188. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his plans to amend the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 to give effect to commitments made to provide for an increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62 years for uniformed public servants; if the Government plans to apply the amended legislation consistently across all line Government departments and the relevant sectoral employers; the proposed upper age limit will be explicitly provided for in the proposed amended legislation; the rationale for the apparent decision to devolve this matter to individual line departments; if the Department will agree to meet the public sector unions (details supplied) on these matters given their concerns as expressed in correspondence to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27876/24]
168. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of the difficulty in accessing funding under Action 23 of the National Sports Policy 2018 to 2027 (details supplied); the actions that have been taken by her Department to give practical effect to Action 23 of the 2018 to 2027 National Sports Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27678/24]
173. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the pre-budget submission from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the urgent need to develop a dementia specific counselling service to support family carers and people living with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27320/24]
47. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to delays in processing applications in the assistive technology scheme (details supplied); her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27312/24]
472. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health how the additional €700,000 funding he secured in Budget 2024 to expand the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme will be spent; if he can give assurances that the funding is sufficient to ensure spinal muscular atrophy is included in the heel prick test in 2024 as per his commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27123/24]
471. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the preparations that his Department and the HSE are making to ensure that every baby in Ireland is tested for spinal muscular atrophy in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme as per his announcement in November 2023; when he expects the testing to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27122/24]
470. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health for an update on the rollout of spinal muscular atrophy in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; when he expects the first baby to be tested in Ireland for this potentially devastating disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27121/24]
465. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will confirm the number of people on panels in each CHO area concerning home care positions with the HSE; the number of directly employed homecare workers who were appointed by the HSE in each CHO area for 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27108/24]
369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant clinicians in post at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, broken down by specialism, between the years 2020 and 2024 inclusive; if he will confirm the number of consultant posts at the hospital which are currently unfilled, broken down by specialism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26755/24]
368. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of non-consultant hospital doctor posts which are currently unfilled at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the total number of NCHDs at the hospital for the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26754/24]
253. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the membership of the derelict sites working group; when the report of the group will be published; if he will outline the key changes to the Derelict Sites Act 1990 that the group is recommending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27295/24]
222. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is considering the development of a regional filming strategy, that covers both infrastructure and funding, over a ten-year period to enable the screen industry to be embedded in regions across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27110/24]
100. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rationale for excluding businesses which pay their rates through their rental/lease agreement with a commercial landlord, to that landlord, from the scope of the increased cost of business grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26541/24]
91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications made to the Revenue Commissioners to 1 June 2024 for the mortgage interest tax relief scheme on a county-by-county basis; if he will provide details of the number of successful and unsuccessful applications, by county; the cost of the scheme up to 1 June 2024; the average mortgage account balance for successful applicants; the average number of years left on eligible mortgages for successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26549/24]
297. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the difficulty being experienced by young adults with disabilities and additional needs in accessing transport to adult education facilities once they transfer from the special schools they attended as children (details supplied); what plans his Department have to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26112/24]
745. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reasons hospitality/retail staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda who are employed by a company (details supplied) have been excluded from coverage of the pandemic special recognition payment; if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24979/24]
640. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date on which his Department first received an offer from the owners/operators of a hospitality business (details supplied) for possible use of the premises as either accommodation for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if he will provide details in terms of the nature and extent of the offer made to the Department; the reasons his Department did not take up the offer of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25122/24]
639. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made on an FOI request (details supplied); if he is aware that the delays in receiving the initial response from his Department and also the additional information requested based on an agreed amendment to the original terms of the request represent breaches of the Act in respect of statutory timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25121/24]
242. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he intends to sign and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas the draft Security Employment Regulation Order which has been submitted to him by the Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24925/24]
500. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if and when SUSI grants will be made available to students on part-time third-level courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23742/24]
334. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice to provide figures relating to the number of members of An Garda Síochána serving in the community policing unit and the regular unit in Drogheda Garda station from 2017 to 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23721/24]
166. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of disposals of a business by a parent to a child in the years 2020 to 2023 inclusive; the number of disposals of companies valued at over €10 million for each of the relevant years where the business is being transferred to the next generation of children; his plans to introduce a new €10 million cap on the retirement relief capital gains tax exemption; the estimated number of businesses/individuals will be impacted by the planned changes in the first year of the new regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23824/24]
67. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he or the Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail plan to sign the new draft contract cleaning employment regulation order which was submitted to him by the Labour Court in April 2024; when the new order will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/24]
591. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will address the difficulties experienced by families in Dundalk, in accessing orthodontist services since February 2024 (details supplied); the plans that are in place to resume orthodontist services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22586/24]
465. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware that some individuals are experiencing undue delays in the processing of their applications for Irish citizenship (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22928/24]
323. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if schools in Drogheda, County Louth, will be included in the comprehensive system of student support called the City Connects pilot project, which is becoming operational with the support of the North East Inner City Implementation Board, Dublin; if the opportunity for the inclusion of relevant schools in Drogheda has been raised with the Drogheda Implementation Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22939/24]
272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a matter (details supplied); if he is satisfied the agency referenced is sufficiently staffed and has sufficient senior staff who have the necessary qualifications staff to fulfil the agency’s regulatory and industry-facing role in respect of a key industrial sector; the steps his Department and the agency concerned have taken to address high senior staff turnover and attrition rates at the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22921/24]
254. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update from the OPW on the progress made on the provision of a planned new Garda Station in Laytown, County Meath; if he will provide a timeline for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22937/24]
65. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if meal providers to schools are required to provide for the various dietary requirements of students, for example, coeliac; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21943/24]
40. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on the difficulties experienced in DEIS schools following the reduction in the primary schools books grant (details supplied); if she will review this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21997/24]
695. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21698/24]
680. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21693/24]
667. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the anomaly faced by 60 students attending Ballyfermot College of Further Education who, despite attending classes for a BA honours degree in animation and visual media from Monday to Thursday, on a weekly basis, have their course designated as part-time and therefore not entitled to a SUSI grant; what plans he has to address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21683/24]
620. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21694/24]
604. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the future investment planned for the national OPAT programme; if there are plans within the special delivery unit of the HSE to expand the national OPAT and CIT service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21548/24]
603. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health how many patients have been treated over the past three years by the national OPAT programme; the breakdown of those figures in terms of home OPAT, community OPAT and self OPAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21547/24]
602. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health how many bed days have been saved in the past three years, as a result of the national OPAT programme. [21546/24]
601. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the overarching strategy of the national OPAT programme; if it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21545/24]
528. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21686/24]
491. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21685/24]
464. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21696/24]
419. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21699/24]
382. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21695/24]
354. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21702/24]
332. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21688/24]
274. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of his Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if he will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if he will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21689/24]
254. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the Scope section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any Scope findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where Scope has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved, and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21697/24]
242. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency, under the aegis of their Department, is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the Scope section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any Scope findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where Scope has found in favour of the worker, and where it recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21691/24]
219. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21701/24]
157. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/24]