Parliamentary questions

Primary Medical Certificates

Noel Grealish

382. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 13 October 2022, if there is an update regarding the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/23]

Housing Policy

Noel Grealish

591. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an entitlement to the current rate of RAS payment of a person will be affected in cases in which they receive an inheritance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2325/23]

Third Level Fees

Noel Grealish

1030. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will change guidelines in order that returning emigrants who have spent at least three of the previous five years in Ireland can change their status to qualify for the free fees initiative for any remainder of the college course that their children are attending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63490/22]

Nursing Homes

Noel Grealish

1216. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 450 of 27 September 2022, if the necessary administrative and operational changes have been made to the fair deal scheme in order that some income from renting out the family home can be deemed exempt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63457/22]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

1290. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in Galway city and county; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current DTSS will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63664/22]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

1291. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Galway city and the rest of County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past ten years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63665/22]

Dental Services

Noel Grealish

1292. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Galway city and the rest of County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services in the past ten years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63666/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Noel Grealish

1757. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reopen applications for tranche 1 of the ACRES scheme, given that this is a new scheme and some applicants did not have an opportunity to prepare and submit their application on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63275/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

218. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the age profile of the Garda vehicle fleet in the Galway division. [62389/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Noel Grealish

430. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection if rental income is classed as working or self-employment, when a person over 65 years of age has ceased their full-time work and applied for benefit payment for 65-year-olds, given that the rules of the payment state that a person can continue in subsidiary employment, which could have been done while a person was in full-time employment and outside one’s normal working hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62283/22]

General Practitioner Services

Noel Grealish

314. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there are any financial supports or grants available from his Department for persons to set up a GP practice and health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61448/22]

Medical Cards

Noel Grealish

166. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the process under which income from saving and investments are assessed for an over-70s medical card; if it is only the interest on savings in excess of €36,000 for a single person and €72,000 for a married couple that is assessed as income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61375/22]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Noel Grealish

78. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proportion of business insurance injury claims that have been settled through Public Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60177/22]

Personal Injury Claims

Noel Grealish

79. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects legislative changes to be enacted on the level of duty of care requirement under personal injury claims; when he anticipates that psychological damages claims will be included as part of PIABs remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60178/22]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

132. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason that real-time passenger information and automatic vehicle location is available for Bus Eíreann services but not for private bus operators operating in Galway city and nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60169/22]

Public Transport

Noel Grealish

133. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason there has been a 20% reduction in fares for Bus Éireann, but not for private bus companies given that private bus operators often provide services where there is no Bus Éireann service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60170/22]

Insurance Industry

Noel Grealish

169. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the reason that the Action Plan on Insurance Reform has been so successful in reducing motor insurance premiums but premiums for business insurance, which includes employers and public liability, continue to rise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60173/22]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Noel Grealish

170. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the impact of the personal injuries guidelines on awards granted by PIAB; the way that the guidelines have impacted awards granted through the courts; the number and percentage of cases which are settled outside the courts but which still go through a solicitor rather than PIAB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60174/22]

Insurance Industry

Noel Grealish

171. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the reason that up to 16 providers are competing in the motor insurance market, but there is far less competition in the business liability insurance sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60175/22]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Noel Grealish

172. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the proportion of motor insurance injury claims that have been settled through PIAB to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60176/22]

Departmental Meetings

Noel Grealish

257. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Ireland’s relationship with Nicaragua; if there is regular contact with officials from that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60247/22]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) to relocate to a new site at Kilcornan, Clarinbridge, County Galway; when a decision is likely to be reached on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60215/22]

Disability Services

Noel Grealish

541. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of a plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60248/22]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

232. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable and social houses that are due to be completed within the next two years, by local authority; the number of affordable and social houses completed in the past two years, by each local authority area; the number of affordable and social houses for which planning permission is currently sought; the projected dates of completion, by each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60102/22]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

233. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses in new developments purchased by local councils and housing agencies in each of the past three years, broken down by local authority area; the number of houses purchased by local councils and housing agencies in new developments, where such purchases represented 50% or more of the total development, by council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60103/22]

Departmental Strategies

Noel Grealish

167. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will confirm that he will publish the national hydrogen strategy before the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58947/22]

