Parliamentary questions

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

423. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will conclude its evaluation of preferred continuous glucose monitors under the medicines management programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23582/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Noel Grealish

61. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has been consulted with and provided observations on proposals to raise the legal age for smoking, particularly given concerns expressed by retailers on the workability of have differing age limits applying to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products. [23037/24]

Departmental Policies

Noel Grealish

115. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to raise the age for purchasing alcohol, similar to her plans to raise the age for smoking, noting that according to the Healthy Ireland survey 2023, 36% of all 15 to 24 year olds, including 48% of men of that age, engage in binge drinking compared to 22% of that age group engaging in smoking. [23038/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Noel Grealish

156. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if the general scheme of proposed new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking will be published for public consultation and considered by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health.
[23039/24]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

178. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the progress made by the National Transport Authority on rolling out a promised nationwide automatic vehicle location system for all bus operators in Ireland; the stage the awarding of a contract for the project is at; when a company in Galway (details supplied), serving thousands of people living in the west of the city, will have the technology installed and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22390/24]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

183. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport to provide automatic vehicle location information signage at all bus stops in Galway city, including those served by Bus Éireann and private operators. [22412/24]

Regeneration Projects

Noel Grealish

364. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated timeframe for when the next round of urban regeneration and development funding is to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22889/24]

Ministerial Appointments

Noel Grealish

211. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if appointments to the policing and community safety authority will be made by the end of June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22179/24]

Appointments to State Boards

Noel Grealish

223. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if appointments of lay members to the Judicial Appointments Commission will be made by the end of June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22353/24]

Immigration Policy

Noel Grealish

75. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice the number of overseas students on a stamp 2 visa currently in Ireland; if she has considered making these visas more flexible to enable them to work more than 20 hours per week outside the Christmas and June to September periods as many of these people are struggling to pay rent and many of their employers are struggling to secure sufficient staff; if employers, who have no official way of knowing if stamp 2 students have already worked 20 hours in any week, could be held liable for a breach of visa rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21982/24]

Gender Recognition

Noel Grealish

298. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to his recent statement (details supplied) that a consultant psychiatrist had been recruited by the HSE for children's gender healthcare and that a new team is being built up by the HSE, he will identify the post that has been filled; the person selected to fill the post; where the consultant and the new team will be based; when the HSE appointment and the new team will commence services; to provide details of the membership of the new team to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21030/24]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

129. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing a dedicated funding scheme aimed at incentivising commercial bus operators to purchase alternatively fuelled vehicles; or alternatively, if he will enhance the funding under the alternatively fuelled heavy duty vehicles grant purchase scheme to support commercial bus operators to make the transition to EVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20616/24]

Bus Services

Noel Grealish

130. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline how much funding was made available for buses under the alternatively fuelled heavy duty vehicles grant purchase scheme in 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20619/24]

Transport Policy

Noel Grealish

140. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider eliminating the cost of toll-charging during off-peak periods for shared mobility vehicles, for example, taxis or car rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20874/24]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

159. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will help Ireland reduce carbon emissions and encourage a modal shift by reducing the tax applicable to e-bikes and other relevant modes of transport that decarbonise the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20875/24]

Nursing Homes

Noel Grealish

566. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if a person's personal financial contribution under the fair deal scheme includes a contribution based on assets, when the person is not the legal owner of the property, but would have succession rights while still alive, but if the applicant passes away before his remaining siblings he will not have any entitlement to a share of the property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20466/24]

Tax Rebates

Noel Grealish

246. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will further amend the statutory instrument which sets out the qualifying parameters for the VAT 71 refund scheme to extend qualification to low-floor EV buses, to support the objectives of accessibility and decarbonisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19382/24]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

424. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider allowing local authority houses acquired under the Part V planning process to be sold to tenants under the tenant incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19439/24]

Widow's Pension

Noel Grealish

473. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection when people who have lived with long-term partners that have passed away will be entitled to apply for widow’s pension benefits (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19440/24]

School Funding

Noel Grealish

178. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 289 of 16 April 2024, when the digital ICT grant for 2023 and 2024 will be paid to schools; the timeframe for this payment to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18505/24]

Hospital Facilities

Noel Grealish

303. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing a minor injuries unit in Galway on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18515/24]

Special Areas of Conservation

Noel Grealish

126. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the inland fisheries division within the Minister’s Department is introducing new secondary legislation such as by-laws, ministerial orders, regulations, etc., that affect special areas of conservation; to clarify if responsibility for implementing the appropriate assessment process under the EU Habitats Directive lies with the inland fisheries division or Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is the statutory body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17583/24]

Driver Test

Noel Grealish

157. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting times for a driving test in Clifden, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17428/24]

Tax Exemptions

Noel Grealish

163. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he will allow for a VAT exemption on the purchase of new buses for deployment in passenger transport given the overarching benefits to decarbonising the national fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17510/24]

