350. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of imports of roundwood from the UK in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12260/22]
203. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the latest timelines for the development of a functioning maritime area regulatory authority agency; his plans in place regarding its location and development of build infrastructure to house it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10484/22]
91. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the realistic timelines for an upgrade of the N24 and N25 roads in the south-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10520/22]
8. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the reopening of the Waterford to Rosslare rail line to increase transport flexibility and development in the south-east region given the increasing importance of Waterford and Wexford ports in both national import and export activity in addition to facilitating future offshore wind development installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10485/22]
209. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the very long delays for persons applying to take driving tests; his plans to rectify the situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11150/22]
166. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is an average wait time for a contractor to be appointed in circumstances in which approval has been granted under the warmer homes scheme; if these wait times are consistent throughout the country; if the case of a person (details supplied) in this regard will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11266/22]
467. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the overall private sector forestry applications made in 2021, broken down by afforestation, thinning, roads and felling licences; the waiting list per category as per December 2021, in tabular form; the new targets his Department has set for 2022 in the same category areas; the way performance in 2022 is performing against profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10651/22]
466. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to significantly increase the number of afforestation licences being issued which is directly related to encouraging more farm forestry uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10650/22]
465. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason more felling licences are being issued to Coillte than to the private sector since the start of 2022 despite the significant backlog of private licences awaiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10649/22]
159. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the increases in funding that have been given to the National Cyber Security Centre over the past 12 months; his views on whether this has improved Ireland's defence to cyberattack on State infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10481/22]
109. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the new rolling timelines for the provision of the national broadband plan; the steps that are now being introduced to ensure no further slippage to the schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10482/22]
80. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the increases in funding that have been given to the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, over the past 12 months; his views on the way the centre has improved Ireland's defence against cyberattacks on State infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10521/22]
185. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for the proposed technological university of the south east to acquire staff and fund a campus in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/22]
184. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the allocation to each higher education institution in respect of funds (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10197/22]
273. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance further to correspondence from a person (details supplied), the tax recommendations he is proposing with respect to fixed-rate pensions, which in many cases have fallen in value significantly, versus the cost of living since they were awarded; if he will make a specific alteration to the tax treatment of such pensions in order that they may track and reflect the present consumer price index rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10015/22]
463. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason community health workers, those working in disability areas and section 38/39 workers are being excluded from the proposed bonus payment to frontline healthcare workers as in the case of a person (details supplied); the criteria underpinning this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5730/22]
141. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if section 39 community health workers will be included in the pandemic bonus payments announced for other healthcare workers given the exceptional work services provided by them (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5267/22]
112. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the budget parameters his Department envisages providing for new teaching space at Waterford Institute of Technology; the timeframe under consideration to disburse such funds excluding the long-promised engineering building PPP; the routes available for the college or the new Technological University of the South East to borrow money to support new capital and resource activity to develop additional teaching space given that he has confirmed there is no opportunity to access European Investment Bank supports unlike the national universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5290/22]
111. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to enlarge the Waterford Institute of Technology campus area through land acquisition; the existing land ownership holding presently available to WIT area in acres by combining its assets on the Cork Road and Carraiganore and any other areas in its ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5289/22]
110. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the bundle II public-private partnership building programmes promised to Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow campuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5288/22]
211. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the continued massing of Russian troops on the border of Ukraine is a cause for real concern (details supplied); if his Department and the Government has a role to play as interlocuter or mediator between Russia and European interests; if Ireland’s ambassadorial team has considered adopting such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3851/22]
63. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the continuing travel restrictions pertaining to Europe and United States of America; his further views on the continuing requirements to provide Covid certificates in the near future; his views on whether Irish citizens may soon be able to dispense with vaccine certificates for foreign travel in the event of a further weakening of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3855/22]
39. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Back for Business programme is restricted to a final 50 applicants given that participants on the 2021 programme more than tripled their combined workforce and more than doubled their turnover during the six-month cycle of the programme (details supplied); his views on whether participation in such a successful programme should be made available to a larger number of applicants; the learnings that are being taken and implemented into other domestic enterprise and job creation networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3852/22]
38. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the up-to-date position regarding the issuing of new passports given the improving travel outlook and the existing delays in passport applications and renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3853/22]
14. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the successes and benefits of the Reconciliation Fund; if the projects that have been identified to promote reconciliation and help to create better understanding and relations between persons and traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain have been successful; the way he can reconcile the potential successes of these projects with the continuing talk of Brexit and a future Border poll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3854/22]
4. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the economy in Northern Ireland has been the best performing since the inception of Brexit given its ability to benefit from unhindered access to three markets (details supplied); his further views on whether the economic benefits of the present trade deal to the economy of Northern Ireland have been communicated effectively to persons in Northern Ireland; the specific steps that have been taken by his Department to promote this message to the Northern Irish audience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3850/22]
42. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the reason that Transport Infrastructure Ireland is reporting no capital funding allocated to road improvements to the N24 and N25 that have been approved in the capital development plan; the reason that no funding has been allocated to the upgrading of these roads; when funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3867/22]
294. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an existing capital development of new cath lab at University Hospital Waterford which was to have a 12-bed allocation in support (details supplied); the steps being taken to secure such additional capital space adjacent to the new cath lab given that the cardiac bed allocation is a significant commitment of the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2768/22]
293. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the new patient pathways that have been developed within the health community sector that allow for the decanting of non-urgent care patients from University Hospital Waterford; the planning that is ongoing to deliver such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/22]
292. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the community health activity presently being resourced on the University Hospital Waterford (UHW) campus; the reason these services cannot be moved away from the hospital campus to other community health service areas, thus making space for additional priority medical need at UHW given the requirement for capital development space at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2766/22]
28. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the guidelines issued by the Office of Government Procurement to Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/22]
1598. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health further to recent media reports regarding developing a policy to build a new elective hospital in Cork city, the provisional number of beds being considered; the provisional budget associated with construction and delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1069/22]
1597. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health further to recent media pronouncements from a company (details supplied) that the new national children’s hospital structure is largely completed and is soon to progress to commissioning works, the final build expenditure to date before decommissioning module; the expected cost of commissioning the new hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1068/22]
1596. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has given further consideration to supporting free antigen testing particularly for community healthcare workers and those double jobbing in public health activities who need to use the tests as a screening device before visiting vulnerable patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1067/22]
1147. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the names, occupations and specific expertise of the review panel that adjudicated on the recent applications of the Science Foundation Ireland Research Infrastructure 2021 programme call; the international representation on this review panel; the professional relationships the reviewers have as part of their occupation or consulting relationships with educational or public sector bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63274/21]
708. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education the way two post-primary school students who have moved to Waterford city recently could be left without available school places (details supplied); the way in which these children are to access education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63091/21]
568. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the specific health guidance that relates to the European advice note (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61220/21]
660. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the metric by which forest road licence applications are conjoined with or take account of felling or afforestation licenses pending given neither activity can be undertaken without a forest road licence to access the timber or the planting site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60013/21]
659. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation and felling licences granted in the past twelve months; the details of those licenses granted to any public body such as Coillte or other; the number awarded to private land holders and farmers in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60012/21]
658. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is now requiring a habitat map to be prepared by an independent ecologist at the applicant's expense before it will assess afforestation applications; his views on whether this should be completed by a Departmental forestry ecologist at his Department’s expense given that the forestry service has and is taking on additional ecologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60011/21]
504. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) and its community will be invited to participate in future international surrogacy legislation in order to have positive input into the draft legislation to ensure no child is left behind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59894/21]
503. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health when a clear timeline for legislation recognising international surrogacy alongside retrospective declaration of parentage will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59893/21]
502. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if international surrogacy will be excluded from the upcoming Assisted Human Reproduction Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59892/21]
501. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the total number of accident and emergency department attendances at Beaumont, the Mater, St. Vincent's and Tallaght Hospitals per week from 1 September 2021 to date by complete attendances at accident and emergency department and by an ambulance or walk-in, respectively; the daily and weekly patient numbers admitted overnight as in-patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59891/21]
246. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences processed for the months of August, September and October 2021, in tabular form; the breakdown including felling, road access and afforestation applications; the percentage that have licences processed to the public and private sector owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59615/21]
17. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the serious safety or transit time requirements that justify the proposed spend on the Dunkettle interchange (details supplied); if he will compare same to the lack of an appraisal to date with respect to upgrading the N24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59614/21]
16. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the reason the policy to support regional aviation did not extend to Waterford Airport considering it attracts the full costs of serviced runway, emergency standby and air traffic control and air navigation expertise on site and is the base facility supporting the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 117 service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59613/21]
15. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to regional aviation support packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59612/21]
14. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to an Irish Rail document written in 2019 that stated that the Waterford to Rosslare rail line could be reopened for a cost of between €12 to 15 million; if he will support the reopening of the Waterford to Rosslare rail line given discussions in his Department regarding possible new rail project finance for Navan and the extension of the DART service to Wicklow given the expected population increase in the southeast region over the next 20 years and the requirement for regional connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59611/21]
215. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the timeline with respect to various approvals within Departments in respect of the current €40 million capital project being undertaken at Cork Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58138/21]