Parliamentary questions

State Bodies

Richard Bruton

12. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the membership of the commission on ageing; and how the public will be able to engage with it. [2082/24]

Health Strategies

Richard Bruton

15. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Hospital Winter Plan to cope with the seasonal pressure. [2081/24]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Bruton

96. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he believes that the higher and further education sectors should develop a strategy outlining how they might contribute to the ambition to make Ireland the best country in which to grow old, by supporting better understanding, extending new opportunities, and harnessing the experience of those exiting their workplaces. [2083/24]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Richard Bruton

120. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will indicate the participation levels in apprenticeships of the major Government employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2084/24]

Housing Provision

Richard Bruton

203. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider ensuring a simpler approach to first home provisional approval, in order that developers would know that there is a strong pipeline of eligible affordable purchasers for such properties (details supplied). [2143/24]

Housing Provision

Richard Bruton

204. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes which have received planning permission, to which the new requirement of 10% affordable applies; the number of homes in developments where the council has exercised its right to specify a minimum proportion of homes for owner occupancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2144/24]

Further and Higher Education

Richard Bruton

345. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has carried out an assessment of the potential of remote delivery in further education and if new initiatives are planned in this arena. [50444/23]

Recycling Policy

Richard Bruton

121. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has assessed the capital investment which will be required in Ireland to meet higher recycling and reuse targets and lower exports of materials for recycling over the years to 2030 and beyond; if it is anticipated that this investment will require State direct investment or State support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1606/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Bruton

192. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if his Department plans to address the difficulties faced by the taxi industry in obtaining taxi plates, the prices of which have increased dramatically since the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56758/23]

Special Educational Needs

Richard Bruton

515. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether the extra resources in special education will be used to extend the pilot whereby a team of therapists' team with clusters of schools and pre-schools to offer a more integrated approach than is possible with the traditional referral to the HSE. [56861/23]

School Funding

Richard Bruton

609. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if there will be a further opportunity in 2024 for post-primary schools to apply for STEM grant funding from her Department, particularly schools that were not included in the list of successful applicants in December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1301/24]

School Funding

Richard Bruton

621. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the proportion of DEIS schools primary and post-primary that had successful applications in the recent STEM grant round; if a quota for DEIS schools has been considered to ensure that they bridge the gap in STEM take-up between DEIS and non-DEIS schools; and when the next call under this grant can be made in order that the many quality applications which were not successful on this occasion do not lose heart. [1339/24]

Housing Schemes

Richard Bruton

768. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of any properties in the north Fingal area that have been bought in the past six months by approved housing bodies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56964/23]

Housing Schemes

Richard Bruton

845. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that banks will not issue mortgages in the case of a tenant purchase, due to the operation of the clawback clause on the tenant purchase discount, and as result this locks out families whose income does not fit the conditions of a local authority loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1900/24]

Harbours and Piers

Richard Bruton

1223. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has undertaken a recent review of siltation in Howth Harbour; and whether he believes that a major scheme is now necessary for the harbour, to complement the smaller improvement initiatives which his Department is undertaking. [56959/23]

Harbours and Piers

Richard Bruton

1259. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he received a report on the consultation conducted regarding licensing additional boats for visitor boat trips from Howth Harbour; if so, when a decision on this is likely to be taken; and how the additional slots will be allocated to potential providers of the service. [1430/24]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1336. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason why inspections of childcare facilities are not managed by one agency and how much extra costs does the State incur arising from multiple agencies conducting multiple inspections of the same facility. [56700/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1337. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why the NCS portal closes at 11 p.m. on Tuesday evenings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56701/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1338. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers that stopped receiving Core Funding in 2023. [56702/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1339. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to linking the Core Funding payment to inflation. [56703/23]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

1555. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has articulated a policy on the roll-out of pulmonary rehabilitation for those patients suffering with lung fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56823/23]

Primary Care Centres

Richard Bruton

1632. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of a primary care centre in Swords; the expected date for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1043/24]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

1730. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the proportion of nursing costs paid by the State and by residents and their families under the fair deal scheme, distinguishing payments by families made immediately and payments recovered later from property sales. [1605/24]

Food Industry

Richard Bruton

39. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the possibility of developing, along with other Ministers, a circular compact across the food sector, aimed at designing out the negative environmental features all along the supply chain, from primary production to unnecessary waste. [55783/23]

