Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

178. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans pursuant to section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct that in the case of a person with long-established links to a part of an electoral division within a Gaeltacht area, the linguistic impact assessment not be determinative for a one-off house on land in that electoral division to which that person has had the freehold title for over five years, but that planning permission granted contain a condition to prevent the occupation of the house by non-Irish speaking household other than the person to whom permission was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30288/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

179. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans pursuant to section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct that persons who establish by means of assessment under the objective of a university a B2 level of fluency in spoken Irish be deemed to have local housing needs for the purpose of a planning permission application in a Gaeltacht area and that this be the sole measure of language ability used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30289/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

180. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans pursuant to section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct that the percentage of holiday homes in an electoral division within a Gaeltacht area not exceed 10% of the housing stock of that electoral division and in cases in which it does exceed 10%, that planning permission applications that would increase the number of holiday homes be refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30290/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

87. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if the initial studies as agreed in the NDP on the proposed railway line from Derry to Dublin have been commissioned; if he has spoken to the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland in relation to any potential proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29301/20]

Bus Services

Darren O'Rourke

88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will work with his counterparts in the Stormont Executive to develop sustainable and fair pricing structures for cross-Border bus services; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that bus ticket offers vary significantly depending on the place of departure, between Derry and Dublin for example; his views on whether the price should be the same regardless of the location a bus departs from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29304/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether an all-island approach to future rail provision is essential; if he has engaged with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland to discuss this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29305/20]

Brexit Negotiations

Darren O'Rourke

155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the latest discussions that have taken place with the UK Government on the ongoing dispute over the ownership of Lough Foyle; the discussions that have taken place recently in this regard in terms of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29302/20]

Harbours and Piers

Darren O'Rourke

321. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to continue to work with Donegal County Council and Foyle Port on their proposals to develop the Greencastle Harbour; if he has spoken with his counterpart in the Stormont Executive regarding collaboration in terms of developing Lough Foyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29303/20]

Warmer Homes Scheme

Darren O'Rourke

191. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if it is the case that works on the SEAI warmer home scheme were suspended or are suspended due to Covid-19; the number of homes affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28793/20]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

195. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount of current Exchequer funding provided for 2019 and forecast to be provided for 2020 and 2021 for the provision of public transport via the National Transport Authority, NTA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28124/20]

Public Service Obligation Services

Darren O'Rourke

196. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if the emergency designation of five strategic maritime routes as PSO routes for a period of three months will be extended; if so, the Exchequer funding provided for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28125/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Darren O'Rourke

231. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 29 September 2020, the total amount of additional Covid-related Exchequer expenditure for 2021 for his Department; if he will provide a breakdown by line items of this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28701/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

338. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria which apply regarding the sale and allocation of new houses and housing developments in Gaeltacht areas to ensure the Irish language is maintained and protected in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28360/20]

Gaeltacht Policy

Darren O'Rourke

339. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is compulsory in all Gaeltacht areas that a language impact assessment accompany planning applications for new housing developments; the way in which such an impact assessment should be prepared; the legislation, regulations and guidelines which informs same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28361/20]

Agriculture Industry

Darren O'Rourke

795. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial supports available for farmers that wish to start snail farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28506/20]

Airport Policy

Darren O'Rourke

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the monitoring or oversight that occurs of aircraft arriving from abroad into airports owned by private persons or companies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27848/20]

Airport Policy

Darren O'Rourke

81. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 28 July 2020, if he will undertake to collate the data from now on to ensure that his attention is drawn to the number of private jets operating here in view of the significant impact they have on the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27849/20]

Airport Policy

Darren O'Rourke

82. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the European proposals for a tax on aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27851/20]

Tax Collection

Darren O'Rourke

96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the taxes levied on aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27850/20]

Electric Vehicles

Darren O'Rourke

37. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the cost breakdown to the ESB of installing a standard electric vehicle charge point and a fast charging electric vehicle charge point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27455/20]

Electric Vehicles

Darren O'Rourke

38. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications the number of public charging points for electric vehicles that have been constructed; the number currently in operation; the number of new charging points planned for the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27456/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

44. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of completing the western rail corridor; the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27372/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

45. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of completing the rail line from Dunboyne to Navan; the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27373/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

46. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the funding options or mechanisms available from the European Union to develop the rail network here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27374/20]

Brexit Issues

Darren O'Rourke

47. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has explored the possibility of introducing new State-supported shipping routes directly to the continent to avoid the potential disruption on the landbridge in the UK due to Brexit; the estimated cost implications of the State introducing such routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27416/20]

Brexit Issues

Darren O'Rourke

116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has drafted a contingency plan to protect road-based imports and exports should major disruption occur on the landbridge in the UK due to Brexit; if so, if the contingency plans will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27417/20]

Energy Efficiency

Darren O'Rourke

202. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to restore the grant available to persons to upgrade their boiler within residential homes. [27138/20]

Electricity Supply Board

Darren O'Rourke

203. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if he has spoken formally to the CEO of ESB Networks in the past two months; and if so, the issues discussed. [27139/20]

Rail Network

Darren O'Rourke

251. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of the introduction an hourly train between Galway and Dublin in both directions. [27142/20]

Revenue Commissioners

Darren O'Rourke

296. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost in 2021 of purchasing two extra mobile X-ray scanner trunks for the Revenue Commissioners. [27141/20]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Darren O'Rourke

431. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence if a recruitment campaign will be launched for nurses to join the Defence Forces medical corps. [27140/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Darren O'Rourke

637. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the estimated shortage of early years staff; his plans to address the matter; if the eligibility criteria has been considered for those working in the sector for the duration of Covid-19, for example to retired teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27075/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

688. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been refused entry to the State for a failure to complete the passenger locator form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27233/20]

Ministerial Communications

Darren O'Rourke

735. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if she has spoken to the UK Home Secretary since her appointment. [27143/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Darren O'Rourke

755. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of passenger locator forms filled in to date by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27231/20]