93. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has undertaken an assessment of the take-up of the working family dividend and consulted with the Revenue Commissioners, which collects income data to ensure that this support is fully taken up. [14949/23]
288. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the way in which savings and assets are treated in means-test assessments, since the very stringent valuation rules risk becoming a deterrent to saving for a fruitful retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14461/23]
86. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will indicate how her Department assesses standards of literacy and numeracy at school entry and through primary education. [14232/23]
59. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied with the model being piloted for the transfer of patronage in schools; and if modifications in that approach are planned. [14233/23]
31. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the implications of the ongoing war in Ukraine for Ireland's security and defence. [14231/23]
82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport when the new powers in relation to the use of scramblers will be activated; and if guidelines will be issued to gardaí at local level on the use of these powers. [14122/23]
1453. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will consider having a system through which families could get impartial advice on the fair deal scheme in view of its complexity, through for example, an advocacy service or some other approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13551/23]
1452. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the career development and deployment of nurses in hospitals, in order that this highly qualified group could deploy their skills in an optimal manner; whether staff surveys have been conducted to identify sources of difficulty for the profession; and if a longer term manpower policy for deployment of staff in the acute hospital setting is being evolved to match best practice internationally. [13548/23]
419. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider relaxing the rules in relation to the bedrooms required in order that purchasing a property with a tenant in situ could be more widely used. [12817/23]
235. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the strategy to cease the disruption caused by drones at airports here; if he will identify the steps which need to be taken; and where the responsibility for action lies in each case. [12327/23]
274. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can make provision to ensure that those persons who had been in receipt of illness benefit for a substantial number of years, commencing before there was a requirement to apply for invalidity pension, will not be denied a contributory old age pension on grounds of insufficient paid stamps, bearing in mind that had they switched to invalidity pension they would have automatically qualified for COAP at age 66, without regard to contributions, and their long period of certified illness shows they met the conditions for invalidity pension. [12145/23]
171. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has engaged with the CRU regarding the regulation of companies providing heating to multiple unit dwellings, so that the accuracy of metering systems for recording usage and consumer protection in contracts can be properly regulated; and if it is intended to seek sanction for new regulations. [12049/23]
368. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will indicate the projected intake into each of the primary schools in the Clongriffin, Baldoyle and Howth planning area in September 2023; the way this compares to the projected demographic demand for such places in the area; and if she plans to promote the creation of additional places for the area. [10991/23]
307. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Irish students enrolled in an Irish course, but temporarily on a placement overseas, can be considered for inclusion in the postal vote or otherwise accommodated to participate in elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11333/23]
254. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has received complaints that the BIK regime now in place is resulting in people undertaking greater mileage to reduce their tax exposure; if he has evaluated the features which cause this behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11529/23]
123. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has evaluated the financial status of small businesses in the post-Covid period; the extent to which data from the Revenue Commissioners indicate a difficulty in meeting payments; if he can shed light on the reasons for the low take-up of the business energy cost supports offered by the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11390/23]
131. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the NDP monitoring is showing that projects are being delivered on schedule; and if population growth requires any revisions to the plan. [10542/23]
104. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has established a benchmark within public bodies for the proportion of their procurement that is acquired under green procurement frameworks; and the targets that are being set for adoption in the years ahead. [10543/23]
52. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has specific initiatives in place to facilitate vehicle sharing platforms; and the role he envisages they can play in a more sustainable transport strategy. [9531/23]
13. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will indicate the latest data on modal shares on key routes into Dublin city and how they compare with the pre-Covid time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9532/23]
105. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if there are initiatives to promote the switch of any of the single-sex schools at primary level to co-educational in a school planning area (details supplied) or in the adjoining school planning areas; the supports which her Department offers to facilitate such a switch; and if the lack of a co-educational option in a school planning area can be a reason for planning additional accommodation. [10424/23]
565. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the total staff and budget of the National Disability Service, divided across each service and the number of children receiving service in each area. [9641/23]
439. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total budget and staff of special prenatal and preschool services delivered in particularly disadvantaged areas under ABC or equivalent programmes; and the total number of children served. [9638/23]
438. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total of staff and budget of AIM, divided across the services delivered; and the estimated number of clients reached by each service which was delivered in 2022. [9637/23]
342. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the total number of early intervention classes in place and the children reached; and the number getting home tuition in the same category of need. [9640/23]
269. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of concerns that the draft planning Bill has reduced legal protection for the evolution of community gardens, which are playing a growing role in our communities in promoting sustainability and valuing the regenerative power of nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9524/23]
84. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the policy implications of the ESRI's assessment of the embodied emissions in Irish imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9530/23]
70. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will indicate the processes that he has put in place to set sectoral targets under the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/23]
114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the early experience with the small company rescue scheme is showing it has the capacity to allow viable businesses restructure arrangements in order that jobs and livelihoods can be sustained. [8135/23]
89. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the preparations that have been undertaken in his Department to develop a circular economy strategy in key economic sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8134/23]
57. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has assessed the potential of the high-speed broadband network to create potential for rural development and the number of projects emerging for support from her Department’s programmes which utilise its potential. [8132/23]
16. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has assessed the potential for the rural economy of the development of circular economy strategies; and the extent to which initiatives with a focus on more sustainable use of products and materials, and on recovery and reuse are figuring among projects receiving support from her Department. [8133/23]
338. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the position of an Irish citizen (details supplied) detained in Iran; and the efforts being undertaken to secure their release. [8257/23]
297. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has reviewed the relationship between HAP rent limits and rents being quoted in postal districts across Dublin; and if the ceilings now need to be adjusted. [8281/23]
99. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has developed initiatives to support more opportunities for older people to develop cultural activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8395/23]
84. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the new sports capital round has considered a protected pot of money for rapidly growing neighbourhoods, particularly in new areas where there is no strong network of clubs in place; and if the next round will soon be opened. [8394/23]
408. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the rate of indexation on deferred nursing home payments in 2021, 2022 and projected for 2023; the way they compare to the cost of Government borrowing to fund the carryover of such debt; and his views on the significant gap emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8020/23]
278. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of places available in reading schools for children with severe dyslexia; and her plans to expand the provision given these places are oversubscribed and the outcome of the review of the policy on reading classes and schools. [7870/23]
144. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that available therapeutic resource for children with special needs is properly allocated between completing assessments and delivering therapeutic services; and if she will indicate the key performance targets for the new disability networks, and their capacity to achieve them. [6759/23]
110. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has received a work plan from the NTPF on its waiting list initiative plans for 2023; and if he will indicate the key targets. [6760/23]
18. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if he will indicate the resource deployment to counter community safety concerns in Dublin city centre; and if he has received a report of the impact of the initiative, in crime statistics and in feedback from organisations in the area. [6758/23]
155. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the adequacy of dental services for people who hold medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7465/23]
586. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) can be prescribed by a GP, or only by a consultant; and if so, if this has resulted in very low usage of a medication of considerable efficacy. [6581/23]
337. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of special schools in the school catchments of Clontarf, Raheny and Killester; Drumcondra, Marino and Dublin 1; Howth, Baldoyle and Clongriffin; and Beaumont and Coolock; if she has assessed the adequacy of places to meet projected demand; and if she will outline her plans to develop additional places. [6769/23]
100. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will indicate the total intake onto apprenticeships in the past 12 months, distinguishing between those going into new apprenticeships and those entering traditional apprenticeships; and the initiatives being taken to drive employer engagement with the new fields. [6755/23]
96. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the present intake into courses catering to the key areas of health needs; and if he will indicate whether there are plans for new initiatives to meet recruitment bottlenecks through new places or flexible programmes such as Springboard. [6756/23]
265. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been taken to remove the lanriotide chemotherapy drug from the drugs refund scheme; if so, the reason for this; and the notice that is being given to users in order that they can explore other options which would be covered. [6267/23]
109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on his Department's plans for an agency which will drive forward the development of the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6097/23]
70. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the latest level of take-up of the core funding model for childcare for childcare providers; if any need to adapt the existing suite of supports has been identified for providers that have sought additional transitional support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6098/23]