Agriculture Industry

Richard Bruton

46. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the research being undertaken into the quantification and reward of environmental services generated by actions at farm level to allow water tables rise on organic soils, to switch from livestock to forestry; and whether this can lead to a more extensive financial framework than the present ACRES scheme. [55782/23]

International Protection

Richard Bruton

78. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the progress in integrating those in temporary protection from Ukraine and who have refugee status into work, education and community activity; and whether further policy initiatives are under consideration to improve integration. [55781/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received submissions on the excessive administrative burden associated with the Core funding scheme; and if modifications are possible. [55780/23]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Bruton

306. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the programmes of supported work experience or training which her Department or its agencies run for adult persons with a disability, and particularly those on the autism spectrum, who find it difficult to manage in conventional workplaces, in order that they can progress to regular work roles.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54606/23]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

465. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the programmes of supported work experience or training which her Department or its agencies run for adult persons with a disability, and particularly those on the autism spectrum, who find it difficult to manage in conventional workplaces, in order that they can progress to regular work roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54607/23]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

667. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the programmes of supported work experience or training which his Department or its agencies run for adult persons with a disability, and particularly those on the autism spectrum, who find it difficult to manage in conventional workplaces, in order that they can progress to regular work roles.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54605/23]

Equal Opportunities Employment

Richard Bruton

862. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the programmes of supported work experience or training which his Department or its agencies run for adult persons with a disability, and particularly those on the autism spectrum, who find it difficult to manage in conventional workplaces, in order that they can progress to regular work roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54608/23]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Bruton

16. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will activate the cities fund to ensure that more of the affordable homes developed in cities, particularly by the Land Development Agency, LDA, can be offered for affordable purchase, and make it easier for potential eligible buyers of such homes to establish that there are sufficient buyers with the necessary access to funds to avoid any uncertainty about take-up. [54192/23]

Mayoral Election

Richard Bruton

77. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the proposals that he plans to table for consideration by the citizens of Dublin of future governance for the city. [54193/23]

Social Isolation

Richard Bruton

139. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the scope of a partnership with a body like An Post to continue the sort of well-being support offered to people at risk of isolation, which was so successful during Covid, becoming a permanent feature in our communities. [54195/23]

Departmental Programmes

Richard Bruton

147. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the development of programmes to support people approaching retirement to better prepare for the substantial changes which need to be managed. [54194/23]

Healthcare Policy

Richard Bruton

316. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has articulated a policy on the roll-out of pulmonary rehabilitation for those patients suffering with lung fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54307/23]

National Broadband Plan

Richard Bruton

39. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the procedure through which an area in the blue commercial area can be transferred to the NBI area; and if he will indicate whether any such transfers have taken place. [53978/23]

Media Sector

Richard Bruton

60. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has assessed the future patterns of media consumption and the implications this has for public policy. [53640/23]

School Funding

Richard Bruton

257. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if the unspent moneys for Covid in a DEIS school can be reallocated to meet other pressing needs, such as in a case (details supplied). [53758/23]

Defective Building Materials

Richard Bruton

311. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application has been received by Fingal County Council for inclusion in the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme; if he can provide a timeline for the inclusion of local authorities in the scheme once applications are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53389/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

545. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the categories of post which are being exempted from the freeze on recruitment, such as in the area of disability, and whether he can extend this to other areas of acute need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53447/23]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Richard Bruton

11. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the difficulties with the access and the underground car park at Clongriffin, which is a vital hub in the new public transport strategy for Dublin, and if he will convene the key stakeholders to seek to broker a solution. [52816/23]

Electric Vehicles

Richard Bruton

63. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport when the regulations for e-bikes and scooters will be completed; how it is intended to monitor the 25 km/h speed limit, which is to be the threshold for tax and insurance, where the capacity of many of the items in use seem to be able to exceed such thresholds. [52811/23]

School Patronage

Richard Bruton

102. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the new approach to the promotion of the transfer of patronage of schools which her Department has adopted; and if she will outline the key milestones that it is intended to reach in the next three years. [52817/23]

Education Policy

Richard Bruton

143. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she plans to take new initiatives to promote the understanding of biodiversity in education programmes, both within and outside the curriculum. [52818/23]

