Parliamentary questions

Official Engagements

Matt Carthy

83. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of Moldova; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23648/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

84. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications received in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month; the number of applications whereby a witness was unavailable and as a result the Passport Service required a new witness form to be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23649/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

85. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if paper passport applications (details supplied) which are past their due date will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23661/24]

Human Rights

Ivana Bacik

86. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to re-examine the position regarding recognition of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1917; and if he will report on any engagement with his counterparts in the European Union in respect of same since his taking office. [23667/24]

Middle East

John Paul Phelan

87. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to list all previous instances where the State has recognised a new state in circumstances where that state had not first been recognised by, and admitted to membership of, the United Nations. [23791/24]

Passport Services

Bernard Durkan

88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied), given the passport was supposed to issue on 24 April 2024; if every effort can be made to ensure that this passport is expedited given its now one month since the processing target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23829/24]

Overseas Development Aid

Patrick Costello

89. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to reach the 0.7% of gross national income for overseas development assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23950/24]

Official Engagements

Patrick Costello

90. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on international engagements carried out by the Minister for International Development and the Diaspora carried out since the start of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23952/24]

Official Engagements

Patrick Costello

91. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on his Department's engagements and general relations between Ireland and Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23953/24]

Military Neutrality

Catherine Connolly

92. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can confirm Ireland's signature of a letter reported in the Austrian press (details supplied); if he will publish the text of this letter; if the details reported reflect the official policy of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24028/24]

Departmental Funding

Matt Carthy

93. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 1 May 2024, the amount allocated to multilateral international organisations in 2024, by organisation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24088/24]

Departmental Data

Matt Carthy

94. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of embassies operated by his Department in 2023; the total operating cost for each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24089/24]

Departmental Data

Matt Carthy

95. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of consulates operated by his Department in 2023; the total operating cost for each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24090/24]

Departmental Data

Matt Carthy

96. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the allocation to the emigrant support programme in the years 2019 to 2024, by year, in tabular form; the projects supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24091/24]

Defective Building Materials

Ivana Bacik

97. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action he is taking to ensure homeowners eligible for the defective concrete blocks scheme can apply for SEAI grants including if they have already previously availed of them; when this problem will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24058/24]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Francis Noel Duffy

98. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the fact that solar panels being installed on domestic roofs must be installed 500mm from the edge, whereas in the UK and other European countries they can be installed up to 200mm from the edge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

99. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how frequently the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the proposed floating storage and regasification unit will need to be replenished, if approved, given the inevitable boil-off of LNG over time; where this gas will be sourced; what measures will be taken to minimise the frequency of this occurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23620/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

100. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated length of time a proposed temporary floating storage and regasification unit, if approved, would be in operation in Ireland until a carbon neutral energy system is in place and we are no longer reliant on gas for our energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23621/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Ivana Bacik

101. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated timeline for the proposed acquisition of a floating storage and regasification unit and construction of ancillary grid-connection facilities, if approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23640/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Ivana Bacik

102. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated budget required for the proposed acquisition of a floating storage and regasification unit and the construction of ancillary grid-connection facilities, if approved; the estimated annual budget to be allocated for the protection of a floating storage and regasification unit from potential attack during both the construction phase and following project completion; if he will outline the comparative estimated budget to develop infrastructure for the geological storage of natural gas and associated defence costs during construction and following project completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23641/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Ivana Bacik

103. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the relative risks pertaining to the probability of gas supply disruption from the UK, given the presence of two separate Moffat pipelines, outweigh the climate risks, at national and international level, associated with the inevitable emissions from a proposed new floating storage and regasification unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23642/24]

Building Energy Rating

Aindrias Moynihan

104. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason works carried out to a home under the free energy upgrades warmer home scheme (details supplied) did not improve the BER rating; the objective of these works carried out on homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23673/24]

National Broadband Plan

Holly Cairns

105. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households that were included in the NBP intervention areas, in error (details supplied); what engagement they have had with households, NBI and commercial providers on this issue; and the steps being taken to resolve it. [23708/24]

National Broadband Plan

Martin Kenny

106. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline on the roll-out of the national broadband, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23756/24]

