Questions

276. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost of funds provided to complete hedgerow surveys in 2023; the average and median cost per successful applicant to complete a hedgerow survey in in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form, under the local biodiversity action fund. [28286/25]

277. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the 2030 retrofitting targets; to report on the pathway between now and 2030 to reach our 2030 targets; to provide a breakdown of projected or estimated targets for completed retrofits in social housing in each of the years from 2025 to 2030; to provide a breakdown of projected or estimated targets for completed retrofits t…

278. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority tenants in Dublin city that have had their homes retrofitted; the number planned to be carried out over next three years; the waiting time for tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28315/25]

279. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the average cost to upgrade to a BER B2 as part of the retrofit of social housing in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28316/25]

280. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets in social housing in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of how many retrofits were completed in social housing in the corresponding timeframe; to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets in social housing; to provide a breakd…

281. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to estimate the cost to increase the energy efficiency retrofitting programme budget under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage over a five-year period, with an increase of 50% per year, broken down by years 1 to 5.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28321/25]

282. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when easing of planning regulations to allow for larger unattached structures to be built in peoples back gardens are expected to be in place; the size that will be enforced; the provisions that will be in place for an individual who breaches these planning laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28356/25]

283. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address delays in social welfare payments for ECCE preschool staff and ensure timely processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27917/25]

284. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional supports or supplementary payments available to individuals on maternity leave, including access to the supplementary welfare allowance or mortgage interest supplements; if he will review the current rate of maternity benefit and the potential introduction of a mandatory employer top-up scheme to better support working families and pro…

285. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied), if he will consider the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on older workers’ ability to re-enter employment post-2018; whether any discretion or compassionate grounds can be applied in cases such as this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27750/25]

286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the stage the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 is at; the timeframe to have it enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27761/25]

287. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline if a reform of the half-rate carer's payment for people receiving a disability payment will be included as part of the Government's plans to phase out means testing the carers allowance; if this has been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/25]

288. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost per child in post primary schools; and the cost per child in other organisations, respectively in the years 2023 to 2024 and to date from 2024 to 2025, by academic year, in tabular form. [27901/25]

289. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Social Protection that legal mechanisms that need to be enacted to deduct social welfare or other allowances for non-payment of fines or as part of penalties issued in lieu of custodial sentences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27954/25]

290. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the policy in relation to overpayments; if it is mandatory to repay all social welfare overpayments or if they are written off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27960/25]

291. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will supply the number of carers allowance applications received in each years 2020 to 2024; the number of such applications that were approved on first examination; the number directed to review and changed on review; the number directed to appeal and changed on appeal; the average waiting time in each of those years for each stage of the p…

292. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in every post primary school in the State; the cost, per child, in post primary schools; and the cost, per child, in other organisations, respectively in the 2023-2024 academic year and to date in the 2024-2025 academic year, in tabular form. [28220/25]

293. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost of providing dinner club per child in post primary schools; and to provide the cost of breakfast club, lunch and school club per child in other organisations, respectively, in 2023 -2024 and to date in 2024-2025, academic years, in tabular form. [28323/25]

294. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a rent supplement application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry following the submission of additional information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28347/25]

295. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice to provide full information on its reported plans to purchase a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27784/25]

296. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice to outline the current number of residents at a facility (details supplied); to outline the maximum capacity that could be located here if the complex was to be purchased by the Department or agencies; to indicate the average number of individuals to a room in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27785/25]

297. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice the supports in place to ensure proper integration and community safety in relation to a facility (details supplied); the way in which these could be enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27786/25]

298. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice the measures in place to alleviate the strain on local services in an area and the additional services that will be provided should the State purchase the complex (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27787/25]

299. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice if he will commit to a process of improved engagement and information sharing with residents in relation to plans to increase numbers at the IPAS Centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27788/25]

300. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application (details supplied) urgently needed to visit a very unwell family member undergoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27900/25]