Artificial Intelligence

Richard Bruton

172. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what international compacts are in development to regulate the impact of artificial Intelligence on economic, social and political life within and beyond the EU; and how Ireland intends to participate in emerging new arrangements. [50243/23]

EU Membership

Richard Bruton

200. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether prospective new member states of the EU have made significant progress to date in reaching the milestones for membership; what changes in the operation of the EU are under consideration to accommodate wider membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50242/23]

School Patronage

Richard Bruton

335. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education her views on the progress in developing more multi-denominational choice at primary level; her further views on the new approach being developed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47386/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Richard Bruton

381. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether substitute teachers filling positions as English language teachers can be paid the substitute’s daily rate; if she will make arrangements in order that these subs can be entered into the online system for payment; and her views on the shortfall of pay to substitutes at a school (details supplied). [53171/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

54. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the programmes of public expenditure that will be subject to evaluation in the coming year, and whether this process needs to be reformed. [52333/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

57. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the budgeting process operated by his Department promotes innovation to a sufficient extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52334/23]

Jury Service

Richard Bruton

399. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice whether there are any arrangements whereby small businesses can be compensated if an important member of staff is called for jury duty, which can be highly disruptive and costly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51832/23]

An Garda Síochána

Richard Bruton

425. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if it has ever been considered that certain Garda duties should be accompanied by a white Garda helmet, which have been successful in other jurisdictions in enhancing visibility and a sense of safety. [52465/23]

Disease Management

Richard Bruton

589. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has evaluated the dexcom diabetes treatment pillars, which have been submitted for consideration by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he is in a position to put them into action. [52073/23]

Business Supports

Richard Bruton

20. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for strengthening the capacity of the LEO network to give specialist support to enterprises, with varying needs and regional specialisms, within their remit and to the development of regional centres of excellence. [51510/23]

Climate Change Policy

Richard Bruton

24. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned that a high proportion of businesses have yet to embark on the transition to the European Green Deal to sustainability. [51509/23]

Fiscal Policy

Richard Bruton

140. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate the plans for Ireland to adopt the European taxonomy in investment. [51512/23]

Banking Sector

Richard Bruton

143. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance to review the recovery of funds invested in the rescue of the pillar banks during the financial crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51511/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

220. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether there are plans to locate a future primary and/or post-primary school in the growing north Santry area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51794/23]

Schools Building Projects

Richard Bruton

221. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education whether there are plans to locate a second-level gaelcholáiste in the Swords area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51795/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Richard Bruton

344. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if the extension of parental benefit from seven to nine weeks from August 2024, will give the extra two weeks also to children born up to two years before the commencement date. [51026/23]

European Union

Richard Bruton

30. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether consensus is emerging in the EU on future reforms in the electricity market; their likely impact on Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50279/23]

Climate Change Negotiations

Richard Bruton

39. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether Ireland plans to enter new undertakings in the context of the upcoming COP 28; if he will outline his priorities for the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50278/23]

Primary Care Centres

Richard Bruton

233. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to open a primary care centre in Santry/Whitehall for the Dublin 9 area. [50359/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

234. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plans to improve the health outcomes in Dublin 9 by providing more medical professionals. [50360/23]

Health Services

Richard Bruton

235. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health his Department’s strategic plan for health care delivery for Dublin 9. [50361/23]

Family Law Cases

Richard Bruton

113. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline her plans for the reform of the family courts to improve access and streamline the processes for balancing rights in handling cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50285/23]

Departmental Strategies

Richard Bruton

220. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the strategies and the specific policy tools which are driving the uptake of digital technology in secondary schools; if there are any specific initiatives in specific subject areas, such as languages, mathematics, and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49858/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Richard Bruton

349. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice whether there is any reason for the long delay in the naturalisation process for a person (details supplied) who has been educated in Ireland from the age of nine years, and for whom third level education will be unaffordable without naturalisation, bearing in mind the initiation of this process almost two-and-a-half years ago. [49879/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Richard Bruton

477. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if there is any restriction on the opportunity to advertise e-cigarettes in Irish media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49892/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Richard Bruton

593. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned about the ease of access to, and advertising for, e-cigarettes; if the risk of recruiting new users to dependence on nicotine necessitates new regulation; and if he has undertaken any analysis of the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49891/23]