Cybersecurity Policy

Martin Kenny

107. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a timeline on improvement works to cybersecurity infrastructure, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23757/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

108. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timetable for publication and consideration of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes; if primary or secondary legislation is planned; and if it is intended to hold public pre-legislative scrutiny with respect to the draft legislation. [23788/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

109. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Ireland intends to notify the European Commission of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes in accordance with the TRIS Directive; and what form of draft legislation will be notified to the Commission. [23789/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

110. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to draft legislation to ban disposable vapes, noting the substantial, cumulative cost impact on industry as a result of the proposed new ban. [23790/24]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Éamon Ó Cuív

111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the guidelines for the development of offshore wind farms will be published; if a draft of the guidelines will be published for public consultation before adoption; what consultations have taken place between his Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that the two sets of guidelines dove tail with each other (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23840/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

112. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the will report on the excellence in energy efficient design scheme; the funding available to be drawn down; how much funding was drawn down; the number of grants awarded; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23841/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the support scheme for renewable heat; the funding available to be drawn down; the amount of funding was drawn down; the number of grants awarded; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23842/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost to increase the capital funding for the better energy warmer homes scheme by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23867/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the better energy warmer homes scheme to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23868/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to estimate the cost of including properties with HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23869/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of doubling the climate action fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23870/24]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

118. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative or regulatory frameworks in place to allow Ireland to import proposed fuels for an emergency gas reserve; the provision for State aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23902/24]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

119. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative or regulatory frameworks in place to allow Ireland to fulfil its commitment to ban fracked gas imports into the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Neasa Hourigan

120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work of his Department on how the current public interest determination used to evaluate proposed projects properly takes into consideration the impacts that LNG facilities have on the climate, communities, and national security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23904/24]

Defective Building Materials

Ivana Bacik

121. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when homeowners eligible for the defective concrete blocks scheme can apply for SEAI grants including if they have already previously availed of them; the number of current applicants that are affected; the number of cases SEAI has resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24059/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applicants that have applied to his Department under the farm film plastic recovery scheme since 1997, under the applicable regulatory framework in Ireland; the process involved in advertising the scheme; the process used to approve the body to legally operate a farm plastics recovery scheme; the reason that the Department has not sought to have competition within the sector; the steps his Department has taken to develop multiple farm plastics recovery organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

123. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason his Department has not established an independent regulatory mechanism to regulate the farm film plastic sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24067/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the approved operator of a farm plastics recovery scheme is funded; the precise process for setting the associated plastics levy and collection charges at the point of collection; the exact legislative provisions to allow for the relevant financial charges to be set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24068/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an overview of the operational procedure and required documentation by his Department prior to granting approval to an organisation that operates a farm plastics recovery scheme in Ireland, citing the relevant legislative provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24070/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to make changes to the legislation pertaining to the farm plastics Regulations, which were originally introduced in 1997 and later revised in 2001 and amended in 2017, in light of exclusivity, monopolistic practices and anti-competition concerns surrounding the current process, no independent appeals or sanction agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24071/24]

Official Engagements

Patrick Costello

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on defence-related engagements carried out by the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence carried out since the start of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23951/24]

Departmental Data

Matt Carthy

128. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount expended in relation to EU peacekeeping missions in the years 2008 and to date in 2024, by mission, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24087/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

129. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current total number of Defence Forces personnel; the allocation under Budget 2024 in relation to sustaining that cohort; the targeted number of recruits in 2024 and related additional allocation; the cost of increasing the number of personnel to 9,500; the cost of further increasing the number of personnel to 11,500, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24061/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

130. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of employing a career guidance officer to assist and prepare Defence Forces personnel to re-engage with civilian life post-discharge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24062/24]

Departmental Funding

Matt Carthy

131. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the funding allocated to veterans' associations in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24063/24]

Road Safety

David Stanton

132. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he has issued any guidelines to local authorities with respect to the dangers posed by dead trees adjacent to public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23714/24]

Public Transport

Willie O'Dea

133. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is appropriate that many transport companies are insisting that a non-refundable deposit be made in order for individuals to avail of the free travel scheme; if he will put a stop to this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23533/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

134. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driving tests in Cork; the progress that has been made in reducing the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23597/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

135. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driving tests conducted through Irish in Cork; the progress that has been made in reducing the waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/24]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the CIÉ 1951 superannuation scheme; if his Department will take into account the court judgment mentioned; whether those employed under this scheme, who are currently entitled to a pension, will receive their pension increase in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/24]

Driver Licences

Matt Carthy

137. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the US states with which Ireland operates driving licence exchange agreements; his plans to increase the number of states with which such arrangements are operated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23609/24]

Road Signage

Brendan Griffin

138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if additional traffic calming measures, including further raised pedestrian crossings will be installed on the N86 in the vicinity of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23610/24]

Road Projects

Rose Conway-Walsh

139. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the badly needed Newport-Derrada road scheme in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/24]

Road Projects

Pearse Doherty

140. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if plans are in place to widen Curreen Bridge, County Donegal on the Glenties side of Fintown on the R250; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23635/24]

Bus Services

Pauline Tully

141. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport the details of the Local Link services currently available in counties Cavan and Monaghan, respectively; and if there are plans for an additional route to connect Smithboro with Monaghan town. [23682/24]

Bus Services

Fergus O'Dowd

142. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to seek an update on the plans to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible public buses within County Louth in the coming years to provide greater independence to wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23746/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

143. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the timeline on the progression of the Navan rail line; and the most up-to-date estimated cost, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23753/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

144. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the timeline on the progression of the western rail corridor; and the most up-to-date estimated cost, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23754/24]

Road Projects

Martin Kenny

145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the timeline on the upgrade works for the N2/A5; and the most up-to-date estimated cost, including a breakdown of current and capital spend (details supplied). [23755/24]

Public Transport

Verona Murphy

146. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if research/scoping work has been carried out on plans for additional trains due to the increase in the population size of Portlaoise town and county; and how many trains are needed to service Portlaoise when a third level Institute is constructed. [23781/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

147. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23923/24]

Road Projects

Maurice Quinlivan

148. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport to discuss what progress has been made in the construction of the Coonagh-Knockalisheen road; when he anticipates it being completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23934/24]

Air Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

149. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of reports that planes associated with the flight school, charter flights and flight clubs at Weston Airport are operating outside of designated flight paths; if there are records monitoring the adherence of pilots to their designated flights; to supply any available records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23940/24]

Road Safety Authority

Ivana Bacik

150. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the continued vacancies of two positions on the board of the Road Safety Authority since 1 January 2024; when the vacancies will be filled; his views on the board's capacity to manage recent increases in road deaths with a barely quorate seven members, instead of the full complement of nine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23942/24]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of drivers directly employed by CIÉ tours; the number of drivers contracted by CIÉ tours to operate their services; the steps the company can take to ensure all drivers either directly employed or contracted abide by current regulations related to maximum working time driving and breaks and so on; if the NTA has any role in the implementation and enforcement of such regulations as they apply to transport sector and to the tourism sector specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23948/24]

Bus Services

Brendan Smith

152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the up-to-date position regarding the provision of a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23969/24]

Medical Records

David Stanton

153. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the length of time D501 medical reports administered by the Road Safety Authority remain valid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23970/24]

Medical Records

David Stanton

154. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if D501 medical reports administered by the Road Safety Authority are recognised by Bus Éireann; if not, the reason why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23971/24]

Driver Test

David Stanton

155. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to facilitating the "walk around test", which is required as part of the process of acquiring a category D driving licence to drive a bus, to be taken immediately after an applicant passes the driving test itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23972/24]

Driver Licences

David Stanton

156. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport to outline the various processes involved in obtaining a category D driving licence to drive a bus in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23973/24]

National Car Test

Cathal Crowe

157. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if there is a legal requirement for car tyres to be of a certain size, quality and minimum load bearing capacity; if so, if these requirements are clearly communicated to all NCT test centres and those who work in the tyre and puncture repair sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23975/24]

Road Projects

Michael Fitzmaurice

158. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has instructed Transport Infrastructure Ireland to withhold funding for overlay of national roads or national secondary roads in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24039/24]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Michael Fitzmaurice

159. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport the budget for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24042/24]

