314. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis that her Department has carried out into decoupling the free travel scheme from other social welfare payments, as per recommendation 9.1.1 of the November 2018 report of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport entitled Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46940/22]
313. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend access to a free travel pass to persons with epilepsy, or other medical conditions, who temporarily lose their driving licences as a result of their condition, to cover the period in which they are not permitted to drive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46939/22]
175. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 28 of 23 June 2022, the status of the development of the promised section 28 guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht areas; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; the date of the most recent meeting of the interdepartmental group on planning in Gaeltacht areas; if minutes are published in respect of the meetings of the interdepartmental group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47008/22]
174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 623 of 26 July 2022, the number of local authorities currently employing a full-time vacant homes officer by local authority in tabular form; when all remaining local authorities will have a full-time vacant homes officer in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47007/22]
110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the options that are available to persons who require Government-issued photographic identification for the purposes of opening a bank account and who do not have a driving licence or passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46621/22]
106. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 17 May 2022, if the same aircraft (details supplied) has landed at Shannon Airport on any occasion in the intervening period since it landed there on 7 May 2022; if any further investigation has been carried out into the items that were being transported on this aircraft when it landed at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47266/22]
37. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of heat pumps installed in existing premises in each of the years from 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46686/22]
36. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the progress to date on achieving the target of 500,000 homes retrofitted to a BER of B2 cost optimal or carbon equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46685/22]
35. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland scheme, of the number of homes upgraded to a B2 BER or better to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46684/22]
34. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the National Retrofit Steering Group, pursuant to the National Retrofit Plan; the membership of the group; the number of times that it has met to date; the dates of the meetings; the terms of reference of the group; if minutes are taken in respect of the meetings of the group; if so, if they are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/22]
183. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 14 June 2022, the details of the planned feasibility study for light rail which will be carried out as part of the update to the Galway Transport Strategy; if this feasibility study will include a comparative analysis against very light rail initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46382/22]
112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) which highlighted Ireland’s over-reliance on corporation tax receipts from the ten highest-paying companies; his plans for a review of Ireland’s reliance on foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46373/22]
110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce the VAT rate for newspapers and digital publications to zero, following a report (details supplied); the analysis that his Department has carried out on this matter; the details of any engagement that he has had with industry representatives on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46374/22]
55. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 14 June 2022, the progress that has been made to-date on the roll-out of park-and-ride facilities in Galway; the status of the National Transport Authority Park and Ride Development Office Park and Ride Study for Galway; the status of the site options analysis and feasibility studies for each of the zones identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46313/22]
6. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 299 of 26 July, the composition of the promised specialist team which will assist the National Transport Authority in conjunction with Galway City and County Councils, in undertaking the work to update the Galway Transport Strategy; the details of the process for the appointment of members of the specialist team; the status of the appointment process for the members of the specialist team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46314/22]
508. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees with long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45572/22]
507. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the establishment of a centre for neurorehabilitation at the Mater Hospital, led by a team of neurorehabilitation specialists, neurologists, infectious diseases physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and neurophysiotherapists, in order to improve treatment for patients of long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45571/22]
506. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the details of any training or advice currently provided to general practitioners with regard to supporting long-Covid patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45570/22]
505. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to update the HSE guidelines on long-Covid to take into account research regarding the neurological symptoms of the disease; the engagement the HSE has had with infectious disease experts in the development of the Model of Care for long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45569/22]
362. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis that her Department has carried out into extending the enhanced illness benefit to persons suffering from long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45568/22]
205. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a comprehensive list of all of Ireland’s double taxation agreements; if he will provide a breakdown of the percentage rate of withholding tax on dividend payments to Ireland, interest, royalties and technical fees for each country with which Ireland has a double taxation agreements in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45415/22]
150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 1 June 2022, the status of the preparation of the finalised terms of reference for the Offshore Renewable Energy Scheme (ORESS 1); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45794/22]
149. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the new Energy Poverty Action Plan; the timeline for the completion of the Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45793/22]
148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 2 June 2022, the timeline for the establishment of the promised statutory Just Transition Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45792/22]
107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 1 June 2022, the status of the promised statutory guidelines for Local Authority climate action plans, which will include the guidelines for the implementation of Local Authority decarbonising zones; the timeline for the publication of the statutory guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45771/22]
83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 2 June 2022, the details of any engagement he or his Department has had since May 2022 with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45772/22]
103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 31 May 2022, the status of the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; the status of works to update the environmental reports to the required standard; the expected timeline for the completion of these works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45152/22]
85. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Question No. 45 of 31 May 2022, the status of the new policy for the islands; if she has received the initial draft of the policy document to date; the expected timeline for the completion and publication of the new policy for the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45151/22]
77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a survey (details supplied) and in particular the finding that just 17% of firms in Ireland had set climate targets, compared to an European Union average of 42%; the mechanisms that are currently in place to ensure that all Irish firms track and measure their environmental impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45156/22]
76. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 19 May 2022, if he will report on his engagement at European Union and World Trade Organisation levels with regard to the waiving of intellectual property rights in respect of Covid-19 vaccines; if he is satisfied that the recent agreement at World Trade Organisation-level adequately addresses global inequality in access to Covid-19 medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45157/22]
38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement that he has had with the Minister for Finance with regard to providing assistance to businesses in the hospitality sector as a result of rising energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45160/22]
24. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to commission an annual, independent report assessing existing and planned data centre facilities, particularly in view of their high consumption of electricity which is predicted to rise significantly by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45158/22]
669. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement that she has had with Mayo County Council and the HSE regarding the transfer of a site (details supplied) from the HSE to Mayo County Council to facilitate the relocation of a centre in Louisburgh; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45190/22]
668. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 31 May 2022, the status of the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the status of the development of the model simulation of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland and if it has been completed and tested, with feedback given to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45189/22]
627. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the examination by the HSE and the Department of Health into progressing the roll-out of the pandemic recognition payment to the list of non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government decision; the estimated timeline for when all eligible frontline workers, including healthcare facility cleaning staff subcontracted through a company (details supplied), will receive the pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45142/22]
561. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 22 June 2022, the reason for the delay in the payment of the pandemic recognition payment to eligible staff of private nursing homes; when the payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44689/22]
547. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the analysis that his Department has carried out into extending the provision of medical cards to all persons with a serious spinal cord injury; his plans to extend medical cards to all persons with a serious spinal cord injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44652/22]
175. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the reduced tourism VAT rate of 9% beyond February 2023; the analysis that his Department has carried out in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45099/22]
85. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 26 19 May 2022, if he will provide an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the development of a second National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45186/22]
84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 26 July 2022, the status of his Department’s consideration of the report by the Low Pay Commission on Universal Basic Income, which was submitted to him in July 2022; the timeline for the publication of this report and the accompanying research report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45185/22]
56. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 10 May 2022, the status of the investigation into the leak of the report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation which was reported on in an article which appeared in a national newspaper on 10 January 2021; the details of any interim reports received to-date from the senior official in charge of the investigation; the terms of reference of the investigation; when it commenced; when it is expected to be concluded; the position of the person overseeing the investigation; the number of hours that have been spent on the investigation to date. [44193/22]
2159. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of any Department meetings held in relation to the decision to concentrate border custom port controls for agri-food and related products at Dublin Airport, or in the case of sea/road freight, Rosslare Euro Port; the details of those who attended these meetings; if he will provide a copy of the minutes of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44302/22]
2158. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the consultation process which took place prior to the taking of the decision to concentrate border custom port controls for agri-food and related products at Dublin Airport, or in the case of sea/road freight, Rosslare Euro Port; the organisations or bodies that were consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44301/22]
2157. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the decision was made to concentrate border custom port controls for agri-food and related products at Dublin Airport, or in the case of sea/road freight, Rosslare Euro Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44300/22]
2156. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement that he has had with a group (details supplied) pursuant to the recent decision to concentrate border custom port controls for agri-food and related products at Dublin Airport, or in the case of sea/road freight, Rosslare Euro Port; the analysis that his Department has carried out into the impact of discontinuing this service at Shannon Airport; the reason behind the decision to discontinue this service at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44299/22]
2059. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the processes and procedures that are in place to facilitate the collection of data on the number of patients accessing treatment abroad under the cross-border directive; the number of persons who used the cross-border directive to avail of health services in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the countries in which they received treatment; the medical procedures availed of; the cost per year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44221/22]
2058. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 943 of 12 July 2022, the number of respite beds currently operational within Merlin Park community nursing unit; if he will provide an update on the recruitment of staff to the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44220/22]
2057. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1942 of 26 July 2022, if the two new replacement orthopaedic operating theatres in Merlin Park hospital are fully operational to date; the number of theatre sessions currently provided per week through the two new theatres; if he will provide an update on the recruitment of staff for the theatre sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44219/22]
2056. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 941 of 12 July 2022, the status of the proposed primary care centre for Galway West; if a planning permission application has been lodged to date, as per the expected timeline of quarter 3 of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44218/22]