Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

44. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the throughput of patients being treated in key categories and the trends in patient numbers compared to the corresponding period in 2022 and to the equivalent period in 2019, before Covid struck. [48359/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Bruton

82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the throughput of the National Treatment Purchase Agency in 2023; and the plans for 2024. [48358/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Bruton

156. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the latest information on the purchases of homes by first-time buyers and the supply of affordable homes for purchase by such buyers. [48356/23]

Local Government Reform

Richard Bruton

164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals he plans to table for consideration by the citizens of Dublin of future governance for the city. [48357/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

210. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will indicate the number of requests from the trustees of pension funds of state bodies for increases to be made to pensioners which are now outstanding and awaiting ministerial approval; under what circumstances would such increases be rejected in the present inflationary environment; and if steps can be taken to speed up the processing of such applications. [49140/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

310. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of current vacancies in community health posts serving the Balbriggan area, including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49118/23]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

32. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance whether the implications of a new approach to taxing medical partnerships for the wider policy arrangements in health have been assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48967/23]

General Practitioner Services

Richard Bruton

132. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether the implications of a new approach to taxing medical partnerships for the wider policy arrangements in Health have been assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48966/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

49. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date in rolling out a capital programme for childcare and putting in place a development agency for the sector. [48354/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

71. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has examined the sustainability of different segments of the childcare sector; and how he intends to use the additional resources allocated in the budget for core funding. [48355/23]

Road Safety

Richard Bruton

241. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the approach he intends to adopt to setting new speed limits; how he will ensure that there is a focus on dangerous speeds, rather than on minor exceedances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47930/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Richard Bruton

263. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if using an electric powered scooter or bike is an offence against which Garda enforcement is possible; and whether the new legislation on the regulation of such vehicles requires regulations or a commencement date before they become effective. [48319/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Richard Bruton

562. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she plans to review the DEIS status of schools now that the results of Census 2022 have been reported; if she envisages granting a new DEIS status to any schools in the near future; how the disadvantage status of a person in homeless accommodation is assessed under the scheme; and whether this might result in the disadvantage status being misread. [48733/23]

Immigration Policy

Richard Bruton

797. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the security checks that are carried out on international applicants immigrating to Ireland; whether the Irish Immigration Service carries out criminal record checks on people arriving from other European countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47466/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Richard Bruton

825. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice her views on the reports that the number of checks for dangerous driving have fallen sharply; and if she plans any particular initiatives to emphasise the need for compliance to reduce road deaths. [47931/23]

Children in Care

Richard Bruton

971. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason foster allowance reduces at 18 years of age, even if the person is in full-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47251/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1058. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the compliance and standards that will be required of childminders who seek to participate in the national childcare scheme from September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48317/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

8. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what programmes of public expenditure will be subject to evaluation in the coming year; and whether this process needs to be reformed [46962/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

14. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the budgeting process operated by his Department promotes innovation to a sufficient extent. [46963/23]

Climate Change Policy

Richard Bruton

63. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the top priorities in 2024 for carbon emission abatement in agriculture, in marine and in forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46964/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46965/23]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Richard Bruton

121. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the standards that apply to radiation emissions from telecommunication masts; if different standards apply where they are in close proximity to residential areas, and if the standards applied are updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47120/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

45. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46967/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46969/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46966/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

148. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions her Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if she plans to step up activity. [46970/23]

State Pensions

Richard Bruton

102. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of persons who were allowed to remain long-term on illness benefit when restricted duration was first introduced, but who now on reaching retirement age, find that the required paid stamps have increased to 520 paid stamps, and thus have no pension rights, whereas persons on invalidity pension who also have been long-term unable to work, are allowed waive the obligation; the number of persons that are on long-term illness benefit; and her views on the fairness of this apparent differential treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46423/23]

Bus Services

Richard Bruton

169. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport for the delivery date of all proposed BusConnects routes serving the Swords area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46457/23]

Public Services Provision

Richard Bruton

214. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has taken steps to ensure that across the public service, there are alternative forms of access for those who are not equipped to use digital systems; and if telephone access alternatives with monitored speed of response and hubs in the community are part of a robust alternative. [46618/23]

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]