385. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made on an application by Louth County Council for additional funding for the housing adaptation grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32808/23]
371. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline, on a step-by-step basis, the process provided for in section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) whereby the full administrative area of a housing authority i.e. an entire local authority area is capable of designation as a rent pressure zone; if this process is capable of being utilised to designate the Clogher Electoral District in County Louth as an RPZ given the fact that it is the only electoral district in County Louth that is not, for reasons set out in a Parliamentary Questions reply (details supplied) to ensure fairness and equity for tenants in this electoral district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32630/23]
369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the number of new operatives and new trades apprentices hired into each of the 31 local authorities for each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32586/23]
230. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance to outline the public policy rationale for the changes made in the Finance Act 2022 in relation to the obligations of tenants and collection agents of non-resident landlords; if he will provide details on the number of non-resident landlords recorded by the Revenue Commissioners in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32433/23]
187. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that works being carried out on the historic Obelisk Bridge at Oldbridge, County Meath will see the bridge close from 1 August 2023 for one year; if he is aware that the closure of this bridge/route from the north to the south of Drogheda will force motorists to use the toll bridge on Donore Road, Drogheda; if he will engage with CRG to lift the toll for the duration of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32111/23]
2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline his engagement with the owners of a company (details supplied) and the trade unions at the company; if he will detail the supports he is prepared to provide to assist in avoiding 650 potential layoffs at the operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31836/23]
45. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if, in light of the increase in demands on the Northern Rail Line that the Dart+ Coastal North project will bring, his Department has considered increasing the number of tracks from two to four on the busy stretch of the line between Malahide and Connolly Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31553/23]
27. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how his Department arrived at the estimation (details supplied) as included in his Statement of early May 2023 when he announced the zero VAT rate on the sale of solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31535/23]
763. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the progress he is making on expanding the national heel-prick test, given that 28 June is International Neonatal Screening Day; how many diseases babies born today in Ireland are currently being tested for; when he will decide on including spinal muscular atrophy in newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31309/23]
710. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite promotion of suitably qualified non-EEA healthcare assistants as nurses with an employer letter, without the need for a language proficiency exam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/23]
272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will move to increase the minimum wage of non-EEA healthcare assistants to €30,000 to help them reach the threshold for family reunification; if the Government will move to grant a Stamp 1G Visa for non-EEA healthcare assistant, HCA, spouses and-or allow dependents a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31057/23]
271. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that healthcare assistants who have been recruited by the HSE from abroad, are facing terrible difficulties reuniting with family members in Ireland because their income does not meet the income threshold for family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31056/23]
269. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the estimated number of new whole-time equivalents in the Civil Service and public service up to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31363/23]
188. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he has formally taken back responsibility for the ethics reform agenda; if he will provide an update on his legislative priorities in respect of the ethics and standards in public office agenda for the remainder of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31365/23]
187. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is planning to create a special infrastructure development fund or equivalent vehicle with funds identified from forecasted surpluses based on windfall corporation tax receipts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31364/23]
398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will introduce a ministerial Order that will recognise the new generation apprenticeships that are, and will, progress from the construction skills certification scheme model to the more advanced apprenticeship model, in light of the possible solution identified in the answer provided to Parliamentary Question No. 296 of 25 May 2023 now not being viable (details supplied). [30412/23]
252. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 12 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30275/23]
251. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 24 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30274/23]
250. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the seven AHB housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30273/23]
249. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ten AHB housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30272/23]
248. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the AHB housing unit approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in January 2016 has finished construction; if so, its completion date; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30271/23]
247. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 20 local authority housing units approved for construction in a location (details supplied) in May 2015 have finished construction; if so, their completion date; the final number of units delivered; the total cost of the project; if the development was officially opened by a Minister; if so, when that happened; if not, the reasons for the project not proceeding; the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30270/23]
210. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering providing any assistance to mortgage holders impacted by the series of interest rate increases from the ECB over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30399/23]
209. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views, based on the experience of the EWSS, on the need to embed a modernised short-time work scheme modelled on the successful German Kurzarbeit scheme, especially in light of the threat of 650 layoffs at the Tara Mines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30398/23]
208. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the Government plans to transpose the credit servicers directive by statutory instrument, and not primary legislation; if the Government is making efforts to have the trading of mortgages explicitly excluded from the terms of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30397/23]
184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of capacity issues in GP surgeries in the Drogheda area and that some practices are not in a position to take on new patients; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29941/23]
