Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

287. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if consideration is being given to an Irish-medium secondary school to serve the Swords area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46458/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

312. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an increase in payment to RTÉ pensioners is under consideration; if she will indicate how long has elapsed since the last increase; and whether the process for assessing this issue can be accelerated. [46641/23]

Departmental Funding

Richard Bruton

426. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase the stipends to PhDs working on research for agricultural agencies, in line with the recent increases made within the higher education system. [46224/23]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

443. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with services being provided in St. Michael’s House across its various locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46456/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

562. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health his views on whether additional incentives or pay increases are necessary for staff nurses working in bodies, such as St. Michael’s House, that receive direct funding from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46455/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

598. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health how the recruitment embargo will be managed to protect front line delivery, while other cost control measures are evolved; whether measures such as exempting the appointment of dentists, while continuing the embargo on dental nurses are self-defeating as one requires the other to deliver service. [46572/23]

Third Level Costs

Richard Bruton

635. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the grants which are available on a means-tested basis towards the student contribution charged by Irish colleges, to cover Irish students studying in the EU or the UK who face similar charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46245/23]

Education Policy

Richard Bruton

216. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the call for a national education strategy for gifted children; whether the current system for the allocation of resource teachers recognises the needs of gifted children; and if she will consider creating a strategy or issuing a circular to schools on the matter. [44697/23]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Bruton

217. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools that have ASD units in the Clontarf, Killester, Raheny school planning area; the number of new ASD which have been approved to open in the area; the expected date of opening of these additional units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44698/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Bruton

311. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has reviewed the data on the success of HAP-qualified tenants to obtain tenancies in Dublin; and if measures are under consideration to make the system more successful, either by shortening the administrative processes or by lifting the current caps. [44740/23]

Third Level Admissions

Richard Bruton

632. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has examined the cases of the students who earned a place on their chosen college course, when their papers were re-evaluated, but have been told it will not be available until next year; and if he will assess whether, for at least some of those students, it would be possible for the college to accommodate them without too much disruption. [44754/23]

Enterprise Policy

Richard Bruton

42. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has plans to address the challenges to Irish competitiveness outlined by the National Competitiveness Council. [44199/23]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Richard Bruton

58. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has analysed the main sources of pressure on business costs at present; and how he believes these might best be addressed. [44200/23]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Richard Bruton

39. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied that there is good oversight of the safety of telecommunications infrastructure in residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44018/23]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

414. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the policy of the children’s disability network teams for scheduling interventions for children in different age groups, aged two years and under, aged over two and under six, aged six and over, and so on; whether there has been a change in the way resources are allocated to different age groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43530/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Bruton

560. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the payment of the Covid bonus; and whether he has an estimate of those who have yet to receive payment. [44019/23]

Public Transport

Richard Bruton

11. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with discussions between the NTA and other agencies and a private developer in relation to privately developed transport infrastructure (details supplied). [43050/23]

Transport Policy

Richard Bruton

56. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the manner in which transport planning and road and transport infrastructures respond to the needs of fast-growing population areas, particularly around our cities. [43049/23]

Fiscal Policy

Richard Bruton

109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether tax policy can play a more active role in incentivising climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43048/23]

Economic Policy

Richard Bruton

160. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance how the international economic outlook will bear on Ireland’s economic performance and budgetary strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43047/23]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

163. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for a breakdown by county on SEAI home energy upgrades support by the Government from January 2023 to June 2023. [43306/23]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for a breakdown by county on free energy upgrades for low-income households from January 2023 to June 2023. [43307/23]

Hospital Charges

Richard Bruton

348. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health what the charges at hospitals will be from the start of 2024 for accident and emergency attendance, outpatient attendance, blood tests or diagnostic tests, inpatient care and private beds from the start of 2024. [43373/23]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Bruton

356. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will indicate his latest estimate of recipients of post-graduation student support from SUSI; if he will indicate their distribution between adjacent colleges and distance colleges, and within these categories at the special maintenance rate, at standard maintenance, at partial maintenance and at contribution reduction only support. [43379/23]

Legal Aid

Richard Bruton

168. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she has considered the case made by barristers that the FEMPI restrictions are being unfairly still applied to them; if any engagement is underway on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43007/23]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Bruton

200. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the supports in subsidies and VRT concessions which will be available to the purchaser of electric vehicles from the start of 2024, both hybrid and fully electric. [42424/23]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

247. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance what the structure of motor tax and of VRT will be from the start of 2024; and whether it will embody any new measures to promote more sustainable purchases. [42423/23]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Bruton

248. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the request that the tax relief for filmmaking should include requirements of more generous copyright for creative workers on these films, so that the same rights would be available in Ireland as in other countries. [42428/23]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

249. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the number of people who avail of the exemption from income taxes of room rental generating less than €14,000, and of childcare in the home of under €15,000; and if he will estimate the cost of each of these reliefs. [42432/23]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

282. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated number of claims and their duration under the employer funded sick pay scheme since it was introduced this year; whether he has any estimate of under-claiming of potential eligibility; whether steps are required to promote its full use and if he will indicate the phasing planned for increased periods of cover and the date from which they shall become effective. [42142/23]

Social Welfare Code

Richard Bruton

390. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate the waiting period of claims before social welfare recipients become eligible for back to education, work placement programmes, community employment, training support grant and JobsPlus; and if she has considered the change in these waiting periods or their standardisation. [42135/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

391. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the current estimated date for the commencement of the provision which would see a larger pension for those who work beyond age 66 years; if phasing arrangements are planned for introduction of same, and if she will outline the detail. [42136/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

392. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the current estimated date for the commencement of the provision which would see total contributions determine the size of pension paid; if phasing arrangements are planned for the introduction of same and if she will outline the detail. [42137/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

393. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the current estimated date for the commencement of the provision which would see a specific pension for carers; if phasing arrangements are planned for the introduction of same and if she will outline the detail. [42139/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

394. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the current estimated date for the commencement of the provision which would see auto-enrolment for a pension top-up; if the phasing arrangements are planned for the introduction of same and if she will outline the detail. [42140/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Bruton

536. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people who applied for the childminder development grant advertised in June 2023; whether he was satisfied with the take-up; and if he plans to extend or develop this type of scheme in 2024. [42426/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Bruton

537. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects Phase 1 of the extension of the national childcare programme to childminders to be complete; if the details of the remaining phases to be completed before childminders can be fully included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42427/23]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

541. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when vacancies in speech and language and occupational therapists in the north Dublin HSE region will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42465/23]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

624. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health what the means thresholds for the medical card and for the GP-only card that will apply from the start of 2024, will be; and whether it is intended that these will be indexed, in line with incomes or the cost of living, in the years ahead. [42413/23]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

625. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the expected number of medical card holders and the expected number of GP-only card holders; and the respective total number of people who will have cover under these cards. [42414/23]

General Practitioner Services

Richard Bruton

626. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the annual capitation payments which will be in place in 2024 for GPs to cover the provision of service to the different age groups; and the increase that this represents in each case. [42415/23]

Medical Cards

Richard Bruton

627. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the provisions in respect of means test for the medical card and for assessing savings for those aged 70 years and over from the start of 2024. [42416/23]

Departmental Policies

Richard Bruton

628. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the regime for sharing for prescriptions and for drugs refund from the start of 2024. [42417/23]

Hospital Charges

Richard Bruton

629. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health what the charges at hospitals will be from the start of 2024 for A&E attendance, outpatient attendance, blood tests/diagnostic tests, inpatient care, and for private beds from the start of 2024. [42418/23]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

630. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the terms under which a patient can obtain treatment abroad under the schemes from the start of 2024; and whether rules of access for care in Northern Ireland or the UK differ from those applying within Member States of the European Union. [42419/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Bruton

631. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether he has received any reports from the NTPF of the main types of procedures which it has been supporting; whether the target waiting time before an offer is made to patients is reported to be different for different procedures; and the scale of these differences. [42420/23]

Nursing Homes

Richard Bruton

632. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the system of assessing contribution by patients from their income and from their assets towards the cost of nursing home care under the fair deal scheme, that will be in place from the start of 2024; and if there are particular changes being made. [42421/23]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

710. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current estimate of first-time registration on traditional apprenticeships and newly developed apprenticeship, respectively; the number of occupation paths under each heading now in place and the further occupations which he anticipates will be in place by the end of 2024. [42143/23]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

711. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current estimate of recipients of undergraduate student support from SUSI, and if he will indicate their distribution between adjacent colleges and distant colleges, and within these categories at the special maintenance rate, at standard maintenance, at partial maintenance and at contribution reduction only support. [42144/23]

United Nations

Richard Bruton

34. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the progress being made in reforming the operation of the United Nations. [41750/23]