Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Seán Haughey

104. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that received home support hours in CHO9 in 2023; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that received personal assistance hours in CHO9 in 2023; the total number of hours provided in each category in CHO9 in 2023; the target number of hours for each category in CHO9 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/24]

Public Sector Staff

Seán Haughey

168. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the length of time it takes for requests for pension payments information to be finalised by the resignations and retirements team HR services in the National Shared Services Office; if more staff are required in this office; if a particular application (details supplied) can be finalised without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9295/24]

European Council

Seán Haughey

6. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent special meeting of the European Council on Ukraine. [7795/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Haughey

28. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if long Covid will be included in the terms of reference of the proposed Covid-19 inquiry. [8178/24]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Haughey

72. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if assistance, including funding, can be provided to a special school (details supplied) so it can create additional classes for students with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8184/24]

Cabinet Committees

Seán Haughey

13. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [7794/24]

Northern Ireland

Seán Haughey

22. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Northern Ireland following the restoration of the Executive there; and the discussions he had with British Prime Minister. [7793/24]

Equality Issues

Seán Haughey

36. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an outline of measures taken by the Department and its relevant agencies to tackle violence, racism, discrimination and other forms of abuse in sport. [6975/24]

Sports Events

Seán Haughey

47. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps her Department is taking to develop a strategy to identify the type of major sporting events Ireland can and should bid for. [6974/24]

Vacant Properties

Seán Haughey

86. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant social homes returned to active use in the Dublin City Council area from 2020 to 2023; his expectations for same in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6673/24]

Housing Provision

Seán Haughey

115. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in the Dublin City Council area in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6672/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Haughey

403. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if the temporary scheme of special leave with pay for healthcare workers with long-Covid will be extended past March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7354/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

5. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [3809/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

10. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagement with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. [3810/24]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Seán Haughey

19. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach to report on his visit to the western Balkans. [4171/24]

School Transport

Seán Haughey

286. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if the school transport scheme can be amended to allow qualified school bus drivers over the age of 70 drive school buses for Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6236/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Seán Haughey

436. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if drawdowns from approved retirement funds can be excluded as means when determining eligibility for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6182/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Haughey

233. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review has taken place in relation to the issue concerning class S PRSI contributions arising solely from personal pensions and the implications for those who are applying for the benefit payment for 65 year olds; if it will be acknowledged that these potential claimants are not self-employed and that they should be considered for this payment provided all other criteria are met; if this payment can be made to claimants in these circumstance who reached 65 years in the last 12 months; the position regarding a particular claimant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5814/24]

Tax Credits

Seán Haughey

88. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance the number of eligible claims currently being made for the rent tax credit in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4251/24]

Banking Sector

Seán Haughey

107. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance the action he is taking to ensure that future banking changes are managed in a controlled, fair and transparent manner for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4252/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Seán Haughey

163. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to open an embassy in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4906/24]

Social Insurance

Seán Haughey

366. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can introduce a mechanism whereby teachers who are on career breaks are able to pay PRSI contributions and to have these contributions recognised; if she is aware that teachers who are on career breaks are unable to make contributions, which risks affecting their State pension entitlements and eligibility for maternity leave and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3754/24]

Foreign Conflicts

Seán Haughey

38. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to attacks by Yemeni-based Houthis in the Red Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2557/24]

Middle East

Seán Haughey

85. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to the genocide case taken against Israel by South Africa in the International Court of Justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2556/24]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Seán Haughey

256. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is in contact with a homeless charity (details supplied) regarding its finances with a view to it continuing to provide services to the homeless; if financial assistance will be made available to it to ensure that all bills from creditors will be settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3454/24]

European Council

Seán Haughey

4. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU, western Balkans summit and at the European Council in Brussels on 13, 14 and 15 December 2023. [57117/23]

Defence Forces

Seán Haughey

54. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2760/24]

