Parliamentary questions

Traveller Accommodation

Ivana Bacik

447. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress in undertaking a comprehensive review of the pilot caravan loan scheme; his plans to introduce a national scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16673/24]

Traveller Accommodation

Ivana Bacik

448. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress on ensuring that mid-term reviews by local authorities of their Traveller accommodation programmes are appropriately utilised to inform delivery to end-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16674/24]

Building Regulations

Ivana Bacik

449. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for bringing forward proposals to Government for the creation of an independent building standards regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16675/24]

Departmental Reports

Ivana Bacik

450. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the Government’s response to the report from the Housing Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16676/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

451. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of private rented accommodation inspections that were carried out by all local authorities in 2023; the number of inspections in which further enforcement action was taken in all local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16679/24]

Construction Industry

Ivana Bacik

486. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress in organising an annual national recruitment fair to promote jobs, apprenticeships and training options for the construction sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16659/24]

Legal Services Regulation

Ivana Bacik

488. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for establishing a group to identify administrative or other measures which could be implemented in the short term to reduce delays and costs for home purchasers in the conveyancing and probate processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16669/24]

Departmental Reports

Ivana Bacik

526. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the progress on considering the recommendations contained in the LSRA report on the profession of conveyancer and identifying proposals for reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16668/24]

Forestry Sector

Ivana Bacik

561. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress in promoting the use of cross-laminated timber in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16654/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Ivana Bacik

572. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to reimburse private autism and neurodiversity assessments, where it was acquired due to a lack of availability in the HSE. [16680/24]

Voluntary Sector

Ivana Bacik

576. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the appointment and payment of a safeguarding officer in an organisation (details supplied); his plans to create a similar mechanism for other, similar organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16045/24]

Childcare Services

Ivana Bacik

577. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 21 March 2024, the underlying underspend of core funding in 2022, and 2023, respectively that remained unspent; what proportion of this underspend was applicable for uplifting wages in the sector; the number of childcare providers that accessed core funding in each of those years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16076/24]

Health Services

Ivana Bacik

607. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on health supports offered to international protection applicants who are without accommodation. [16160/24]

Medical Qualifications

Ivana Bacik

731. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the progress to give statutory recognition and protection to the designation of "counsellor"; if he has sought a timeline from the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board for protection of the title, establishment of minimum qualifications for existing and future practitioners, and drafting of standards of proficiency and criteria for education and training; and his views on the adequacy of existing and planned measures to regulate rogue crisis pregnancy agencies. [16531/24]

Medical Qualifications

Ivana Bacik

732. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the reason for delays in completing the process to give statutory protection to the designation of "counsellor"; and if progress can be made on regulating rogue crisis pregnancy agencies notwithstanding those reasons. [16532/24]

Abortion Services

Ivana Bacik

733. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with technology communications companies with respect to advertising of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies' websites online; and if he will make a statement on his Department's work to ensure that persons seeking advice are able to access MyOptions.ie and other HSE resources. [16533/24]

Medical Qualifications

Ivana Bacik

734. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 22 February 2023, the number of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies operating here of which his Department and the HSE are aware; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16534/24]

Departmental Priorities

Ivana Bacik

735. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the need to legislate to curtail the activities of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies; and if he will adopt and pass the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2016. [16535/24]

Medical Cards

Ivana Bacik

744. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the progress in extending the income disregard for medical cards to include the rent-a-room income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/24]

Departmental Reports

Ivana Bacik

764. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publishing the report on recommendations for standardised design of student accommodation in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16646/24]

Departmental Communications

Ivana Bacik

765. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline for publishing the Action Plan in response to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs report on modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16650/24]

Student Accommodation

Ivana Bacik

766. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress on approving student accommodation schemes, in light of the approval of the long-term student accommodation policy approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16661/24]

Housing Policy

Ivana Bacik

2. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the adequacy of Housing for All building targets; when revised targets will be published; his plans to speed up delivery of housing in line with established need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15950/24]

Energy Conservation

Ivana Bacik

66. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of research commissioned by his Department on retrofitting apartment complexes; his plans to expedite the introduction of special measures in light of the latest Energy Performance of Buildings Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/24]

Special Educational Needs

Ivana Bacik

473. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the summer programme 2023 in relation to funding for autism classes; and the rationale for reducing funding for pupils in special classes in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. [14444/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

697. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average duration of the lease agreement in place for properties restored under the repair and leasing scheme; the cost of the scheme in every year since 2017; how many units are targeted for 2024; the reasons the majority of homes delivered to date are concentrated in one local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15171/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

698. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many units have been delivered under the buy and renew scheme in each year since it was introduced; the total cost in each year; how many units are targeted for 2024; if he will provide a breakdown, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15172/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

699. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social housing delivery targets for 2024; if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the projected new build targets by LA, AHB and Part V; if he will provide a breakdown of projected acquisition, by local authority, housing agency, AHB, and CALF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15173/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

700. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the social housing delivery targets for 2024 under the various leasing initiatives; if he will provide a breakdown by Part V, SCHEP long- and short-term leasing, and the targeted leasing initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15174/24]

Housing Provision

Ivana Bacik

701. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the affordable housing delivery targets for 2024; if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown by affordable purchase (LA affordable purchase scheme, First Home Scheme and Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant) and by cost-rental (local authority/AHB/LDA); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15175/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

702. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many approvals have issued under the First Home Scheme to date; how many of those approvals have been drawn down; if he will provide a breakdown of how many of those approvals were for self-build; how many have been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15176/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

703. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many approvals have issued under the First Homes Tenant Purchase Scheme to date; how many of those approvals have been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15177/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

704. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many cost rental tenant-in-situ proposals have been completed to date; how many have been acquired by the Housing Agency; if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of referrals to the Housing Agency; the number completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15178/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

705. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many tenant-in-situ purchases were completed in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many from 2023 are still outstanding; how many purchases have been completed to date in 2024; how much funding is available for 2024; how many homes it is expected will be bought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15179/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Ivana Bacik

731. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection if foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is considered a disability for disability payment purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13676/24]

Primary Care Centres

Ivana Bacik

1239. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of planned primary care centre projects that the HSE intends to lease which are currently stalled, suspended or otherwise in abeyance due to the need to review leasing costs; and the date that the HSE intends to initiate that review for each, in tabular form. [13711/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ivana Bacik

1240. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when a response will issue to an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13712/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ivana Bacik

1241. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when a formal response will issue to the application by the Royal Hospital Donnybrook to the HSE for capital funding toward a new public community nursing unit on its grounds (details supplied). [13713/24]

Childcare Services

Ivana Bacik

271. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of core funding provided in Budget 2022 which was used to uplift wages in the early years and school age childcare sector; the amount which has remained unspent; and if the balance is publicly available on an ongoing basis. [13419/24]

Hospital Staff

Ivana Bacik

304. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the status of the independent review of the radiation therapist profession, which was agreed between the HSE, his Department and an organisation (details supplied) under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Committee, which has been underway since December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13433/24]

Vaccination Programme

Ivana Bacik

305. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have participated in the Laura Brennan HPV vaccination catch-up programme to date; the targets set for the programme; if he will report on the programme extension review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13434/24]

Health Promotion

Ivana Bacik

306. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding to date which has been allocated to the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023 - 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13435/24]

Prescriptions Charges

Ivana Bacik

307. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges for all medical card holders. [13436/24]

Health Services

Ivana Bacik

308. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme to a €60 threshold per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13437/24]

Health Promotion

Ivana Bacik

309. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount of annual funding budgeted for the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 to conduct its annual activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13438/24]

Human Rights

Ivana Bacik

47. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 15 February 2024, the rationale for the Government’s position of non-intervention in the Gambia v. Myanmar case before the International Court of Justice. [11665/24]

Foreign Policy

Ivana Bacik

58. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the deteriorating situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. [12221/24]

Wind Energy Generation

Ivana Bacik

84. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of windfarms; the related installed capacity of these windfarms which have exited their support scheme contracts under the alternative energy requirement support scheme and, separately, the renewable energy feed-in tariff support scheme, in the years 2000 to 2023, in tabular form. [11609/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

86. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a noise abatement order under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 is granted; what responsibility does a local authority have to enforce it; what actions it can take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11671/24]

Local Authorities

Ivana Bacik

87. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a noise abatement order under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 is granted; what responsibility does the EPA have to enforce it; and what actions it can take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/24]