840. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he envisages that the investment plans developed in the new ten-year county development plans will interact with the national planning of infrastructure under the National Development Plan; and if it will be necessary for the various Government Departments to align their investment approaches to this new process of having a coherent national and local planning framework. [35026/24]
839. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the updated National Planning Framework envisages the future split in house building across the categories of: rural one-off housing; village growth; town growth; growth in satellite areas of the five cities and in the five cities themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35025/24]
766. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the growth in population and in the housing stock from 2016 to 2022 across the regional categories identified in the National Planning Framework 2018, across Dublin and its suburbs, across each of the four other cities and their suburbs, and across each of the three regions (East and Midlands, North and Western, and Southern); and the extent to which the distribution of that growth has deviated from the midpoint target distributions for the entire period to 2040 set out in the National Planning Framework 2018, in tabular form. [35693/24]
763. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the new arrangements which will apply for the setting of the charge for a TV licence; the range of equipment to which it shall apply; the changes proposed to improve collection rates during the coming year; how it will impact on those who are currently entitled to free TV licence, and on the estimated shortfall of the projected revenues from the charge in funding RTÉ’s five-year plan; and if she has factored in her plans to support other independent media into the revised arrangements. [35882/24]
701. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the provision being made to provide free schoolbooks at primary and secondary schools during the coming academic year; the arrangements and payments involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35881/24]
646. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education in view of the shortage of primary teachers, if initiatives have been considered to make it easier to attract suitable people from other professions, i.e., supporting the fees for the PME or by establishing special bridging courses under Springboard or under the human capital initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35369/24]
622. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if work on revisions will be necessary in the present school planning process operated by her Department in light of the new National Planning Framework and the Planning and Development Bill 2023, which envisage accelerated areas of development being designated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35012/24]
611. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34886/24]
590. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if funds will be released this year to schools for summer works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34749/24]
497. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of sick days which the employer-funded sick pay scheme will cover during 2025; and the date on which any change will take effect. [35857/24]
496. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the various levels of minimum wage which have been recommended to the Government to take effect from 1 January 2025; whether the Government has completed its assessment of the legal provisions necessary before they can be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35856/24]
492. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are regulations in Ireland governing the use of dynamic pricing of tickets; and if he has sought advice from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on its use in the recent sale of concert tickets (details supplied). [35609/24]
491. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the updated National Planning Framework’s projection that 50% of future job growth will occur outside the five cities and their suburbs; if his Department is exploring how international investment flows might be reoriented to better reflect this geographical shift; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35604/24]
490. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of increasing concern among international investors that the biggest barrier to the development of AI and other industries of the future is the inability of states to quickly build adequate digital infrastructure that is, data centres, grid expansion and electrification; if he is developing a plan to address these concerns; if his Department is exploring how the development of our digital infrastructure can help create the energy demand required to attract renewable energy investment to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35603/24]
489. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has identified any priority sectors when developing the National Clustering Programme due to be published in Q3 2024; the factors that contributed to the identification of particular sectors as ‘priority’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35602/24]
488. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proportion of new jobs in Enterprise Ireland-supported firms from Q1 2021 to Q2 2024 that occurred in each of the five cities and outside the five cities; if the target he is setting for the regional spread of employment growth will change in light of the updated National Planning Framework’s projection that 50% of job growth will occur outside the five cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35601/24]
477. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has considered how remote working might play a role in achieving the balanced population growth envisaged by the National Planning Framework; if he is developing innovative policies to make remote working more productive within the public service; and if he sees opportunities to develop systems collaboratively with the private sector to underpin the potential. [35016/24]
476. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the economic clusters which his Department and its agencies currently support; the location of the main hub for each; and if he will outline his plans for developing a more comprehensive clustering strategy to develop opportunities, and to accelerate the adoption of sustainable circular principles and appropriate digital transformation. [35015/24]
475. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will indicate the nature of the projects supported by the regional enterprise funds operated by his Department in each of the regions in the past five years and the value of the support in each year; and if he will outline his ambition for further projects in the coming years. [35013/24]
441. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department is aware of the updated National Planning Framework’s forecast that 50% of future population and job growth will occur outside the five cities and their suburbs; if his Department is examining how the regional distribution of public investment might change to reflect these new projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35606/24]
392. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the thresholds and rates for capital acquisition tax; if the tax advisory group has evaluated how these thresholds relate to current property values; his views on the appropriate relationship for different categories of recipient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35871/24]
391. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the present ceiling on the price of a home eligible under the help-to-buy scheme; if he is considering a revision in the ceiling, bearing in mind the trend in house prices; if considers that a regional differential should apply bearing in mind the substantial difference in the cost of a standard home in different parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35870/24]
390. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the rate of VAT on energy products; if an increase in this rate before the end of 2024 is scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35866/24]
389. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the take-up of the landlord relief announced in Budget 2024; the cost of the relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35865/24]
388. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the take-up of the mortgage relief scheme in Budget 2024; the average value of the relief paid; and if any provision has been made for renewing it for a further year. [35864/24]
387. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the basis of calculation of the differential in the standard rate cut-off point between single persons, single parents and couples with one earner; when these differentials were last changed; and the levels that they would now be at if indexed to average earnings, or if indexed to the rise in the value of the single person’s SCP over the intervening years. [35862/24]
386. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the take-up of the microgeneration tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35861/24]
385. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the low-income exemption threshold for persons aged 65 years and over, now that the combined value of the personal credit and the credit for a PAYE or self-employed income exceeds the value of the exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35860/24]
384. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if there has been any evaluation of the tax incentives for the purchase of bikes and electric bikes; and if he will consider an extension beyond those with participating employers. [35859/24]
255. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the targeted coverage of the regional EV charging network now in evolution, distinguishing accessibility on major routes and in significant centres of population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35010/24]
254. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the present coverage achieved by Local link services and the passenger numbers being served; the potential for further growth in the next three years; and if he will outline the other pilot schemes or initiatives to address sustainable and accessible mobility in rural areas by the NTA or other bodies. [35009/24]
253. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered the possibility of making greater incentives available for the switch to EVs in areas where alternative public transport or active travel options are simply not available, for example, through cheaper public charging rates, lower motor tax, higher toll concessions, and more reserved parking in commercial towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35008/24]
250. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the access to the Dart station in Clongriffin is continually breaking down and seriously disrupting passenger travel plans; and if he will urge the NTA to execute its plan for the facility as a matter of urgency. [35000/24]
248. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the present cap on flights through Dublin Airport threatens to disrupt the use of charters to bring persons to upcoming sporting events; if interim arrangements can be put in place to avoid disruption to those travellers and protect businesses which have specialised in such charters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34989/24]
145. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to alter any of the SEAI subsidy levels for different elements of an energy upgrade supported under their schemes; if they are set with a target rate of percentage support of different elements; and if he is tracking the actual costs in the marketplace of these elements of work to ensure that the target level of support is maintained. [35884/24]
144. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the terms of the low-interest loans available for retrofitting homes from the various participating financial institutions; the supports by way of subsidies or guarantees being provided by European Investment Bank and by the State; and the likely cost that will fall on the Exchequer from such guarantees. [35883/24]
117. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total estimated spending on retrofitting homes for improved energy use over the past three years; and the total number of homes upgraded per county in total and as a percentage of the county’s housing stock. [35011/24]
73. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can provide figures for direct and indirect jobs potential if Ireland's targets are met in solar energy, onshore wind, offshore wind, biogas production and afforestation; the type of jobs which he envisages could be created in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35605/24]
2704. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the uptake of supports provided by her Department to rejuvenate town centres and high streets at the county level; whether she has considered the idea of local one-stop shops for information to increase the uptake of these supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33568/24]
2215. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has sanctioned a scheme for children on orthodontic waiting lists to see private practitioners for treatment; the categories of orthodontic treatment to which the scheme applies; and if he has plans to extend this scheme in any manner. [31918/24]
2214. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if provision has been made in order that the HSE pay rates and overtime payments will apply in bodies providing such services in the not-for-profit sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31917/24]
2132. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the specific industries that will be represented on the committee to inform the development of a national diabetes strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31707/24]
2131. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the committee being formed to review and inform the development of a national diabetes strategy; the terms of reference the committee will be guided by; the timeline for the completion of the committee's work and presentation to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31705/24]
1981. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has had discussions regarding the recommendation of the expert review group that the clinical nurse manager 2 scale would have an additional point on the scale added and have a long-service increment introduced. [30968/24]
1875. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the budget submission made by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32736/24]
1778. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received a submission regarding the very short notice given to parents and children in international protection of the requirement to move accommodation; and if he is able to accommodate their request for alternative approaches for such persons. [31562/24]
1507. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice for an update on her Department’s review of the use of the judicial review mechanism in the Irish jurisdiction; the objectives of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31709/24]
1264. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of her consultation on introducing a cost of disability payment, and whether a report will be available to her on practical options in time for consideration in the forthcoming budget. [31563/24]
1080. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a valuation ceiling on 'cost-rental tenant-in-situ', and how it is calculated; and if there are any other options for a person in such a situation, as in the case of a person (details supplied). [31921/24]
1072. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the timeline for the passage of the Planning and Development Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31708/24]