Aviation Industry

Noel Grealish

196. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the plans that he has to initiate domestic development and production of sustainable aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58948/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

584. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions for assault on a garda in each of the past five years; and is she plans to bring forward legislation in regard to stronger maximum sentences and penalties for those found guilty of assaulting members of An Garda Síochána. [59335/22]

Electric Vehicles

Noel Grealish

165. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the grants that are available for a bus operator to purchase a 100% electric, 70-seater bus; if grants are available for bus operators to install electric charging points; if grants are available for bus operators to operate 100% electric busses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58629/22]

Education Schemes

Noel Grealish

413. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made on the consultation process for the free schoolbooks scheme announced in Budget 2023; the categories of stakeholders that she intends to engage with as part of this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58123/22]

Education Schemes

Noel Grealish

414. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the timelines for the implementation of the consultation process on the free schoolbooks scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58124/22]

Education Schemes

Noel Grealish

415. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education when she expects to provide details to a range of stakeholders including parents and schools as to the way that the free schoolbooks scheme announced in Budget 2023 will operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58125/22]

Disability Services

Noel Grealish

708. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting services in network 4 of the community disability network teams, broken down by the age of children and the number of years that they are waiting for services; the total cumulative annual hours of service provision to this cohort of children in the children’s disability network team 4 Spiddal for the years 2020 to 2021, including the allocated and utilised budget in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57990/22]

Departmental Priorities

Noel Grealish

140. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 21 April 2021, if consultants have been appointed for the purposes of providing a pedestrian footbridge over the Owenriff river in Oughterard; when he expects this work to commence; when the work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57071/22]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

206. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the status of the working group to consider the taxation of funds, life assurance policies and other investment products, as mentioned during his budget 2023 speech; if he will provide the names of the working group membership; if representatives of the insurance and brokerage industries will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56416/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Noel Grealish

226. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of payments made for all public sector pensions, including Civil Service pensions, over the past five years, in tabular form; the projected cost for these over the next five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56415/22]

Vacant Properties

Noel Grealish

279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects that the vacant property refurbishment grant will be extended to houses outside of settlements of 400 persons, to which the scheme was originally confined; the properties that will be eligible under the expanded scheme; the expected level of increase in applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56413/22]

Vacant Properties

Noel Grealish

280. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received and the number approved, by local authority area, for the vacant property refurbishment grant; the total expenditure on the scheme to date; and the anticipated expenditure in 2023. [56414/22]

Housing Policy

Noel Grealish

296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria for a local authority to purchase a house in cases in which the house is for sale on the open market and is currently occupied by a person who is on the housing waiting list and who is not in receipt of other State supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56694/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

474. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda vehicles in the Galway division, by station and type of vehicle, currently and in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56409/22]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

475. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda vehicles in each division, by type of vehicle, currently and in each of the past ten years. [56410/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Noel Grealish

552. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the plans he is putting in place to ensure the availability of the FreeStyle Libre 2 device in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56406/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Noel Grealish

553. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will ringfence funding under the diabetes care envelope in budget 2023 to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56407/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Noel Grealish

554. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to remove the age restriction on Freestyle Libre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56408/22]

Trade Agreements

Noel Grealish

614. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans for a sanitary agreement (details supplied) to be established between Ireland and Algeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56412/22]

Control of Horses

Noel Grealish

627. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the review of control of horses legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56693/22]

Agriculture Industry

Noel Grealish

345. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the period to spread slurry given that the inclement weather has prevented farmers from completing the task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54109/22]

Departmental Schemes

Noel Grealish

376. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any insurance scheme or support provided by the Government to help owners of thatched cottages to insure their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54500/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Noel Grealish

1034. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when front-line workers will receive the payment given that on his visit to Galway on 21 October 2022, he stated that contract services front-line workers who worked in hospital settings should receive the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54636/22]

Legislative Measures

Noel Grealish

162. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the expected impact of the Sick Leave Act 2022; the number of businesses that currently pay sick pay for a medically certified absence; the number of businesses that do not; the number of employees currently entitled and not entitled to sick pay for a medically-certified absence due to an illness; the employment sectors that are least likely to pay an employee who has a medically-certified certificate of illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53425/22]