Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Tax Code

Darren O'Rourke

297. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if the increase in the carbon tax has been subject to a human rights and equality impact assessment as required under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 with particular consideration for the vulnerability of members of the Travelling community to energy and transport poverty, particularly those living in very poor quality and or substandard housing and caravans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35172/20]

Legislative Measures

Darren O'Rourke

389. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reintroduce the emergency management and fire and public safety Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35315/20]

Ministerial Meetings

Darren O'Rourke

405. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken to the ambassador of New Zealand to Ireland in the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35309/20]

Naval Service

Darren O'Rourke

415. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence if funding will be provided in 2021 for the construction of two additional berths for Naval Service vessels at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35310/20]

Schools Refurbishment

Darren O'Rourke

471. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works will be finished on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35311/20]

Schools Refurbishment

Darren O'Rourke

472. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works will be finished on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35312/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

490. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports in place or that will be put in place for a person experiencing long-term Covid-19 given the significant additional medical and other costs that will be incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34622/20]

Garda Equipment

Darren O'Rourke

644. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda public order unit vans attached to each Garda division as of 3 November 2020, in tabular form. [35308/20]

HSE Staff

Darren O'Rourke

757. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of two additional full-time consultant geneticists for the HSE National Rare Disease Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35313/20]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

79. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the monitoring system in place for potential overcrowding issues on the DART service due to the reduction of capacity under level 5 of the living with Covid-19 plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34363/20]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if data is being collected to monitor if there is a need for extra DART and other transport services to facilitate social distancing under level 5 of the living with Covid-19 plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/20]

Tax Reliefs

Darren O'Rourke

100. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the amount of tax revenue forgone through tax reliefs related to forestry by income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, value added tax, gift and inheritance tax, stamp duty and other relevant tax relief in each of the years 2010 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34416/20]

Tax Reliefs

Darren O'Rourke

101. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if the analysis and reasoning behind the tax reliefs in the forestry sector will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34417/20]

Forestry Sector

Darren O'Rourke

340. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the report FRL 2021-2015: Ireland, a National Forestry Accounting Plan published by his Department showing forestry is a net source of CO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34418/20]

Energy Data

Darren O'Rourke

252. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of domestic gas and electricity disconnections for failure to pay a bill in each month to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32739/20]

Ministerial Functions

Darren O'Rourke

271. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of times he has used his power under section 10A of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999; the area of policy direction that was given to the Commission each time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33413/20]

Consumer Rights

Darren O'Rourke

275. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative protections in place to ensure customers who are having difficulties with the customer service received from their broadband or phone provider are properly addressed; the recourse consumers have if they are unsatisfied with the way in which their complaint is handled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/20]

Commission for Communications Regulation

Darren O'Rourke

277. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Communications Regulation in 2019 by the name of the company in respect of which the complaint was lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33901/20]

Commission for Communications Regulation

Darren O'Rourke

278. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Communications Regulation in 2019 by the type of complaint lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33902/20]

Commission for Regulation of Utilities

Darren O'Rourke

279. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in 2019 by the name of the company in respect of which the complaint was lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33903/20]

Commission for Regulation of Utilities

Darren O'Rourke

280. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of complaints made to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in 2019 by the type of complaint lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33904/20]

National Car Test

Darren O'Rourke

361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason NCT certificates were backdated to the original date of an appointment when two appointments were necessary due to faults with NCT testing equipment and the second appointment was delayed due to the closure of testing centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33760/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the reason driver theory tests have been suspended under level 5 restrictions when many theory test centres are already well equipped to deal with applicants in a safe manner given the separation of desks and individual cubicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33761/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

363. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driver theory test by the number of weeks waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33762/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

364. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the waiting times per driver test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33763/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

365. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting on a driver test by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33764/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

366. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers that are currently employed; the number employed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33765/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

367. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver instructors currently operating; the number that were operating in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33766/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

368. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has introduced legislation that makes it mandatory to wear face coverings in taxis as a safety precaution against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

394. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if he will make the CRSS scheme available to private bus operators; if he has had discussions with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33768/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

1173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of Covid-19 transmission that have been identified as having taken place in gyms and swimming pools in each month to date 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32522/20]

Mental Health Policy

Darren O'Rourke

1433. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the way in which the additional funding announced in budget 2021 for mental health will be allocated in tabular form; the amount that will be provided to organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33758/20]

Employment Rights

Darren O'Rourke

17. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the redundancy situation regarding travel agency workers whose employer may not be insolvent, but in view of the cash flow problems in the sector may have to make some staff redundant; the impact workers who have been placed on various State income support schemes or who have already been temporarily laid off earlier in 2020 could have on this; if he will provide clarity in this area for workers in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31888/20]

Driver Test

Darren O'Rourke

40. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if driver instructors are considered essential workers under level 4 of the Plan for Living with Covid-19; if driver tests can take place under level 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31889/20]

Child Detention Centres

Darren O'Rourke

194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he is satisfied that Oberstown Children Detention Campus is implementing and adhering to the best Covid-19 practices; the procedures in place to protect children and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31965/20]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Darren O'Rourke

141. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane as mentioned in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31154/20]

Budget 2021

Darren O'Rourke

147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the retrofit plans announced in budget 2021 including the target completions, the total budget, the source of this funding and the cost per house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31480/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

405. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the weekly income taxi drivers can earn in addition to claiming the pandemic unemployment payment, in light of the collapse of their industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31478/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

406. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the income support schemes of which taxi drivers can avail; the new schemes that were announced in budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31479/20]

Road Traffic Offences

Darren O'Rourke

531. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 15 September 2020, the number of cases prosecuted and e-scooters confiscated in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 for illegal use of e-scooters on public roads and in public places; if she will provide a breakdown of same on a six-month basis, that is, January to June and July to December 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31456/20]

Warmer Homes Scheme

Darren O'Rourke

101. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 of 6 October 2020, if he will provide a breakdown of the over 8,000 homes on the scheme waiting list by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30843/20]

School Transport

Darren O'Rourke

201. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of applicants for the school bus transport scheme for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, by the categories of concessionary and eligible. [30844/20]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

228. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if his attention has been drawn to the staffing crisis in the early years sector in County Meath; the steps he is taking to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30845/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Darren O'Rourke

288. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the date on which a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [30849/20]

Energy Prices

Darren O'Rourke

44. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if he has contacted electricity and gas providers in relation to proposed increases in prices during the Covid-19 pandemic; the providers he has made contact with; the outcome of these discussions; his views on not increasing energy prices during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29962/20]

Public Service Obligation Levy

Darren O'Rourke

45. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the impact the large increase in the PSO will have on electricity customers during the Covid-19 pandemic in view of the fact hundreds of thousands of persons are already struggling financially. [29963/20]

Irish Language

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the findings of a study (details supplied) and its follow-up reports; the steps she is taking to address the linguistic emergency in intergenerational transmission of Irish and its use in social networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30284/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

175. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that local authorities are compliant with the statutory imperative pursuant to a section of an Act (details supplied) that county development plans for counties containing a Gaeltacht area must include objectives for the promotion of Irish as the community language of the Gaeltacht; if this objective is assessed; if so, the way in which it is assessed; the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30285/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

176. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to direct local authorities containing Gaeltacht areas to prohibit the building of housing estates in areas in which Irish is a community language, that is, areas designated A and B in a study pursuant to a section of an Act (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30286/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

177. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide by regulation under a section of an Act (details supplied) that each planning application for planning permission affecting land in the Gaeltacht be accompanied by a linguistic impact assessment prepared by an independent expert in sociolinguistics, language planning or both that must objectively prove that the proposed development will increase the use of Irish relative to English locally; his views in respect of the assertion that the use of letters of support by current or former elected representatives for assessment by planning consultants with no language planning qualifications are insufficient and unsatisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30287/20]