Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Revenue Commissioners

Brian Stanley

142. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will consider commissioning an investigation to review the tax agreement signed between the Revenue Commissioners and the courier sector in October 1997 (details supplied) to assess the grounds upon which the deal was signed, the financial implications to the State and to the workers involved and the knock-on effect to other sectors. [61506/21]

Psychological Assessments

Brian Stanley

576. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if psychological assessments of needs are being carried out in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise, County Laois; the number of same carried out to date in 2021; the longest waiting time; and the number of persons on the waiting lists. [62779/21]

Psychological Assessments

Brian Stanley

584. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise including all posts that are in place; and the number in each one. [62830/21]

Animal Carcase Disposal

Brian Stanley

613. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the collection of dead dogs from private property, public spaces or roadways; and if there is role for the knackeries to collect same. [62430/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

45. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the cost within the National Broadband Plan for the use of the infrastructure of Eir over the duration of the contract. [61451/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of connections that the National Broadband Plan has made in total; and the total projected connections by December 2022. [61450/21]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Brian Stanley

442. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is of the view that the 1997 Revenue Commissioners courier sector tax agreement which was discontinued in 2019 was in keeping with her Department’s factors for determining the employment status of courier workers (details supplied). [61639/21]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Brian Stanley

443. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of test cases that were undertaken prior to her Department’s establishment of criteria in 1995 to determine the formal insurability and employment status of courier workers. [61640/21]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Brian Stanley

444. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific legal basis for an appeals officer in 1995 to establish a set of criteria in relation to determining the employment status of a group and class of workers specifically in relation to establishing a set of criteria to determine the employment status of courier workers. [61641/21]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Brian Stanley

445. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasoning of her Department for each of the three factors established by her Department in 1995 with regard to the determination of employment status of courier drivers (details supplied). [61642/21]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Brian Stanley

446. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department did not amend the 1995 determining factors for employment status of courier drivers following the outcome of a Supreme Court case (details supplied). [61643/21]

Tax and Social Welfare Codes

Brian Stanley

447. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if a statement (details supplied) by the Secretary General of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in a letter to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Accounts in September 2000 represents an accurate account of her Department’s actions. [61644/21]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brian Stanley

28. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding or technical support his Department offers to farmers that wish to form a renewable energy co-operative. [60397/21]

Renewable Energy Generation

Brian Stanley

30. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the involvement of farmers in the area of renewable energy. [60396/21]

Industrial Relations

Brian Stanley

126. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans in relation to the sectoral employment order for the electrical contracting sector. [60395/21]

Employment Rights

Brian Stanley

143. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to introduce legislation to provide hospitality workers with a legal right to their tips, service charges and other gratuities. [60394/21]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Brian Stanley

194. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the yearly weight of US military cargo through Irish airspace in stone and kilograms in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [60961/21]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Brian Stanley

195. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the number of US military troops that have travelled through Shannon Airport in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [60962/21]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Brian Stanley

196. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the number of exemptions which were issued for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to US military at Shannon Airport in each of the years 2010 and 2020, in tabular form. [60963/21]

Departmental Data

Brian Stanley

227. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm the arrival of an aircraft (details supplied). [60966/21]

Defence Forces

Brian Stanley

231. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence the annual Army bill to the State for protecting the US military at Shannon Airport in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [60965/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Brian Stanley

285. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice the annual Garda bill to the State for protecting the US military at Shannon Airport in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [60964/21]

Care of the Elderly

Brian Stanley

132. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the day care facilities for the elderly are re-opened once refurbishment works are completed at Abbelyleix Hospital. [59222/21]

Care of the Elderly

Brian Stanley

188. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his short- term and long-term plans for day care facilities for the elderly for County Laois. [59223/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Brian Stanley

83. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress in the midlands regions on increasing the number of apprenticeships for skills in renewable energy, retrofitting homes and energy efficient construction. [58605/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Brian Stanley

86. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has plans to increase the number of apprenticeships in the Midlands in the area of retrofitting homes, renewable energy and energy efficient construction skills. [58604/21]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

510. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a follow-up appointment with orthodontic services in Tullamore, County Laois. [58297/21]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

515. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if patients in County Laois who require orthodontic treatment will have to travel to a clinic in Athlone from December 2021. [58320/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

518. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is keeping weekly or monthly breakdowns of the number of patients in ICU beds in hospitals who are vaccinated and unvaccinated; and if so, if the most recent statistics can be published. [58343/21]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

99. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if her officials will take on board the real problems with the building and prefects that a school (details supplied) is housed in. [55766/21]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

102. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if the project for a new building for a school (details supplied) will be accelerated. [55765/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

291. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children screened or assessed for speech and language therapy at the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise in 2020 and to date in 2021. [56585/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

292. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for speech and language therapy in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise; and the number waiting in excess of six and 12 months, respectively. [56588/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

294. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for physiotherapy in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise; and the number waiting in excess of six and 12 months, respectively. [56590/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

295. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for occupational therapy in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise; and the number waiting in excess of six and 12 months, respectively. [56591/21]

Departmental Data

Brian Stanley

265. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels in a centre (details supplied); the posts that are in place; and the number in each one. [56491/21]

Psychological Assessments

Brian Stanley

271. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if psychological assessments of needs are being carried out in a centre (details supplied); the number carried out to date in 2022; the longest waiting time; and number on the waiting lists. [56544/21]

Hospital Staff

Brian Stanley

539. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when funding will be provided for a senior dietician in Portlaoise Hospital for an adult insulin pump clinic. [55683/21]

Fire Stations

Brian Stanley

60. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will approve funding for a new fire station in Rathdowney and Stradbally, County Laois. [54360/21]

Fire Service

Brian Stanley

79. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress in addressing the difficulties in retaining part-time firefighters and improving their terms and conditions. [54361/21]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

575. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively, who provide services under the dental treatment services scheme. [54099/21]

Departmental Schemes

Brian Stanley

52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a deposit and return scheme for drink containers will be introduced to counter the problem of littering. [52543/21]

Illegal Dumping

Brian Stanley

63. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when legislation will be introduced to permit local authorities to use CCTV to prevent illegal dumping. [52542/21]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

121. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport when approval and funding will be provided for the local bus service in Portlaoise town. [52541/21]

Bus Services

Brian Stanley

123. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the progress made on the provision of bus shelters in County Laois in particular for Borris-in-Ossory, Castletown, Mountrath, Ballybrittas, Newtown, Crettyard and Ballylinan. [52540/21]

General Practitioner Services

Brian Stanley

368. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain general practitioners (details supplied) are charging old age pensioners, GMS card holders and cancer patients €50 to take bloods before they go for their treatment in the hospital. [53833/21]

Forestry Sector

Brian Stanley

23. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a single consent system for agri-forestry to cover planting, thinning and felling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50695/21]

Forestry Sector

Brian Stanley

33. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to deal with the crisis in the forestry sector due to the felling licence delays. [50694/21]

Hospital Facilities

Brian Stanley

190. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current progress of the Abbeyleix nursing unit; the new projected timeline for major capital works including an extension; and the estimated cost. [50626/21]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

224. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in the past 12 months to the school dental scheme in counties Laois and Offaly. [50627/21]

Fire Stations

Brian Stanley

438. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected timeline for the provision of the new fire station in Rathdowney, County Laois. [50431/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

729. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise, County Laois is fully operational; the number of children awaiting speech and language services there; and the longest waiting time. [50433/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

730. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children that are waiting for all services at the Spraoi centre, Portlaoise, County Laois; and the longest waiting time. [50436/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

844. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the go ahead for voluntary groups such as first aid responders to get back up and running will be given as soon as possible following the pandemic. [51050/21]

Rural Schemes

Brian Stanley

16. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the anticipated amount of funding that is expected to be provided to counties Laois and Offaly through the Leader programme in 2021. [49417/21]

Rural Schemes

Brian Stanley

66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding that has been provided to counties Laois and Offaly through the LEADER programme in 2019 and 2020. [49416/21]

Student Accommodation

Brian Stanley

59. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans that are being developed to increase student accommodations units for 2022-2023 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49414/21]

Student Accommodation

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties students have faced in finding accommodation in 2021-2022; and the steps that can be taken to provide more suitable units for students. [49415/21]

School Accommodation

Brian Stanley

290. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education her views on the urgency of providing additional classroom accommodation for a school (details supplied) given the need for six additional classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49545/21]

Pension Provisions

Brian Stanley

84. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that is being made regarding the terms and conditions for community employment supervisors, particularly regarding their demand for a pension scheme. [45187/21]

Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

159. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the likely or estimated number of cost-rental units that his Department will approve within the next 12 months. [46317/21]

Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

161. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the target number of units for affordable houses in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively in 2022 and 2023. [46316/21]

Tax Reliefs

Brian Stanley

294. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the total spend related to the Special Assignee Relief Programme in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [46674/21]

Waterways Issues

Brian Stanley

353. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the situation with Waterways Ireland in which water levels in the Grand Canal, in some cases have dropped by almost two metres making it impossible for barges to navigate. [46400/21]

School Staff

Brian Stanley

97. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if her Department will approve new terms and pay levels that are being sought by school secretaries who are not employed directly within the public services. [45186/21]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

150. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the progress made on the new building for a school (details supplied); and the estimated timeline for works. [45184/21]