Road Projects

Michael Fitzmaurice

160. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if funding has been withdrawn from Transport Infrastructure Ireland by his Department for the three road projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24043/24]

Road Projects

Michael Fitzmaurice

161. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if the budget has been cut to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for overlay works on national roads and national secondary roads countrywide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24044/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

162. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the delays experienced by 15B bus route users on 17 May (details supplied); if he will provide an explanation as to the reason there was not one 15b in two hours but five 15 As; and what is Dublin Bus's strategy to deal with accidents when they occur. [24094/24]

Tax Exemptions

Michael Healy-Rae

163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if exceptions can be made with regard to the vacant property tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23559/24]

Middle East

Bríd Smith

164. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline, given his powers to freeze, seize or otherwise impose restrictive measures on assets for the purpose of combating terrorism under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, and that the construction of settlements in the West Bank meets the definition of terrorist activity under that Act, as it is carried out with the intention of seriously destabilising or destroying the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation, the measures he intends to impose to prevent the financing of organisations carrying out terrorist activity in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23622/24]

Tax Exemptions

Brendan Griffin

165. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if lands that have received business tax relief for fixed terms will be exempted from the residential lands zoned tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23731/24]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

166. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of disposals of a business by a parent to a child in the years 2020 to 2023 inclusive; the number of disposals of companies valued at over €10 million for each of the relevant years where the business is being transferred to the next generation of children; his plans to introduce a new €10 million cap on the retirement relief capital gains tax exemption; the estimated number of businesses/individuals will be impacted by the planned changes in the first year of the new regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23824/24]

Tax Exemptions

Jim O'Callaghan

167. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 14 May 2024, under the Value-Added Tax (Refund of Tax) (No. 15) Order 1981 (people with disabilities can claim a VAT refund on aids and appliances that help them carry out daily activities at home or at work), if the Government has any plans to review the process by which this tax refund is claimed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23920/24]

Housing Schemes

Pádraig O'Sullivan

168. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will address concerns in correspondence (details supplied); if there are any suitable schemes available to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23922/24]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Cian O'Callaghan

169. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if there is a customer/economic impact assessment for an interest rate scheme (details supplied); if this assessment is required for new schemes entering the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23925/24]

Tax Exemptions

Richard Bruton

170. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a submission to extend a VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23935/24]

Insurance Coverage

Steven Matthews

171. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to concerns of sports/recreation clubs regarding the lack of insurance cover available to cover children's summer camps (details supplied); if he plans to engage with this sector on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23976/24]

State Bodies

Mattie McGrath

172. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to explain the arrangement that NAMA/Nalm had with a company (details supplied) in relation to a hotel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24109/24]

State Bodies

Mattie McGrath

173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to provide an explanation on transactions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24110/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Cathal Crowe

174. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Office of Public Works can prioritise works adjacent to Kildysart graveyard, County Clare, to stop the burial ground being flooded by the Shannon river tidal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23786/24]

Public Sector Pensions

John Lahart

175. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his plans in response to queries from persons who are concerned that there will be a break in the parity between retired civil and public servants and existing civil servants when it comes to retiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23796/24]

Waterways Issues

Michael Healy-Rae

176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will report on issues regarding a river in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23825/24]

National Monuments

Brendan Griffin

177. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his office will facilitate a meeting between the head of monuments and a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23894/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

David Stanton

178. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the role, if any, his Department plays in the repair and replacement of private housing estate walls and fences damaged by flooding; if he has given consideration to the replacement of private walls and fences in east Cork affected by flood damage in the wake of Storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23992/24]

EU Directives

Seán Haughey

179. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will work for the strongest possible transposition into Irish law of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, with a view to encouraging and supporting collective bargaining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23529/24]

Wage-setting Mechanisms

Michael McNamara

180. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he intends to sign the new ERO for security officers into law, which would increase the wages of thousands of low paid security officers and alleviate some of the most painful consequences of this cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23539/24]

Wage-setting Mechanisms

Violet-Anne Wynne

181. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he plans to sign the new draft ERO into law given the considerable delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23552/24]

Employment Schemes

James Browne

182. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs for 2019 and 2020 in County Wexford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/24]