Tax Exemptions

Noel Grealish

164. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of a shortage of the availability of buses in Ireland; if he will introduce a scheme where vehicles can be imported from the UK for a defined period, with no duty applying to the imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17511/24]

Tax Code

Noel Grealish

197. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to reform the current taxation amounts applying to the deployment of HVO and biofuel for HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17512/24]

Health Strategies

Noel Grealish

601. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when he will set up a Diabetes Taskforce of relevant stakeholders to develop a National Diabetes Strategy that will ensure the provision of optimum care to every person with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/24]

Hospital Services

Noel Grealish

602. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health to provide the recommended staffing levels of multidisciplinary diabetes team members (consultant endocrinologists, advanced nurse practitioners, diabetes nurse specialists, dietitians, psychologists) per 100 patients for a paediatric diabetes clinic and an adult diabetes clinic; to provide information on the number of hospital-based diabetes clinics that meet these standards; which hospital-based diabetes clinics meet these standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17484/24]

School Funding

Noel Grealish

289. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of a digital strategy ICT grant for 2023 and 2024 for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16050/24]

Rural Schemes

Noel Grealish

771. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a new community centres investment fund - improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres is to be announced and open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16143/24]

Lobbying Reform

Noel Grealish

352. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how a person can de-register as a lobbyist if they are no longer engaging in lobbying activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14558/24]

Property Registration

Noel Grealish

889. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the lengthy delays adversely impacting the conveyancing process; what steps she is taking to address these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14557/24]

An Garda Síochána

Noel Grealish

920. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown of the following Garda numbers, by year, from 2007 to date; the number of serving members of An Garda Síochána in each year and to date in 2024; the number of new recruits to An Garda Síochána in each year and to date in 2024; the numbers of gardaí passing out from the Garda Training College in each year from 2007 and to date in 2024; the numbers of candidates offered places in the Garda College and the number who do not take them up for each year and to date in 2024; the numbers of gardaí retiring in each year and to date in 2024; the numbers of gardaí on sick leave for each year and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15034/24]

Nursing Homes

Noel Grealish

1196. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the overall staff levels at St. Anne's Community Nursing Home, Clifden and Clifden District Hospital, broken down by nursing staff, HCAs and other staff; the number of these staff on sick leave and for how long, broken down by nursing staff, HCAs and other staff; what steps are being taken to replace staff on long-term leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13560/24]

Health Services

Noel Grealish

1197. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current status of the proposed health centre for Carraroe; can he confirm that the project will still go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13561/24]

Primary Medical Certificates

Noel Grealish

267. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if provisions are in place for an individual whose application for a primary medical certificate was refused and subsequently appealed the decision, but is unable to travel to Dun Laoghaire for the appeal appointment due to ill-health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12911/24]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

654. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of the 7 March 2024, if there is an appeals process for the vacant home refurbishment grant when the local authority has refused the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12433/24]

Health Services

Noel Grealish

1487. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 20 February 2024, the steps a person (details supplied) who is employed in a private company, but worked on a contract in a clinical setting in a hospital during the peak of the Covid pandemic can take in order to apply for the Covid bonus when their employer refuses to lodge an application on their behalf, but they meet the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12912/24]

Illegal Dumping

Noel Grealish

80. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what additional resources will be given to local authorities to better enforce illegal dumping laws following the introduction of legislation clearing the way for the use of drones, CCTV and other technologies in detecting offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11050/24]

Schools Building Projects

Noel Grealish

215. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of the provision of a second modular classroom for a school (details supplied); when this second modular classroom will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11208/24]

Housing Schemes

Noel Grealish

246. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 30 January 2024, if a person can avail of the vacant home refurbishment scheme for works not yet commenced on the property before the local authority carries out an inspection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11241/24]

Environmental Policy

Noel Grealish

245. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are plans to introduce penalties for businesses that fail to reduce their carbon emissions; if so, when these penalties would be likely to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10479/24]

Island Communities

Noel Grealish

324. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education for an update regarding the current status of a possible post-primary school to serve students on Inisbofin, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10675/24]

Legislative Measures

Noel Grealish

490. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice if she acknowledges the benefits of the Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers' Bill 2021; and if she will provide an update on when it will be heard at committee stage. [10370/24]

Climate Change Policy

Noel Grealish

527. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can provide a timeline on when the national biomethane strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10478/24]

Road Safety

Noel Grealish

129. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 15 February 2024, if he will provide an itemised breakdown of how funding of €300,000 allocated in December 2022 for Bóthar Dhoirefhearta, Carraroe, County Galway, was spent on this road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Noel Grealish

115. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the exact procedure for a person wishing to import a car from Australia; the costs associated with importing a car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8568/24]

School Meals Programme

Noel Grealish

182. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection they way in which a company applies to provide school meals under the school meals programme; when applications will open and the way in which applications are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8570/24]

Medicinal Products

Noel Grealish

172. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will support the provision of melatonin on the list of drugs available under the medical card scheme for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8262/24]

Protected Disclosures

Noel Grealish

173. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied). [8263/24]