Parliamentary questions

Culture Policy

Carol Nolan

70. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will investigate the possibility of categorising turf-cutting and turf use as protected cultural practices under such instruments as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, otherwise known as the Faro Convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24997/22]

Approved Housing Bodies

Carol Nolan

72. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will request the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority to conduct a value-for-money assessment of the approved housing bodies sector, given that there were 495 approved housing bodies listed in his Department’s register as of March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24995/22]

Approved Housing Bodies

Carol Nolan

73. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that has been provided to each approved housing body in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/22]

Further and Higher Education

Carol Nolan

154. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the uptake levels and the progress of efforts to address issues involving consent and sexual harassment as referenced in his remarks to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality on 5 May 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25001/22]

National Maternity Hospital

Carol Nolan

173. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will make available the correspondence that he received from the 52 senior National Maternity Hospital clinicians in February 2022. [25329/22]

Constitutional Convention

Carol Nolan

157. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the amounts paid, either on the basis of a contract or as gratuities or expenses to each of the chairpersons, speakers, facilitators, researchers or other persons in respect of the Constitutional Convention in 2012 and all citizens assemblies that were held from 2012 to date. [23976/22]

Work Permits

Carol Nolan

164. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 4 May 2022, the number of work permits granted to chefs and to each other category which applies to the restaurant sector in each of the years from 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24142/22]

Bus Services

Carol Nolan

202. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the decision to exclude private bus companies from the 20% fare reduction on State-funded public transport services; if he will address the concern that there is preferential treatment of State services over commercial entities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24244/22]

Teacher Training

Carol Nolan

444. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education her views on the requirement that a minimum requisite base-level gender-knowledge and gender-sensitive teaching methods skillset be mandatory for all educators in order to register as a post-primary teacher with the Teaching Council, regardless of their chosen subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24241/22]

Teacher Training

Carol Nolan

445. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education her views on the requirement that a minimum requisite base-level gender-knowledge and gender-sensitive teaching methods skillset be mandatory for all educators in order to register as a post-primary teacher with the Teaching Council, regardless of their chosen subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24242/22]

Education Policy

Carol Nolan

446. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the details of her Department’s policy toward single-sex primary and post-primary schools; if it is the intention of her Department to phase out the use of single-sex schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24243/22]

Gender Equality

Carol Nolan

564. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the higher education bodies that have been awarded funding under the gender equality enhancement fund in 2020-2021 to advance gender equality initiatives in Irish higher education; the amount received by each of these bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24239/22]

Gender Equality

Carol Nolan

565. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that has been provided to date by his Department or any bodies under the aegis of his Department to support the national gender equality dashboard for higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24240/22]

Special Educational Needs

Carol Nolan

248. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will address concerns that the Summer Programme 2022 will not include adequate provision to ensure the widespread participation of children with complex education and care needs in special school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24049/22]

Trade Missions

Carol Nolan

159. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a list of all trade missions and engagements abroad which both he and his predecessor as Minister have undertaken from 1 January 2018 to date; the dates on which both he and his predecessors were abroad in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22702/22]

Grant Payments

Carol Nolan

602. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will reconsider the decision to maintain the cap on third level student earnings at €4,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23022/22]

Grant Payments

Carol Nolan

603. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected impact and cost implications to the Exchequer of increasing the third level student earning cap from €4,500 to €5,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23023/22]

Healthcare Policy

Carol Nolan

830. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1722 of 26 April 2022, if the legally binding instrument that emerges from the negotiating process will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas for debate; if a majority vote will be required before the instrument is transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23406/22]

Work Permits

Carol Nolan

71. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to address labour shortages in the restaurant and hospitality sector; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the sector is currently losing highly skilled staff due to the non-availability of work permits and the refusal by his Department to extend existing work permits; if he will consider a relaxation of the relevant rules governing work permits in view of the acute shortage of skilled staff in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21816/22]

Departmental Funding

Carol Nolan

79. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the use of Just Transition funding to subsidise the importation of peat moss or the adaptation of facilities to mill peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21778/22]

Departmental Funding

Carol Nolan

80. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the use of Just Transition funding to subsidise the importation of peat moss or the adaptation of facilities to mill peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21779/22]

Housing Policy

Carol Nolan

176. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if her Department is considering delimiting the right to private property in response to the accommodation crisis generated by the influx of unprecedented numbers of Ukrainian refugees; if remarks attributed to her in several media sources (details supplied) that the Government would avoid if possible forcing persons or businesses to give up property or to open their homes to Ukrainian refugees accurately reflects her position or that of Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21737/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Carol Nolan

302. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit or jobseeker’s allowance who have been in receipt of either payment for a continuous period of three years or; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21818/22]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Carol Nolan

333. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the basis for statements made by him and by other Ministers that Ireland had capacity to welcome up to 200,000 refugees; the assessments compiled or reports commissioned within his Department or by external agencies which allowed him to come to this estimate; his views on whether Ireland can welcome 200,000 refugees into the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21817/22]

Ukraine War

Carol Nolan

356. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of Ukrainian refugees who have been welcomed in Ireland to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21817/22]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of convictions for offences contrary to sections 2 to 6, inclusive, and 9 to 12, inclusive, and 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 for the years 2015 to 2021 inclusive; the total number of those convicted under each heading in each year who were non-nationals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21814/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; and the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body. [19637/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

177. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation. [20069/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

189. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19626/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

198. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20059/22]

Environmental Schemes

Carol Nolan

227. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the micro-generation support scheme will become operational allowing solar panel owners to receive payment for their contribution of residual energy to the national grid; the reason for the delay in the scheme becoming operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19244/22]

Post Office Network

Carol Nolan

247. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in a position to provide clarity on the timing and intention of Government regarding publishing a plan on additional services at post offices including the greater use of post offices for offline Government services, which was carried out in 2022 but to date remains unpublished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19536/22]

Post Office Network

Carol Nolan

248. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in a position to provide clarity on the timing and intention of Government regarding publishing a plan on additional services at post offices, including the greater use of post offices for offline Government services which was carried out in 2021 but to date remains unpublished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19537/22]

Post Office Network

Carol Nolan

249. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to calls from an organisation (details supplied) on the need for clarity on Government plans to ensure support for postmasters given the current commercial challenges facing An Post and that these will not be unfairly passed on to postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19538/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

253. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19627/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

276. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20060/22]

Air Quality

Carol Nolan

325. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way that he intends enforce the new air quality regulations; if such enforcement will carry criminal or civil penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21043/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

356. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19639/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

375. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20071/22]

Credit Unions

Carol Nolan

478. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to enable the credit union movement to grow as a key provider of community banking in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19533/22]

Credit Unions

Carol Nolan

479. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will examine the suggestion by the credit union movement to review the policy framework within which credit unions currently operate; if he will allow for the creation of a regulatory and legislative credit union policy committee and a business model taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19534/22]

Credit Unions

Carol Nolan

480. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to enable and support the growth of the credit union movement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19535/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

483. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19628/22]

Tax Code

Carol Nolan

484. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will support the introduction of a VAT exemption on low-emission slurry spreading equipment purchased by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19655/22]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

497. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of gold reserves held in Ireland from quarter one 2011 and quarter one 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20053/22]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

498. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the annual cost of servicing the national debt since 2011 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20054/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20061/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

546. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19634/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

561. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20066/22]

Health Services Staff

Carol Nolan

571. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the special leave with pay payment that many health care workers are currently in receipt of is due to be terminated in June 2022; if he will consider extending this payment in order that health care workers do not have their normal sick pay days eroded, particularly given that many of them are still coping with the symptoms of long-Covid after having contracted Covid-19 in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20500/22]