Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Legislative Measures

Brian Stanley

239. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce new legislation to deal with whistle-blower allegations. [27838/21]

Legislative Measures

Brian Stanley

240. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reform protected disclosure regulations. [27839/21]

Revenue Commissioners

Brian Stanley

72. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the number of settlements that have been made to the Revenue Commissioners by companies or employers due to bogus self-employment and unpaid PRSI in each of the years 2015 to 2020. [31499/21]

Revenue Commissioners

Brian Stanley

85. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the number of inspections of bogus self-employment carried out by the Revenue Commissioners excluding the construction sector in each of the years 2015 to 2020. [31500/21]

Credit Unions

Brian Stanley

386. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the extent of the restrictions on credit unions regarding the amount a customer can have on deposit; the purpose of the restrictions; and if this will be permanent. [31839/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Brian Stanley

70. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the recruitment campaign to increase the number of Workplace Relations Commission inspectors from 53 to the 90 inspectors it was authorised to recruit in 2006. [29943/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Brian Stanley

321. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the roll-out of the Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2021-2025 which is a specific focus on apprenticeships that would help address skill shortages in the housing sector. [29525/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Brian Stanley

322. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to address exploitative employment practices of apprentice workers by employers. [29526/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

71. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of completed connections made under the national broadband plan in 2020 and to date in 2021. [29371/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

124. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the National Broadband Plan has missed any of the deadlines set out in the contract agreed with National Broadband Ireland. [29372/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers who have been granted permission to remain in Ireland but are still living in direct provision centres; and the reason they remain in direct provision. [28442/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

90. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in direct provision centres who are sharing bedrooms with non-family members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28443/21]

Energy Policy

Brian Stanley

48. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has a strategy to develop a biomass sector to provide farmers with another income stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26924/21]

Agriculture Industry

Brian Stanley

55. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the introduction of a ban on below cost selling in the beef sector; and if he plans to take action to address same to ensure that farmers can receive a fair price for their produce. [26923/21]

Grant Payments

Brian Stanley

103. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address an anomaly in the SUSI grant scheme in circumstances in which a student applies initially as a dependent of their parents but subsequently gains a council tenancy and lives independently of their family. [26711/21]

Grant Payments

Brian Stanley

146. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an anomaly in the SUSI grant scheme will be addressed in circumstances in which a student applies initially as a dependent of their parents but subsequently gets married during the period of their third-level education but is still assessed as a dependent of their parents. [26710/21]

Social Welfare Fraud

Brian Stanley

75. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the practice of bogus self-employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25945/21]

Social Welfare Fraud

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that bogus self-employment practices have been in use in RTÉ and that a settlement has been made by RTÉ to the Revenue Commissioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25946/21]

Driver Test

Brian Stanley

238. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken for persons that have had a driver theory test cancelled on three occasions (details supplied). [25563/21]

Nursing Homes

Brian Stanley

268. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to put a complaint mechanism in place for residents of nursing homes and their families given that at present HIQA cannot investigate individual complaints. [24971/21]

Nursing Homes

Brian Stanley

269. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place to deal with welfare concerns regarding vulnerable residents in nursing homes at weekends. [24979/21]

Nursing Homes

Brian Stanley

281. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the protocol in place in circumstances (details supplied). [25022/21]

Driver Test

Brian Stanley

221. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport when testing for a full motorcycle licence will resume; and if, in cases in which the Initial Basic Training licence of an applicant expired in April 2021, they will now be eligible to do their test when they resume. [24696/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Brian Stanley

84. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the threshold for access to social housing in counties Laois and Offaly. [22866/21]

Housing Provision

Brian Stanley

101. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for an affordable housing scheme outside of Dublin and for cost-rental accommodation in counties Laois and Offaly. [22867/21]

Garda Stations

Brian Stanley

236. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if refurbishment works have commenced on Portlaoise Garda station; the duration of such works; and the estimated cost of such works. [23094/21]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Brian Stanley

279. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role An Bord Pleanála has regarding the development and planning regulations of windfarms. [22683/21]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Brian Stanley

280. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to revise regulations in relation to windfarm developments. [22684/21]

Planning Issues

Brian Stanley

281. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of co-living units which have been approved by An Bord Pleanála to date; the number of units still to be decided upon; and the number of co-living units which were fast-tracked to An Bord Pleanála through the strategic housing development scheme. [22686/21]

Planning Issues

Brian Stanley

282. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of biogas plant planning permission applications An Bord Pleanála has received in each of the past five years. [22687/21]

Hospital Data

Brian Stanley

614. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that presented at the accident and emergency department of Portlaoise Regional Hospital in each of the years of 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [23092/21]

Hospital Data

Brian Stanley

615. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that presented at the accident and emergency department of Tullamore Regional Hospital in each of the years of 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [23093/21]

National Children's Hospital

Brian Stanley

663. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when his Department will finalise and publish its assessment of the revised budget and timelines regarding the construction of the new national children’s hospital. [23253/21]