Diplomatic Representation

Seán Haughey

113. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider opening an Irish embassy in Algeria in order to enhance the relationship and strengthen the economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2896/24]

School Staff

Seán Haughey

288. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education why the number of resource teachers assigned to a school (details supplied) has been reduced from seven to one; if she will reverse this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2624/24]

Housing Provision

Seán Haughey

354. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an approved housing body (details supplied) or Dublin City Council has been in communication with his Department regarding a proposed social housing development in Dublin 5; if grant assistance will be provided for a residential development at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2682/24]

Housing Policy

Seán Haughey

355. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to restrict the practice of bulk purchasing of houses by institutional investors; if a particular case in Dublin 17 has been brought to his attention (details supplied); if the new measures are applicable in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2706/24]

Legislative Process

Seán Haughey

525. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commence the provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2707/24]

School Funding

Seán Haughey

491. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce a scheme to provide grant assistance for the replacement of old desks in existing classes, for children with an autism diagnosis, with modern height-adjustable desks, given that it is not realistic to obtain a timely report from an occupational therapist from the HSE for each individual child in these classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56576/23]

EU Directives

Seán Haughey

1069. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice the issues considered by Ireland in deciding to be bound by the EU Asylum Procedures Directive (2005/85/EC); if opting out of the provisions of this directive was contemplated; if this decision, including the subsequent enactment of the International Protection Act 2015, is under review; if Ireland proposes to opt in to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in due course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1024/24]

Disability Services

Seán Haughey

127. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the extra €20.5 million funding for disability residential services announced in budget 2024 will be spent; where exactly this funding will be channelled to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55527/23]

Disability Services

Seán Haughey

128. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department will improve engagement with the Department of Education, the National Council for Special Education and the National Educational Psychology Service to optimise health and integration as set out in the Roadmap to improve Children’s Disability Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55526/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Seán Haughey

27. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport the issues that have been brought to his attention by CIÉ regarding the future of the regular wages pension scheme and the 1951 superannuation scheme; if he is aware that retired employees in the regular wages scheme have not received an increase since 2008; if he will intervene with a view to CIÉ approving an increase for these pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55536/23]

National Transport Authority

Seán Haughey

41. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding the National Transport Authority has received in 2020, 2021 and 2022; the funding the National Transport Authority will receive in 2023; the funding allocated to the National Transport Authority for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55661/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Seán Haughey

15. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [54687/23]

Departmental Data

Seán Haughey

577. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if she will introduce a dedicated animal crime unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55356/23]

Housing Schemes

Seán Haughey

58. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on developments under the croí cónaithe cities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53854/23]

Housing Provision

Seán Haughey

76. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many new homes have been completed so far this year; how many new homes have seen construction start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53855/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Haughey

107. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will look at extending the Households Benefits Package and the Living Alone Allowance to single parent families; if her Department can provide a costing for this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53939/23]

Departmental Data

Seán Haughey

125. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people availed of the Activation and Family Support Programme in 2022 to fund the cost of training supports and education courses for people on social welfare; how this compares to 2020 and 2021, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53940/23]

Deportation Orders

Seán Haughey

267. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if, having regard to the provisions of the EU treaties, any non-Irish EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in Ireland have been expelled on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54284/23]

School Funding

Seán Haughey

236. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will permit schools to retain unspent Covid grants in order to put these funds towards the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of these schools; the position in respect of a particular school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53343/23]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Haughey

86. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the national recruitment campaign for special education needs organisers as part of the ongoing expansion of the National Council for Special Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52734/23]

Teaching Qualifications

Seán Haughey

114. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the recognition of foreign-based qualifications of teachers applying for teaching posts in Ireland; if the temporary application process for these teachers to apply to complete induction (Droichead) will be extended by the Teaching Council beyond 1 February 2024 to deal with the challenges in recruiting staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52735/23]

Official Travel

Seán Haughey

185. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50047/23]

Middle East

Seán Haughey

223. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to a long-term solution to ongoing conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50048/23]