Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Staff

Steven Matthews

105. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the lack of available substitute primary school teachers in County Wicklow; the initiatives that she is supporting to reduce the impact on schools and to increase the number of teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53691/22]

Environmental Policy

Steven Matthews

331. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total number of tree preservation orders that are currently in place nationally; the number that were issued in the past five years, broken down by local authority area as designated under section 205 of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53483/22]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

335. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total number of special amenity areas currently in place nationally; the number designated in the past five years by local authority area, as designated under section 202 of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53488/22]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

336. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of protected structures that are currently designated nationally; the number assigned this status in the past five years by local authority area as designated under section 202 of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53490/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

81. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the reason employees from an organisation (details supplied) and other section 39 organisation workers were excluded from the Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52466/22]

Medical Cards

Steven Matthews

172. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the dental treatment services scheme; if the additional funding allocated by his Department to this scheme in the past six months has led to an increase in the number of dentists accepting medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52427/22]

Flood Risk Management

Steven Matthews

209. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 4 October 2022, if the attention of his Department has been drawn to any flood risks associated with a site (details supplied); if any previous flooding incidents took place that caused damage; if so, if this was considered when replacing oil tanks at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52536/22]

Dental Services

Steven Matthews

325. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Departmental review of the dental medical card scheme; if a timeline can be provided for its completion; his plans to alleviate access issues to dentists for medical card holders in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43851/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Steven Matthews

88. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the initiatives that he plans to encourage the recruitment of apprentices in the renewable energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51441/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Steven Matthews

131. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the initiatives that he has facilitated to encourage the recruitment of apprentices to the construction sector in order to achieve construction targets as set out in Housing for All; if he is considering any additional measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51440/22]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

411. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 389 of 4 October 2022, if her attention has been drawn to an application by a school (details supplied) for temporary accommodation; if she will advance the approval of this urgent application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51129/22]

Environmental Schemes

Steven Matthews

466. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) will be considered for future iterations of the Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme; if this programme will be expanded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51846/22]

Food Poverty

Steven Matthews

59. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that her Department is taking to tackle the issue of food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50429/22]

Ukraine War

Steven Matthews

102. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons from Ukraine who are being housed in private properties in which the owner is in receipt of the recognition payment; if he will provide an update on the number of pledged properties which have been deemed suitable for the placement of a person or family from Ukraine; the number of such people who have been placed in pledged accommodation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50217/22]

Departmental Strategies

Steven Matthews

131. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to bring forward the completed anti-racism strategy soon; the way in which he envisages that the strategy will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50214/22]

Road Projects

Steven Matthews

193. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he will take to ensure that local authorities are adequately funding to address new noise mitigation requirements associated with road noise; if an action plan that identifies key locations that need to be addressed is already available at council level; if funding will be forthcoming to support same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50807/22]

Housing Schemes

Steven Matthews

231. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding changes to the cost rental equity loan scheme; if the total level of funding available from his Department that has been increased to account for these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50818/22]

School Transport

Steven Matthews

270. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if she will consider supporting funding for travel passes to be used on all public transport services for staff of special schools, only to be used while travelling with their students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50962/22]

Water Pollution

Steven Matthews

65. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request that Irish Water and the Environmental Protection Agency investigate the cause of the confirmed presence of methylisoborneol in the water supply for County Wicklow and south County Dublin; if methylisoborneol has been found in other water supplies nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50487/22]

Departmental Schemes

Steven Matthews

68. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the allocation of Croí Cónaithe funding by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50557/22]

Local Authorities

Steven Matthews

69. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the instructions and information that was provided to local authorities regarding the way to account for and administrate the purchase of a residential property in the context of a tenant being in receipt of HAP and the owner seeks to sell this property to the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50560/22]

Energy Conservation

Steven Matthews

76. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the delivery of a retrofitting programme for schools built before 2008 as committed to in the National Development Plan; the way that schools can seek support to fund these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49780/22]

School Transport

Steven Matthews

85. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the review of school transport places following the additional funding provided in Budget 2023; the timeline for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49758/22]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

379. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding any recent meetings held between her Department and the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board in relation to a new school building for a school (details supplied); the status of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49547/22]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

408. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the need to upgrade and retrofit the old part of a school building (details supplied); if the building can be assessed to establish the level of work required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35391/22]

Financial Services

Steven Matthews

104. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a report published by an organisation (details supplied); if he has considered the recommendations made in the report in relation to the provision of mortgages and other financial products to cancer survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48708/22]

Housing Schemes

Steven Matthews

143. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current income threshold eligibility for social housing in the greater Dublin area including counties Wicklow, Meath and Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48760/22]

Public Transport

Steven Matthews

232. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider creating free travel passes to be used on all public transport services for staff of special schools, only to be used when travelling with their students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48857/22]

Flood Risk Management

Steven Matthews

110. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the development of improved flood defences for Arklow town; if his Department is committed to having open public engagement on the proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48284/22]

Office of Public Works

Steven Matthews

115. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding works proposed for Glendalough visitor centre; if existing oil tanks are being replaced; if other non-fossil fuel-based heating methods were considered; if consideration has been given to potential flood risks for new infrastructure at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48289/22]

Commercial Rates

Steven Matthews

309. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request that local authorities collect full commercial rates on all commercial premises, including vacant units; if he will require a unit to be registered under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 with a view to maximising their usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48544/22]

Derelict Sites

Steven Matthews

311. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request local authorities to register a property on the derelict sites register in cases in which it is declared as uninhabitable by the owner in their local property tax return, with a view to maximising the number of residential units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48552/22]

School Accommodation

Steven Matthews

389. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to issues raised by management in a school (details supplied) in relation to the need to urgently install temporary accommodation to match the significant increase in pupil-intake in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48218/22]

Sports Funding

Steven Matthews

17. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to promote the uptake of the newly launched solar grant for public organisations, including sports clubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47503/22]

Equality Issues

Steven Matthews

34. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way gender inequality on the boards of Ireland's major sporting bodies in receipt of Government funding will be addressed, both now and into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47585/22]

Road Projects

Steven Matthews

92. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding funding for local authorities to provide for noise mitigation measures related to national roads; the discussions, if any, that have taken place with Wicklow County Council on its noise action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47697/22]

Building Regulations

Steven Matthews

20. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the departmental working group investigating potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied); the progress the group has made since the closure of the public consultation; the timeline for the group's report to his office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46881/22]

Information and Communications Technology

Steven Matthews

69. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the roll-out of the national online planning portal across all local authorities; the timeline for the portal to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47082/22]

Healthcare Policy

Steven Matthews

236. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report published by an organisation (details supplied); if he has considered the recommendations made in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47372/22]

Public Transport

Steven Matthews

69. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider creating free public transport passes for staff of special schools, only to be used when travelling with students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46703/22]

Housing Policy

Steven Matthews

188. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the report on social housing eligibility that reviewed income threshold eligibility amongst other considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47203/22]

Bus Services

Steven Matthews

73. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Connecting Ireland programme; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45684/22]

Rail Network

Steven Matthews

92. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding DART plus; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45681/22]

Veterinary Services

Steven Matthews

41. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the eligibility for tax relief for registration fees to newly-qualified veterinary nurses upon registering with the Veterinary Council of Ireland given that this is already in place for a number of similar professions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46093/22]

Energy Policy

Steven Matthews

73. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans regarding supports for SMEs that are seeking to significantly reduce energy consumption; if any capital grant funding proposals for permanent alterations to premises are under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44622/22]

Energy Policy

Steven Matthews

86. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the support scheme for energy audits; the number of SMEs that have successfully applied for this scheme to date; the initiatives that are in place to increase the uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44621/22]

Public Transport

Steven Matthews

192. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the parameters of the TaxSaver tickets for public transport in the context of employees working increasingly in hybrid set-ups as the current system benefits those who commute on a daily basis but not other work patterns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45616/22]

Electric Vehicles

Steven Matthews

193. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport has been drawn to concerns related to the Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive as some EV users have experienced difficulty in accessing this reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45625/22]

Schools Building Projects

Steven Matthews

313. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the proposed new school building for a community college (details supplied); the basis for any delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45519/22]

Foreign Birth Registration

Steven Matthews

218. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a foreign birth registration (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45285/22]