Parliamentary questions

Road Tolls

Ged Nash

162. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the date on which the contract with a company (details supplied) that operates the toll on the M1 at Julianstown, County Meath and the toll at the Donore exit at Drogheda will end; if his Department plans to end tolling at both locations on the conclusion of the contract and on transfer to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58559/22]

Business Supports

Ged Nash

68. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent ECB Financial Stability Review (details supplied); if he is satisfied that the scheme is sufficiently targeted and financially prudent in view of current conditions which increase the vulnerabilities of more-indebted sovereigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58188/22]

An Garda Síochána

Ged Nash

572. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if a proposed Garda Station in Laytown is included in the current An Garda Síochána capital programme. [58082/22]

School Transport

Ged Nash

101. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the plans that she has to increase spaces on buses available for school transport in County Louth arising from the additional funding allocated in Budget 2023; if she will provide a firm date as to when the additional provision will come on stream; the number of additional places that will be made available in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56763/22]

School Transport

Ged Nash

111. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when a school transport appeal case will be determined for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56889/22]

Voluntary Sector

Ged Nash

89. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Dáil Éireann passing a motion on Wednesday, 12 October 2022 in support of pay increases for community and voluntary sector workers, the action he or his Department has taken to deliver on the commitments listed in the motion; if he intends to provide for a standing forum and mechanism for collective bargaining on pay and conditions with recognised trade unions in the sector; if he or his Department has engaged with trade unions on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56433/22]

Office of Public Works

Ged Nash

105. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of projects under way by the OPW to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings it manages and owns; the budget for such works in 2022; the projected budget for 2023; the square meters of building space that will be retrofitted this year; the role the OPW has in delivering on climate mitigation and adaptation in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56430/22]

Freedom of Information

Ged Nash

112. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay in publishing the report on the review of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, which was scheduled for early in quarter 3 of 2022, according to the roadmap; if he has received the review report and recommendations yet; when he intends to publish it; if he will be bringing forward changes to the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56435/22]

Ethics in Public Office

Ged Nash

114. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on when the review of ethics legislation will be published; if he will confirm that ten submissions were received by the closure date of the public consultation in mid-January 2022; if those submissions have now all been considered; if he has considered the findings of the review yet; when he intends to bring forward a general scheme of a Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56431/22]

International Protection

Ged Nash

130. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the land, properties or buildings the OPW or his Department have made available in 2022 for housing or accommodation for Ukrainian refugees or those seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56432/22]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Ged Nash

255. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the revised wind energy development guidelines will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56483/22]

Education and Training Provision

Ged Nash

453. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will consider developing, with the ETBs and other statutory education bodies, networks of remote study hubs in regional towns in which there is no third level institution footprint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56484/22]

Disability Services

Ged Nash

551. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will provide services to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56402/22]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Ged Nash

90. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his Department or the Central Bank has undertaken, or plans to undertake, an analysis of the potential impact of rising ECB interest rates on Irish mortgage holders; his views as to whether the Central Bank will require additional regulatory powers to protect those with variable and tracker mortgages from rising rates, given the lack of competition in the banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55833/22]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, post-budget analysis that suggests that permanent tax changes made in budget 2023 will disproportionately benefit higher earners; if he is concerned that full-time workers who are on the minimum wage will not see the full benefit of the planned 80 cent an hour increase in the national minimum wage due to the failure to entirely adjust all relevant PRSI and tax bands to account for this increase; his plans, if any, to address this issue on Committee or Report Stage of the Finance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55838/22]

Business Supports

Ged Nash

103. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of applicants and successfully approved recipients of the temporary business energy support scheme (TBESS); if he plans to attach any conditions on companies accessing the scheme, for example, restricting the payments of dividends and senior management bonuses to firms in receipt of funds under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55835/22]

Business Supports

Ged Nash

133. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if any data centres have applied for and been approved to draw down support under the temporary business energy support scheme; his plans, if any, to restrict data centres and other large energy users from availing of the TBESS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55836/22]

Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears

Ged Nash

142. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of mortgage owners currently in short- and long-term arrears, in tabular form; if his Department or the Central Bank will conduct an analysis on the potential impact of rising ECB rates on mortgage arrears; if he is satisfied the 2013 code of conduct on mortgage arrears is adequate to protect customers in the current environment of rising rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55834/22]

Revenue Commissioners

Ged Nash

164. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the average response time for an online Revenue query; if he is satisfied the Revenue Commissioner is adequately resourced to respond to such queries in a timely fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55837/22]

Revenue Commissioners

Ged Nash

28. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of calls received by the Revenue Commissioners by month from 2017 to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of calls per category; the average waiting time to be connected to a Revenue official; the number of calls left unanswered or disconnected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55728/22]