National Children's Hospital

Brian Stanley

664. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the detailed analysis compiled by the National Paediatric Health Development Board regarding the national children’s hospital which was submitted to his Department in early February 2021. [23254/21]

National Children's Hospital

Brian Stanley

665. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he is considering a more hands-on-approach to the resolving the ongoing dispute between a company (details supplied) and the National Paediatric Health Development Board considering the substantial delays to the construction of the national children’s hospital [23255/21]

Insurance Coverage

Brian Stanley

260. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the options available for a person in circumstances (details supplied). [21188/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

964. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1028, 1029 and 1030 of 24 February 2021, the details and all documentation related to donations over €100,000 for the past five years. [21600/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

965. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the HSE monitors the information on a website (details supplied) for any purposes, for example, in order to assess whether there might be a potential conflict of interest for the HSE or publicly funded healthcare organisations. [21601/21]

HSE Donations

Brian Stanley

966. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if an audit has been conducted to assess compliance with the HSE national financial regulation No. 17. [21602/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

967. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1028, 1029 and 1030 of 24 February 2021, if, benefits from a third party include educational expenses, for example, conference registration, meals, accommodation and travel expenses paid for by a private company; and if educational benefits are not included, the HSE policies on receipt of benefits associated with education from third parties. [21603/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

968. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1028, 1029 and 1030 of 24 February 2021, the amount that is considered of a value greater than nominal. [21604/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

969. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1028, 1029 and 1030 of 24 February 2021, if the policies discussed in the response, for example, National Financial Regulation-17. Voluntary Donations, Gifts, Bequests, Membership of Boards and Committees, applies to charitable organisations associated with publicly funded healthcare organisations such as a foundation (details supplied). [21605/21]

HSE Donations

Brian Stanley

970. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the details of all gifts associated with section 17.5.7 of National Financial Regulation-17 (details supplied). [21606/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brian Stanley

58. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans in relation to the implementation of social and green clauses in public procurement. [20403/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brian Stanley

98. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is engaging at European level to make social and green clauses more flexible in public procurement. [20404/21]

Living Wage

Brian Stanley

213. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made towards the Government's commitment to introduce a living wage for Irish workers by 2025. [20772/21]

Living Wage

Brian Stanley

214. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the implementation of a living wage; and if he is considering different age categories. [20773/21]

Living Wage

Brian Stanley

215. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the implementation of a living wage; and his views on whether students at third-level will be able to avail of the living wage if they are also working. [20774/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

2151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the home vaccination scheme is operational for those who are seriously incapacitated and cannot leave their home; and if not, when this scheme will commence. [19985/21]

Banking Sector

Brian Stanley

130. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if consultations are taking place on strengthening existing financial institutions following recent announcements of closures by banks (details supplied). [16748/21]

Banking Sector

Brian Stanley

137. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if his Department plans proposals for a publicly owned bank. [16747/21]

Maternity Services

Brian Stanley

871. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the policy of not allowing partners of pregnant women attend scans will be reviewed given that staff are vaccinated. [16359/21]

Departmental Contracts

Brian Stanley

1080. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when the lease on a hotel (details supplied) expires; and when the terms of the lease are to be reviewed. [17113/21]

Health Services

Brian Stanley

1081. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if break clauses were inserted into the HSE deal with a hotel (details supplied). [17114/21]

Ophthalmology Services

Brian Stanley

1124. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if there is an eye clinic available in Portlaoise, County Laois; and if so, the location of the service. [17306/21]

Ophthalmology Services

Brian Stanley

1126. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if there is a paediatric eye clinic in Portlaoise at the moment; and if so, the location it is operating from. [17311/21]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Brian Stanley

1030. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in order to receive a BP65 form, persons must apply online (details supplied). [15675/21]

Environmental Policy

Brian Stanley

60. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the policy in relation to the replacement of solid fuels as peat is being phased out. [13078/21]

Pensions Reform

Brian Stanley

621. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the living alone allowance should be accessed as income when calculating the income threshold for pensioners. [13484/21]

Pensions Reform

Brian Stanley

622. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to gradually increase the income threshold for pensioners for entitlements in forthcoming budgets. [13485/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

815. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the way the Covid vaccines are distributed to general practitioners such as by county or surgery; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of surgeries have not yet received a delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12818/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

64. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to address the situation of homes in rural areas that cannot and will not be serviced by private operators for broadband connection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11512/21]

Illegal Dumping

Brian Stanley

85. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress being made regarding legislation to allow local authorities to erect CCTV cameras in locations to prevent dumping of waste; and when it will be brought before Dáil Éireann. [11733/21]

Environmental Policy

Brian Stanley

86. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review and change its policy on the use of waste timber from the construction industry to allow it to be used for biomass in Ireland instead of it being exported for this same purpose. [11734/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

899. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the spend to date for hiring a hotel (details supplied); and the average occupancy rate of the facility for each month since 2020. [11736/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

900. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider bringing forward the vaccination of prison staff in view of the close-contact nature of their work and the current outbreak of Covid-19 in the Midlands Prison. [11737/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

286. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if persons on dialysis and who have other serious health problems can be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccinations. [10697/21]

