Parliamentary questions

Departmental Funding

Mairéad Farrell

351. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the €8 million provided by her Department through the large-scale infrastructure funding programme to Galway City Council for the development of a facility at Cappagh Park has been returned to her Department; if so, the date on which this was; and the reason provided for why these funds were used. [21232/24]

Film Industry

Sorca Clarke

352. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to visit the west coast of the US later in 2024 to meet senior officials from major film production companies to increase the number of major films being made in Ireland. [21396/24]

Sports Events

Joe Carey

353. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the engagement that took place between her Department and an organisation (details supplied) on a matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21625/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

354. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21702/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Matt Shanahan

355. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total printing expenditure per annum over the past five years of all Government-sponsored reviews and reports which were translated into Irish and published, broken down by Department and year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21703/24]

Artificial Intelligence

Claire Kerrane

356. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of AI generated advertisements on a platform (details supplied) sharing bogus information; if she will take steps to communicate with the public on the misinformation that can be created and spread online using AI to ensure online safety, especially for vulnerable users who may be misled; if there is a role for the new Media Commission on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21734/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

357. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total costs incurred by her Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21874/24]

Defective Building Materials

Cian O'Callaghan

358. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out preparatory work to ensure public moneys delivered to owners’ management companies under the Government’s various defects remediation schemes will be fully tracked and accounted for if the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 is not delivered on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Brendan Griffin

359. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a sewerage scheme will be considered for a village in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21179/24]

Housing Policy

Mairéad Farrell

360. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of adjacent local authorities which allow people on their housing waiting list to select areas of choice outside of their own local authority, if he will advise on the reason tenants living outside the area of the local authority from which they receive HAP cannot have areas of choice in the adjacent local authority area, where other applicants on the housing waiting list can; if he would consider amending this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21196/24]

Housing Policy

Mairéad Farrell

361. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the instances where an AHB can purchase housing units for use as social housing; where this policy can be found; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21202/24]

Grant Payments

Michael Ring

362. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that in the case of a housing adaptation grant application for a person who has suffered catastrophic injuries, their sibling’s income should be taken in to account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21238/24]

Grant Payments

Ruairí Ó Murchú

363. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to increase the funds to local authorities this year or to provide additional funding this year for housing grants such as housing adaptation grants, housing grants for older people and mobility aid grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/24]

Vacant Properties

Matt Shanahan

364. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make contact with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to a vacant centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21259/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

366. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local government staff embargo is still in place; if workforce planning has been carried out; and if so, where there are staff shortages, by local authority, and the disciplines and grades. [21288/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

367. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff positions have been sanctioned by local authorities since 2018; and if he will detail the specialised grades provided for in each local authority over that time period. [21289/24]

Housing Provision

James Lawless

368. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine a housing matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21334/24]

Sport and Recreational Development

Steven Matthews

369. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an application by a club (details supplied) for a licence through his Department; if this can be expedited to reflect the limited time available to the club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/24]

Housing Policy

Violet-Anne Wynne

370. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what the process is for adding another person to a social housing application in instances where the said person is seriously ill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21365/24]

Energy Policy

Niamh Smyth

371. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out a review of fire personnel in Cavan or Monaghan in light of a number of battery storage facilities being granted planning permission in the counties; and if Ireland is equipped to deal with such facilities. [21384/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

372. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of conservation rangers recruited into the NPWS with location based in Waterford and the wider south east region; the current targets for recruitment nationwide by the end of 2024 and by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21391/24]

Departmental Staff

Sorca Clarke

373. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE qualified archaeologists by grade employed by his Department in the years 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [21411/24]

Housing Policy

Pearse Doherty

374. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Housing Agency made a decision not to purchase properties offered to it for sale (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21476/24]

Housing Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

375. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the rules regarding renting and receiving HAP where the rental property belongs to a family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21515/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

376. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to increase the cap for the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme in line with increased building construction costs, as advised by an organisation (details supplied). [21631/24]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Gould

377. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether funding is available for the taking-in-charge of estates. [21642/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

378. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of grants he can award directly to local authorities for distribution to community groups, by heading and amount available; and if his Department provides funding to community groups for use in reducing vacant properties and dereliction in towns. [21653/24]

Electoral Process

Duncan Smith

379. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific criteria required for an appointment as a presiding officer at various electoral contests throughout the State; who determines these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21654/24]

Grant Payments

Duncan Smith

380. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take steps to widen the medical criteria for determining eligibility for the disabled persons' grant; if same grants can be increased to reflect or mirror current construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21655/24]

Septic Tanks

Duncan Smith

381. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider substantially increasing funding to local authorities in order to enable septic tank inspections to be carried out in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21656/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

382. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21695/24]

Departmental Schemes

Cathal Crowe

383. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the rules regarding the building defects scheme as they pertain to rental properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21733/24]

Protected Disclosures

Cian O'Callaghan

384. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what action he intends to take on foot of reports of alleged wrongdoing by local council CEOs and elected councillors from the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21735/24]

Housing Provision

Martin Kenny

385. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes built by the local authority in Sligo per year between 2017 and 2023, in tabular form. [21773/24]

Housing Provision

Martin Kenny

386. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes built by the local authority in Leitrim per year between 2017 and 2023, in tabular form. [21774/24]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

387. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of units delivered to date or in the delivery pipeline using the serviced sites fund; and the location of the units and the average SSF allocation per unit per scheme, in tabular form. [21781/24]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

388. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of units delivered to date or in the delivery pipeline using the affordable housing fund; the location of the units; and the average AHF allocation or allocation range per unit per scheme, in tabular form. [21782/24]

National Monuments

Matt Shanahan

389. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider forming an expert working group for national monuments (details supplied) given all structures recognised after 1888 are not considered as monuments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21800/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is he aware of the ongoing issues faced by an affordable housing provider (details supplied); if he will take action to ensure a solution is reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21841/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

391. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21868/24]

Departmental Funding

Eoin Ó Broin

392. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of leased social housing properties funded by his Department via SHCEP at the end of 2023; the total cost to the State in 2023; and a breakdown of different lease types (details supplied) other with the full cost for each of these sub sets in 2023, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21878/24]

Climate Change Policy

David Stanton

393. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the projected rise in sea levels and the potential impact on the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21426/24]

Climate Change Policy

David Stanton

394. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on how climate change is contributing to the rise in sea levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21427/24]

Septic Tanks

Peter Fitzpatrick

395. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government has any plans to extend the grants available to upgrade personal septic tanks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21903/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in County Kerry (details supplied) who has been deemed eligible for disability allowance will be transferred to an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21200/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

397. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if a person (details supplied) over 65 and on over-65 jobseeker’s benefit, not having to actively seek employment and at home on a full-time basis, would be entitled to carer’s support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21225/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael Creed

398. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an appeal of carer’s allowance application is taking so long. [21237/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

John McGuinness

399. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for invalidity pension, which is under appeal, will be approved for a person (details supplied). [21274/24]

Departmental Data

Leo Varadkar

400. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parents leave benefit; the initial cost estimate provided to the Minister and to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the year the benefit was legislated for; his views on the discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21279/24]

Equality Issues

Leo Varadkar

401. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether people medically determined to be intersex should be required to register as male or female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21284/24]