Park, in tabular form; if he will identify whether those dwellings or habitable structures are currently occupied; the basis under which they are allocated; any rent received; and the basis for same. [43612/22]

Public Services Provision

Richard Bruton

465. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a general requirement across the public service that there must be a fallback paper-based option for access to public services for those who are not computer literate. [43653/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Ring

466. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reinstate extended Covid leave with pay for teachers who contracted long-Covid from working in a Covid-19 exposed environment, such as special education teachers working with unmasked children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43751/22]

National Monuments

Seán Sherlock

467. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of access at a site (details supplied) in County Cork. [43815/22]

School Transport

Seán Sherlock

468. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will immediately make funds available to hire more school bus drivers once the relevant Minister agrees to lift the ban on school bus drivers over the age of 70 in order to make more school transport bus drivers available. [43938/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Noel Grealish

469. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the pay increases under the public sector pay deal will be extended to the pensions of retired public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43957/22]

Flood Risk Management

Seán Sherlock

470. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood relief works for Glanmire, Cork city. [44001/22]

Semi-State Bodies

Catherine Murphy

471. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount collected by way of dividend from commercial semi-State companies in each of the past five years to date, by amount and company, in tabular form; the policy in respect of dividend payments to the Exchequer from commercial semi-State bodies; the way in which dividends are redistributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44044/22]

Public Sector Pay

Cormac Devlin

472. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of bringing Houses of the Oireachtas staff employed under the scheme for secretarial assistance under the terms of Building for Momentum, including the recent pay deal, by grade, in tabular form; if he will consider offering these staff a similar package while historical negotiations continue given the impact of inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44056/22]

State Properties

Róisín Shortall

473. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the opening hours of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Glasnevin, can be extended given that they are very restrictive, especially in summer months; if he will engage with the Office of Public Works in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44185/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Holly Cairns

474. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to ensure the implementation of a pensions agreement by a semi-State body (details supplied). [44315/22]

Office of Public Works

Claire Kerrane

475. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of full-time qualified stonemasons employed by the OPW as of 1 January 2021 and 26 August 2022, in tabular form. [44341/22]

Flood Risk Management

Peadar Tóibín

457. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications that have been made through the Office of Public works minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme for projects in County Wexford; the number of these applications that have been approved; and the number that have been rejected in tabular form. [39784/22]

Departmental Advertising

Peadar Tóibín

458. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39960/22]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

459. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; and if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39978/22]

Departmental Legal Cases

Peadar Tóibín

460. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39996/22]

Departmental Legal Services

Peadar Tóibín

461. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40014/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

462. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [40032/22]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

463. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times that he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days that he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip in tabular form. [40050/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

464. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount that his Department spent on rented accommodation in Portlaoise in 2019, 2020 and 2021 given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40127/22]

Heritage Schemes

Patrick Costello

465. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 13 January 2021, when the requested information which has been repeatedly sought regarding reports of investigation of complaints against management of Kilmainham Gaol will be provided. [40212/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

466. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the rent review of an office building complex (details supplied); the engagement that he and his representatives have had with the building's landlord since June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40230/22]

Office of Public Works

Paul Kehoe

467. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the restaurant and associated services in Kennedy Park and Arboretum, New Ross, County Wexford are closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40408/22]