School Facilities

Brian Stanley

255. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the detail of the current assessment of a school (details supplied) by her Department; and if her Department will now sanction a new school building. [45185/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brian Stanley

165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps being taken to put an adequate broadband service in place for a school (details supplied). [44389/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brian Stanley

241. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the steps that are being taken to get a broadband connection for a school (details supplied). [44421/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

86. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will call for the European Union to enforce a temporary TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver on Covid-19 vaccines. [43364/21]

Enterprise Policy

Brian Stanley

106. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has considered adopting the economic model of community wealth building which has been successful in Ayrshire, Scotland and Preston, England. [43363/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Brian Stanley

180. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if the criteria for the working from home allowance will be reviewed given that those who availed of the help to buy scheme to purchase their home in 2020 are currently precluded from it. [41644/21]

Land Issues

Brian Stanley

891. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice if she will introduce legislation to regulate the height of boundary hedges and trees growing on boundaries between private gardens and adjoining properties. [41922/21]

Tax Appeals Commission

Brian Stanley

314. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if he will authorise the appointment of additional appeals commissioners for the Tax Appeals Commission; and if the existing temporary appeals commissioners will clear the backlog of appeals. [39741/21]

Home Care Packages

Brian Stanley

1654. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the system that is in place for holiday cover in home care services when annual leave is being taken given that patients are being left without care each morning and evening, services which are being provided by a company (details supplied). [34746/21]

Disability Services

Brian Stanley

2151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to reduce waiting times for autism services in counties Laois and Offaly. [36196/21]

Health Services

Brian Stanley

2152. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to reduce waiting times for speech and language, occupational physiotherapy and child psychology services in counties Laois and Offaly. [36195/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brian Stanley

86. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has considered the role that social and labour procurement clauses could play in the development of economies in rural Ireland. [38307/21]

Community Development Projects

Brian Stanley

107. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has considered introducing a model of community wealth building similar to that implemented in Preston, England and North Ayrshire, Scotland to help develop rural areas. [38306/21]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

81. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to resolve the problems with the medical card for the dental treatment services scheme in counties Laois and Offaly. [27791/21]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

168. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for medical card patients who cannot access urgent dental treatment due to the refusal of dentists in counties Laois and Offaly to work under the dental treatment services scheme. [27792/21]

Technological Universities

Brian Stanley

11. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the role his Department played in the appointment of a person (details supplied) to a position. [36551/21]

Technological Universities

Brian Stanley

16. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there was a compliant appointment process for the appointment of a person (details supplied) to a position. [36550/21]

An Garda Síochána

Brian Stanley

119. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice the number of complaints and allegations received by the Garda Ombudsman in each of the years 2017 to 2020 regarding members of An Garda Síochána. [36813/21]

An Garda Síochána

Brian Stanley

127. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice the number of criminal investigations which were opened by the Garda Ombudsman against members of An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [36812/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

408. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to implement a system to record the number of deaths in all direct provision centres in keeping with the request by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. [36557/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

409. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were resident in direct provision centres in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [36558/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Brian Stanley

551. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department spends each year using the storage facilities operated by a company (details supplied) [29985/21]

Health Service Executive

Brian Stanley

552. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the hospitals here that have a contract with a company (details supplied). [29986/21]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

38. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the estimated total cost and capital being made available for the construction of a school (details supplied). [34715/21]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the timeline for the expected beginning and completion of construction work at a school (details supplied). [34714/21]

Employment Support Services

Brian Stanley

123. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of funding allocated to local employment services and jobs clubs in 2019 and 2020. [35008/21]

Youth Unemployment

Brian Stanley

127. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered increasing the role of local employment services and jobs clubs as part of the plan to tackle increased unemployment rates for younger persons. [35009/21]

Health Services

Brian Stanley

511. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if an emergency responder will be put in place given the important safeguarding role as it appears that HIQA do not monitor emails or answer telephone calls outside of business hours.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27201/21]

Social Welfare Code

Brian Stanley

558. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will review the income thresholds for the blind welfare allowance and increase them in the forthcoming budget. [33266/21]

Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new income threshold for social housing in County Laois will be announced; and the stage the process is currently at. [33284/21]

Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

88. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new income threshold for social housing in County Offaly will be announced; and the stage the process is currently at. [33285/21]

Pensions Reform

Brian Stanley

415. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the rules to qualify for the blind pension to enable those who are in receipt of the invalidity pension to qualify for it. [33265/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

141. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 1 June 2021, his views on the fact that there are no penalties included in the National Broadband Plan; if his attention was drawn to this fact when the contract was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32271/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

159. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 1 June 2021, if his position on the National Broadband Plan has changed or remains the same as outlined in correspondence (details supplied) of 1 April 2019; and his views on the statement in the reply which outlines that the National Broadband Plan is significantly behind schedule. [32272/21]