140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to the reform of supports for workers who are placed on temporary layoff as reported previously, especially in light of the threat of 650 layoffs at a company (details supplied); if she will give consideration to the introduction of a model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30063/23]
133. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given alongside the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, respectively, to the introduction of a short-term employment support model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme, especially in view of the threat of 650 layoffs at a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30064/23]
76. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has any plans to address flooding at an estate (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30060/23]
63. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport for an update in relation to proposals to remove the Hebble Sand from the River Boyne; for an update on Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 19 April 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30065/23]
740. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of first-year apprentices in the system on 1 January 2023, broken down thematically across the individual wet trades; the total number of apprentices across all years in the system as it relates to the wet trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29395/23]
671. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has any plans to introduce an over eight’s voucher scheme for optometry assessment and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29394/23]
497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the HSE will establish a community neuro-rehabilitation team in the CHO 8 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29400/23]
155. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when he intends to engage with representatives of community-based pharmacists (details supplied) in relation to ongoing concerns over a 15-year pharmacy pay freeze and its impact on patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28705/23]
1230. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a CHI-commissioned external review of the paediatric gastroenterology department at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, which was initiated to inform a new multi-annual plan to enhance the service and access to care for children across the State; the current status of the review; if the proposals contained therein will be funded and actioned; if he will provide a timeline for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28038/23]
1176. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when semaglutide will be available to diabetic patients as there currently is a shortage of this vital medication for many patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27686/23]
780. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the revised guidelines on wind energy development will be published as part of Q2 targets for the 2023 Climate Action Plan; when the Planning and Development Act 2000 will be amended to reflect the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28464/23]
711. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give additional resources to Louth County Council to expedite urgent housing adaptation grant application cases (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27687/23]
426. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his views on the assessment by an organisation (details supplied) in its 2023 fiscal assessment report that the real value of proposed/planned capital spending under the terms of the National Development Plan out to 2025 is almost a quarter lower than had been expected in the original plan; if he agrees with this assessment; if he plans to review or revise elements of the plan on that basis; if so, the estimated additional cumulative cost involved up to 2030 to bridge that gap and maintain the originally planned level of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28540/23]
408. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he expects Ireland to receive almost €90 million in grants for REPowerEU projects; if he will provide details on the nature of the projects that will be funded by these resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27531/23]
398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline the steps his Department takes to ensure that consulting firms do not share confidential information in terms of policy development within his Department with other sections of their business in order to gain competitive advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27190/23]
351. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the steps his Department takes to ensure that consulting firms do not share confidential information in terms of policy development within his Department with other sections of their business in order to gain competitive advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27189/23]
223. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what he expects the all-in costs to the Exchequer are in terms of (euros per MWHr) of emergency electricity generation vs new-build electricity generation contracted under the recent capacity market auctions conducted in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28226/23]
222. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what level of oversight his Department has in the provision of emergency power generation nationally; which body is in charge of managing the cost and delivery of these projects; how regularly this body reports on costs or costs overruns and progress in the delivery of this emergency power generation to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28225/23]
221. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the costs to date of providing emergency power generation under the measures carried out as part of the consent granted to the CRU in June 2021 under Article 28(10) of the European Communities (internal Market in Electricity) Regulation and as part of the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act 2022; if he will break these costs down by development, supply and build contract and connection costs; if he will outline how these costs compared to initial estimates and quotations received; what the initial anticipated budget for this provision was; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/23]
205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update with regard to the technological university development fund, the proposed successor to the technological university transformation fund; if this fund will be made available in advance of the expiration of the TUT fund on 31 August 2023, specifically in relation to the position of IR facilitators, who are employed on a seconded basis under this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26514/23]
197. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider amending the long-term illness scheme to includeinflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26649/23]
789. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the contribution currently made by the HEA towards graduate entry medicine per student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25573/23]
416. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a campaign in Drogheda (details supplied); if he will outline the legislative process or current arrangements in place to obtain city status in Irish law; if he is considering making the necessary administrative and-or legislative arrangements to have Drogheda designated as a city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26243/23]
402. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason responsibility for the collaborative town centre health check scheme was transferred to the LGMA from the Heritage Council; if a CTCHC will take place for the town of Drogheda in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26051/23]