204. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has sought and or received a specific business case for the proposed new national maternity hospital to be located on the St. Vincent’s University Hospital campus in County Dublin at any stage since 2013. [34041/21]
402. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a tree felling licence application by a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited given the applicant has provided the NIA statement; the total number of applications that remain to be processed; the breakdown of the length of time the applications that have been in the system by month; the number of applications being approved on a weekly basis; his plans to clear the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32661/21]
149. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has received a report from the Department of Health on the most recent cost estimate and timescale for the completion of the new National Children’s Hospital. [32342/21]
137. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the most recent estimate for the cost of removing the requirement for staff in the public service to work additional hours which were introduced on foot of the Haddington Road Agreement in 2013. [32341/21]
162. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the dependent adult allowance based on their contributory pension and the split of savings. [32167/21]
70. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the reason the recording of licences issued to fly drones on a county by county basis was discontinued; if this method of recording will be restored; the number of staff attached to the licensing and the enforcement sections; the number of drone licence operators that have availed of the training for basic piloting of drones out of the total 2,500 licence holders; the way in which a member of the public can verify the credentials of a licence holder; the number of times the IAA has had to use its enforcement powers; the number of administrative fines that have been issued since 2020; the number of complaints received by the IAA in relation to a perceived breach of European regulations or Irish law; if he plans to review and strengthen the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32293/21]
268. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport when Irish Rail will carry out the remedial works urgently required at Lacken Drive, the Railway Bridge and O’Loughlin Road, Kilkenny; if the matter will be expedited given the extensive health and safety issues that have arisen over the past 18 months along the adjoining pedestrian walkway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31467/21]
119. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if he supports the establishment of a forum on banking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31702/21]
88. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in counties Kilkenny and Waterford receiving support under the employment wage subsidy scheme; the number of persons in each county who were receiving support under the scheme in May 2021; the number of persons in each county who have received support under the scheme and its predecessor since March 2020; the expenditure on the schemes in each county over that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31701/21]
110. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to help small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30040/21]
77. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in County Kilkenny that have availed of the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30039/21]
552. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a request for CSP funding in the name of a group (details supplied) will be reviewed as a matter of urgency; and if the funding requested will be approved given the significance of the project to the local community and the enormous contribution being made by volunteers. [29127/21]
443. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if all payments and arrears due to a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [29180/21]
370. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if respite grants for the past two years are due to a person (details supplied). [27481/21]
182. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if a bank (details supplied) held a banking licence prior to 2008; and if so, the date on which a licence was granted to the bank by the Central Bank. [27576/21]
367. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review an application under the young farmers scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) and reverse the decision taken given the circumstances of the case; and if the matter will be expedited. [27199/21]
284. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and approved as a matter of urgency. [27263/21]
244. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the activity of the Land Development Agency from the date it was established to date in 2021 relative to the number of sites identified and acquired; the number of planning permissions granted or in the process and the overall cost of its operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27250/21]
219. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm the way in which the recent recruitment process for the vacant position of Secretary General of his Department was advertised; the number of advertisements placed in publications and through social media; the number of applicants for the position; the number of international applicants; the number of persons on the interview board; the qualifications and gender of same; the number that reached the final interview; if the successful candidate was chosen from a final list of suitably qualified persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27262/21]
184. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the number of theory tests cancelled each Friday by email over the past 12 months and in particular on 7 May 2021; when these tests will be rescheduled; if there is a contact phone number and name for the public to use to have queries dealt with; if contact names and details of Road Safety Authority personnel are published on the RSA website and stationary; and his plans to clear the backlog. [27256/21]
556. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the programme for Government commitment to continue to review and expand the roll-out of the new hot school meals initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25063/21]
533. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for an invalidity pension will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [25669/21]
83. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Kilkenny currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; the number of persons in County Waterford currently in receipt of the payment; the number in each county who were in receipt of the payment on the same date in April 2021; the number of persons in each county who have received the payment since the introduction of the payment; the total expenditure on such payments in each county over that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26269/21]
106. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the status of each large-scale school building project in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25062/21]
178. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a State pension by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [25127/21]
954. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a second BVD test can be carried out on the herd owned by a person (details supplied); the action to be taken by his Department and herd owner; the costs involved; and the reason for the change of rule in this regard. [23773/21]
716. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the arrangements his Department has made to provide vaccinations for students participating in the Erasmus programme and that must provide proof of full vaccination to the participating college abroad before 15 June 2021; if he will outline the plan immediately to ease the concerns of parents and students that are now having to commit to cost of travel and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23775/21]
533. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has sufficient contributions to qualify for a State pension (contributory); and if their record of contributions will be provided. [23772/21]
449. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if school bus transport will be provided on a qualifying rather than a concessionary basis from Corraguan, Windgap, County Kilkenny, to a school for persons (details supplied); if the appeal lodged with the school transport appeals board will be expedited and approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23784/21]
228. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the concession put in place by the Revenue Commissioners relative to the payment of tax due by employees arising from the temporary wage subsidy scheme allowing the employer to pay the tax without any benefit-in-kind implications for the employee; if so, if categories of employees (details supplied) will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23798/21]
109. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timeframe for clearing the backlog of passports applications from applicants in County Kilkenny. [23919/21]
679. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a tree felling application by a person (details supplied) will be processed and approved; and if the process will be expedited. [22705/21]
648. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his views on making the drug epidiolex available to patients on medical cards when prescribed by a consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/21]
463. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice the number of civilians holding the position of property and exhibits manager within An Garda Síochána; the Garda stations in which the civilians employed as such are based; if the position is underpinned in legislation; if appropriate training has been provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22697/21]
315. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the outcome of the investigation into complaints by a person (details supplied); the actions taken by his Department to address the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23137/21]
130. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the indicative timeframe for the delivery of a new community nursing unit at St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/21]
986. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason funding was refused under the treatment abroad scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) given a previous application was approved on 20 September 2019; if the procedures are available in hospitals here; if so, the hospital that carry out same; if there is a waiting list; if so, the timeframe involved; if he will examine the case of the person as a matter of urgency with a view to ensuring that the two procedures recommended by their consultants are expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21684/21]
888. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when the outcome of the job evaluation for homecare support assistants which was promised in September 2020 will be published; if the recommendations of the evaluation will be implemented in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21290/21]
637. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal for carer’s allowance will be expedited in the name of persons (details supplied). [21232/21]
544. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if secondary school teachers returning to Ireland from Abu Dhabi having taught in private schools there and wishing to resume teaching in Ireland will qualify for salary increments as is the case with primary school teachers and those in the medical profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21271/21]
431. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated by his Department to local authorities that have to reinstate land relative to the environmental damage done by illegal quarry activities; if he will seek a report from Kilkenny and Laois county councils in relation to the environmental damage already done by quarries that are not compliant with the planning laws or without planning permission; if the Local Government Audit Service considers good governance or the lack of it as part of its audit of each local authority; if he plans to review the legislation specifically in relation to non-compliance in the quarry industry with a view to strengthening the planning enforcement process and introducing a regime of substantial fines commensurate with the damage caused by such illegal operators; if Irish law is in sync with EU policy and directives with regard to this industry; if he will investigate ways to apply current laws and standards of operation to major quarry operators that were in operation prior to the introduction of the planning laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/21]
101. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will request a full review of an application for invalidity pension which is at appeal stage in the name of a person (details supplied); and if an oral hearing will be arranged in order that they and their family can present their case. [20990/21]
100. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited given the urgency of the matter. [20989/21]
2590. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the efforts her Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of her Department; if she will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20732/21]
2565. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20719/21]
2564. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal relating to the GLAS scheme in the name of persons (details supplied) has been concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20690/21]
2407. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the efforts his Department is making to achieve gender balance on all State boards and agencies under the remit of his Department; if he will set out the changes achieved to date on each; if 50% of the membership of all boards, policy groups or agencies that provide advice to Government on matters of policy will be reserved for appropriately qualified individuals from the private sector in order to achieve a balance between the public and private sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20728/21]
2392. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the progress on the reform of the fair deal scheme relative to farming families; his plans to carry out a general review of the scheme and the way it has operated since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20679/21]
2388. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the rules on mandatory quarantine will be set aside for Irish citizens entering the country from one of the listed countries who have proof of being vaccinated, have a negative test and can isolate at home. [20667/21]