School Transport

Brian Stanley

433. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if the surpluses from the school transport contract between her Department and Bus Éireann were entered into the audited profit and loss account of Bus Éireann in 2008, 2011 and 2014; and if Bus Éireann directors signed off on this action. [9652/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

967. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if a masseur will be allowed to operate in the current level 5 restrictions in cases in which they are providing therapy for medical reasons and clients have evidence of such conditions. [10105/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

1028. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the value of transfers of value received by HSE organisations from pharmaceutical companies from 2017 to 2019. [10513/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

1029. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the value of transfers of value received by HSE employees from pharmaceutical companies from 2017 to 2019. [10514/21]

HSE Data

Brian Stanley

1030. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has a policy on its staff and facilities receiving donations from pharmaceutical companies. [10515/21]

Illegal Dumping

Brian Stanley

29. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when legislation will be published by his Department to deal with the difficulties being encountered by local authorities that need to erect CCTV cameras in locations in which illegal dumping is taking place. [9032/21]

Trade Union Recognition

Brian Stanley

122. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that companies doing contract work for Iarnród Éireann are refusing to recognise trade unions representing their workers and may be in breach of the suppliers covenants with Iarnród Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8939/21]

Adoption Services

Brian Stanley

548. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 8 December 2020, the progress being made on providing adoptive leave and removing the lacuna in the legislation that discriminates against same-sex couples in view of the commitment given by the previous Government. [8967/21]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Brian Stanley

969. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the status of promised legislation to cap the assessments of assets for the fair deal scheme; and when such legislation will be enacted. [8941/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brian Stanley

80. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason civil and public servants cannot avail of the working-from-home allowance of €3.20 per week. [7545/21]

Vacant Sites

Brian Stanley

116. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount collected by each local authority in vacant site levies in 2019 and 2020, respectively; and the number of sites from which each council collected levies in each year. [7707/21]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Brian Stanley

241. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice when legislation will be brought forward by her Department to deal with the difficulties being encountered by local authorities that need to erect CCTV cameras in locations in which illegal dumping is taking place. [7708/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

257. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Covid-19 restrictions will be reviewed; and if he will consult with NPHET with regard to the possibility of restarting work on individual housing one off projects. [5013/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Brian Stanley

398. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on whether the pandemic unemployment payment is to be included in the means test assessment for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5030/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

660. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if measures will be put in place to protect taxi drivers from Covid-19 who are carrying patients and samples from hospitals and between hospitals given that they are not being provided with PPE; the position of taxi drivers who are providing patient transfers on the vaccination programme list in terms of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5199/21]

Ministerial Meetings

Brian Stanley

121. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken to the Irish Ambassador to South Africa in the past three months. [4630/21]

School Staff

Brian Stanley

151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of providing two additional guidance counsellor positions for schools with over 900 pupils. [4632/21]

Disability Allowance

Brian Stanley

174. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in a full year if the disability allowance increased by €5.50. [4635/21]

Garda Transport Provision

Brian Stanley

202. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice the number of 1200cc, 1400cc and 1500cc motorcycles, respectively, in the Garda fleet. [4628/21]

HSE Staff

Brian Stanley

235. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the staffing numbers for the HSE pest control services in CHO8; and if there are vacancies awaiting to be filled. [4633/21]

Driver Test

Brian Stanley

109. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if cancellations for driver tests will be offered in the first instance to essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. [3808/21]

Medical Cards

Brian Stanley

801. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide CBD oil under the medical card scheme; and the means of reimbursement for the cost or part of same in circumstances in which it is prescribed by a doctor. [4179/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

608. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position of essential workers providing massage therapy for pain management; and if they can operate under the current Covid-19 lockdown. [2688/21]

Ministerial Communications

Brian Stanley

611. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the reason members of Dáil Éireann have not received responses to emails or phone calls to his office for the past two weeks; and if he will provide a contact number for Members to receive replies to queries during the current restrictions. [2691/21]

Recycling Policy

Brian Stanley

88. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will allow used timber, that is waste and used timber recovered from construction, to be collected and segregated for use as biomass in view of the fact it is been currently exported for use as biomass to other jurisdictions. [45125/20]

Community Employment Schemes

Brian Stanley

568. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of community employment participants who are over 55 years of age; the maximum number of years they can be on the scheme; and the variation that may apply to those who entered the community employment scheme under the part-time jobs opportunity. [45085/20]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

1024. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if centres or premises have been secured in counties Laois and Offaly in terms of the roll-out of vaccinations. [1463/21]

Vaccination Programme

Brian Stanley

1027. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if staff have been designated for administering vaccines; the training carried out; and the timeframe for community vaccinations. [1468/21]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

248. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes and premises in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively, that are still awaiting connection to broadband under the national broadband plan. [44372/20]

Alternative Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

249. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department developed a comprehensive policy on the use of biomass for generating power. [44373/20]

Alternative Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will allow Bord Na Móna to collect and segregate used timber to be used as biomass for power generation as is happening in other jurisdictions. [44374/20]