254. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give due consideration to the funding of pilot schemes to enable young cancer survivors' reintegration to work following cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33649/23]
248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department would consider reintroducing the statutory redundancy rebate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33564/23]
203. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will give due consideration to granting tax relief at the higher rate on all non-routine dental care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34134/23]
195. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will give due consideration for the provision of a VAT rebate on tools, materials and electricity for all Men's Sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33657/23]
194. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will give due consideration to extending "the rent a room relief scheme" to landlords whose total rental income does not exceed the current threshold of €14,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33640/23]
190. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department would consider reducing tax charged from the marginal to the standard rate and removing PRSI liability from rental income as an interim measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33559/23]
189. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department would consider exempting from VAT all new buildings at the Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) Standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33558/23]
188. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department would consider extending the alcohol products tax relief to small artisan distilleries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33557/23]
130. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ringfence funding to meet the costs for the provision of radon testing kits for householders, radon being the main cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in Ireland; if he will provide a grant for radon extraction fans in high-risk areas (estimated costs per unit of €1,000-2,000); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33644/23]
94. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice what actions are being taken by her Department to continue to improve the Irish citizenship by naturalisation application process for applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34036/23]
76. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm what action she intends on taking in order to alleviate the number of prisoners who are required to sleep on the floor in their cells; in particular to confirm the date when it is proposed to open the new women’s prison in Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34037/23]
339. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to improve the application process for applicants in the CORU regulation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33311/23]
338. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the processing of appeals for foreign-trained physiotherapist applicants who applied for international recognition through the CORU regulation process in 2021, 2022, and 2023 to date; if these appeals are processed in chronological order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33310/23]
337. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out in tabular form the total number of foreign-trained physiotherapists who applied for international recognition through the CORU regulation process from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022, and 1 January 2023 to date; the number of applications that were refused during this timeframe; the number of applicants who submitted appeals on foot of initial refusal and the number of those approved/refused on foot of an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33309/23]
336. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out in tabular form the total number of trained physiotherapists from the United States who applied for international recognition through the CORU regulation process from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022, and 1 January 2023 to date; the number of applications that were refused during this timeframe; the number of applicants who submitted appeals on foot of initial refusal and the number of those approved and refused on foot of an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33308/23]
335. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to address the current shortage of physiotherapists in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33307/23]
334. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out in tabular form the total number of people on HSE physiotherapy waiting lists in Cork from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022, and 1 January 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33306/23]
300. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what impact the low level of afforestation licences issued for 2023 will have on Ireland's environmental and climate targets; if his Department plans to increase the number of afforestation licences issued for the remainder of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33302/23]
299. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the monthly targets for private licences with ecology input, excluding Coillte felling licences, were predominantly higher in series one in comparison to series two from January 2022 to January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33301/23]
298. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline in tabular form the total number of kilometres of road licences issued from 1 January 2022 to 31 May 2022; the total number issued during the same timeframe in 2023, and to clarify why there has been a significant decrease in road licences issued in 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33300/23]
297. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline in tabular form the number of tree-falling licences issued from 1 January 2022 to 31 May 2022; the number issued during the same timeframe in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33299/23]
296. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to support the horticultural sector; if consideration would be given to the establishment of a targeted financial support scheme to assist with rising production costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33295/23]
295. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be an extension of the deadline for the submission of scoreboards under the agri-climate rural environment scheme (ACRES) in view of the large volume of farm walks required to be undertaken by agri-advisors within the very short timeframe before 31 August 2023 deadline, and also in view that Department officials have outlined significant penalties for farmers in the scheme including removal from the scheme should farmers not have their lands scored within a month of the deadline passing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33294/23]
294. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to address increased concerns in the tillage sector with regards to the current tillage targets agricultural modernisation scheme (TAMS) in view that the pricing structures may not accurately reflect the cost of modern tillage machinery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33293/23]
245. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if one-off residential properties (details supplied) are included in the temporary time-limited waiver in respect of development contributions if the site has not been opened and construction has not commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33298/23]
207. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to increasing the number of physiotherapists under the critical skills occupations list in view of the shortage of physiotherapists in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33312/23]
206. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to the addition of a bespoke seasonal employment permit scheme for foreign workers for fruit-picking and other seasonal employments in the horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33296/23]
200. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to set out in detail his Department’s future proposals for the building which was previously occupied as the main prison in Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33292/23]
199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if, following an audit of all unoccupied properties previously used either to provide accommodation to members of An Garda Síochána or former Garda stations no longer in use, he will set out the number of these unoccupied properties which have been sold to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33291/23]
165. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm whether her Department is investigating the possibility of linking the rate of maternity benefit to a woman’s pay or PRSI contributions; if so, the current status of these plans; when they are likely to be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32824/23]
69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the amount of people who availed of the help-to-buy-scheme, local authority affordable purchase scheme, first-home scheme and the local authority home loan scheme in Cork in 2022; the amount of funding provided under these schemes in Cork in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33126/23]
35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the number of housing completions in Cork in 2022; the projected number for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33125/23]
221. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the national guidelines in respect of wigs/hairpieces and post-mastectomy products will be published; the funding to be allocated for the implementation of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33176/23]
172. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the allocation criteria used for the rapid build housing programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32856/23]
142. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the status of a family reunification application (details supplied); when it is envisaged that same will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32957/23]
487. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm what action his Department will take following reports that teenage girls in the care of the State are being targeted and sexually exploited by co-ordinated gangs of predatory men, according to a new study (details supplied) which calls for an immediate investigation into the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32138/23]
486. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that a child (details supplied) who will be two years, seven months and three weeks in September 2024 will be available to avail of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme in September 2024 as he will be only seven days short of the criterion of being two years and eight months of age under the ECCE guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32136/23]
421. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the average number of hours allocated per week to a client receiving HSE home support in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31764/23]
420. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours delivered in each LHO and CHO in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, compared to the targeted hours delivered, including the split between directly and indirectly delivered care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31763/23]
419. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the home support waiting list for funding and for carers in each month of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, for each LHO and CHO, broken down by those waiting for a new package and those with an existing package waiting for additional hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31762/23]
415. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital who urgently requires physiotherapy in Cork will be provided with this care in a hospital; if so, when this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31741/23]
414. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will be provided with a wheelchair, as it is urgently required by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31740/23]
386. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will receive respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31742/23]
385. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will be seen by a speech and language therapist in Cork to assist with their communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31739/23]
322. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people who appealed a decision not to award them an invalidity pension in 2022; the total number who were subsequently successful in their appeal in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31758/23]
321. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of those who applied for invalidity pension in 2022; the total number of applicants who were refused prior to an appeal in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31757/23]
320. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of people who are currently on invalidity pension, broken down by gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31756/23]
198. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will confirm when the final public consultation on the Blackpool flood relief scheme will take place; what format it will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31793/23]
114. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education how much funding has been provided to Cork schools by her Department under the emergency works scheme and the additional accommodation scheme for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31606/23]