Departmental Data

Richard Bruton

44. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the throughput of patients being treated in key categories and the trends in patient numbers compared to the corresponding period in 2022 and to the equivalent period in 2019, before Covid struck. [48359/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Richard Bruton

82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the throughput of the National Treatment Purchase Agency in 2023; and the plans for 2024. [48358/23]

Housing Provision

Richard Bruton

156. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the latest information on the purchases of homes by first-time buyers and the supply of affordable homes for purchase by such buyers. [48356/23]

Local Government Reform

Richard Bruton

164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals he plans to table for consideration by the citizens of Dublin of future governance for the city. [48357/23]

Pension Provisions

Richard Bruton

210. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will indicate the number of requests from the trustees of pension funds of state bodies for increases to be made to pensioners which are now outstanding and awaiting ministerial approval; under what circumstances would such increases be rejected in the present inflationary environment; and if steps can be taken to speed up the processing of such applications. [49140/23]

Health Services Staff

Richard Bruton

310. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of current vacancies in community health posts serving the Balbriggan area, including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49118/23]

Tax Code

Richard Bruton

32. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance whether the implications of a new approach to taxing medical partnerships for the wider policy arrangements in health have been assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48967/23]

General Practitioner Services

Richard Bruton

132. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether the implications of a new approach to taxing medical partnerships for the wider policy arrangements in Health have been assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48966/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

49. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date in rolling out a capital programme for childcare and putting in place a development agency for the sector. [48354/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

71. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has examined the sustainability of different segments of the childcare sector; and how he intends to use the additional resources allocated in the budget for core funding. [48355/23]

Road Safety

Richard Bruton

241. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the approach he intends to adopt to setting new speed limits; how he will ensure that there is a focus on dangerous speeds, rather than on minor exceedances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47930/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Richard Bruton

263. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if using an electric powered scooter or bike is an offence against which Garda enforcement is possible; and whether the new legislation on the regulation of such vehicles requires regulations or a commencement date before they become effective. [48319/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Richard Bruton

562. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she plans to review the DEIS status of schools now that the results of Census 2022 have been reported; if she envisages granting a new DEIS status to any schools in the near future; how the disadvantage status of a person in homeless accommodation is assessed under the scheme; and whether this might result in the disadvantage status being misread. [48733/23]

Immigration Policy

Richard Bruton

797. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice the security checks that are carried out on international applicants immigrating to Ireland; whether the Irish Immigration Service carries out criminal record checks on people arriving from other European countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47466/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Richard Bruton

825. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice her views on the reports that the number of checks for dangerous driving have fallen sharply; and if she plans any particular initiatives to emphasise the need for compliance to reduce road deaths. [47931/23]

Children in Care

Richard Bruton

971. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason foster allowance reduces at 18 years of age, even if the person is in full-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47251/23]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1058. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the compliance and standards that will be required of childminders who seek to participate in the national childcare scheme from September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48317/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

8. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what programmes of public expenditure will be subject to evaluation in the coming year; and whether this process needs to be reformed [46962/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard Bruton

14. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether the budgeting process operated by his Department promotes innovation to a sufficient extent. [46963/23]

Climate Change Policy

Richard Bruton

63. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the top priorities in 2024 for carbon emission abatement in agriculture, in marine and in forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46964/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46965/23]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Richard Bruton

121. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the standards that apply to radiation emissions from telecommunication masts; if different standards apply where they are in close proximity to residential areas, and if the standards applied are updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47120/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

45. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46967/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46969/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46966/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

148. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions her Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if she plans to step up activity. [46970/23]

State Pensions

Richard Bruton

102. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of persons who were allowed to remain long-term on illness benefit when restricted duration was first introduced, but who now on reaching retirement age, find that the required paid stamps have increased to 520 paid stamps, and thus have no pension rights, whereas persons on invalidity pension who also have been long-term unable to work, are allowed waive the obligation; the number of persons that are on long-term illness benefit; and her views on the fairness of this apparent differential treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46423/23]

Bus Services

Richard Bruton

169. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport for the delivery date of all proposed BusConnects routes serving the Swords area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46457/23]

Public Services Provision

Richard Bruton

214. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has taken steps to ensure that across the public service, there are alternative forms of access for those who are not equipped to use digital systems; and if telephone access alternatives with monitored speed of response and hubs in the community are part of a robust alternative. [46618/23]