What they're asking about 70 questions asked · 14 departments

• Health 14 questions

  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health if he is making contingency plans for the possibility of having to provide health services for a wave of refugees coming to Europe and Ireland from Sudan due to the war, famine and humanitarian crisis unfolding there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/24]
  • 2024-09-18 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health when the e-learning module to enable GPs to prescribe PrEP privately through their surgeries was last available; when it will be available; and the number of doctors waiting to do the training. [36508/24]
  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health the body that owns or controls the disused church on the grounds of a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33852/24]
  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health to provide the latest annual (or quarterly) estimate for the reduction in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards and the increase in the number of people in receipt of GP visit cards, and to state whether he will give a commitment to increase or at least stop the decline in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards in 2025, given the healthy state of the public finances and the very large increase in the HSE budget. [35584/24]
  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost on Budget day for the November 2020 increase in income thresholds for over 70s entitlement to a full medical card and what the actual out-turn cost was. [35585/24]
  • 2024-06-19 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health to provide assurance that the general scheme for a statutory home care scheme will be published in 2024; the reason progress has been slow in the past two years; and to set out in detail the extent and depth of civil service resources being allocated to the project, that is, the number of staff and grade; and if this is the main work. [26341/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that Ireland continues to have poor outcomes for respiratory illnesses like COPD according to OECD statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25142/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health to explain why lidocaine patches when prescribed by a pain medicine consultant are not reimbursed on the DPS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health to explain why melatonin when prescribed is not reimbursed on the DPS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25144/24]
  • 2024-05-14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health the estimated average or median cost of a GP visit card per person per annum; the cost of a full medical per person per annum; and to provide a detailed explanation of the difference in cost, given the abolition of inpatient hospital charges and the reduction in the household cap on monthly medicine bills. [21281/24]
  • 2024-05-14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drug payment scheme threshold to €50 per household per month. [21282/24]
  • 2024-05-14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health if any costings exist on moving the drug payment scheme to an individual patient basis rather than a household limit. [21283/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health If the Government has any policy or guidelines on surgery carried out on intersex infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19667/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health how many people are currently availing on the free PrEP pre-exposure profilaxis programme to prevent HIV; if he is satisfied that at risk men can access the programme without any barriers; if there is a waiting list for the programme and how long the wait is for a first assessment; and if he plans to extend the service to GPs. [19668/24]
• Transport 10 questions

  • 2024-10-17 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport when he last discussed capital funding to extend the runway at Waterford Airport. [35588/24]
  • 2024-10-15 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport to report on the Road Safety Authority's five-year analysis of drivers involved in fatal and serious injury collisions undertaken in August 2024, due for publication in September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40945/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that nearly 5,000 people did not turn up for their driving test to date in 2024; if this is a record number; and if he intends continues to permit the Road Safety Authority to renew learner permits for people who did not show for their test. [37494/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the number of fatal road traffic collisions involving learner drivers each year from 2016 to date in 2024; the number of fatalities in each of the fatal crashes, by year; the number of fatal crashes involving an unaccompanied learner driver; the number of fatalities in each of those crashes; the number of learner drivers involved who had never sat a driving test; the timeframe for the Road Safety Authority to publish data on fatal and serious crashes involving learner drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37504/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport the number of serious road traffic collisions involving learner drivers each year from 2016 to date in 2024; the number of people who suffered serious injuries in those crashes each year; the number of unaccompanied learner drivers involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37505/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport for details of his agreed approach with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to prevent learner permit renewals without sitting a driving test, under action 27 of the Road Safety Strategy; the details of the RSA implementation plan; the proposed date to implement the plan in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37506/24]
  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport when he last discussed capital funding for the extension to the runway at Waterford Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35580/24]
  • 2024-07-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport if he has read a recent paper (details supplied); if he accepts that the patchwork of primary and secondary legislation on road safety makes it too easy to challenge in the courts and harder for the authorities to enforce; if he will commit that the next legislation on road safety will be a road safety consolidation Act; and if he has discussed this with the Attorney General. [29838/24]
  • 2024-07-04 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport on the matter of providing co-funding for developments at Waterford Airport. [25979/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of the recent court judgement on the CIÉ pension scheme; his views on the matter and whether he will now support or oppose an increase in pensions paid. [25149/24]
• Foreign 9 questions

  • 2024-10-22 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs noting Ireland’s tradition of human rights advocacy, if the crisis in Sudan has been raised in bilateral meetings with the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42442/24]
  • 2024-10-22 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he or his officials have raised with the United Kingdom the decision to hold discussions at the UN Security Council on Sudan and external actor behind closed doors rather than in open. [42443/24]
  • 2024-10-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will openly and clearly oppose any further moves towards the accession of Georgia to the European Union in light of the stringent anti-LGBT laws adopted there, referred to as the 'family values and the protection of minors' law. [38696/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will press for conclusions on Sudan at the next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council; if he will seek an extension of the arms embargo beyond Darfur and an increase in humanitarian aid to Sudan; and his views on whether steps can be taken to assist the UN and development NGO to get aid to those who need it. [37496/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the situation in Sudan with his Egyptian and Emirati counterparts; whether he has any concerns that they may be contributing to the humanitarian crisis in the country; and the date on which he last met or spoke to them. [37497/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will press for conclusions on Sudan at the next meeting of the European Council; and if he will seek an extension of the arms embargo beyond Darfur and the provision of more humanitarian aid to those who need it. [37498/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the crisis in Myanmar; to list the meeting he had which addressed the matter and what actions Ireland can take to help restore democracy in the country [25150/24]
  • 2024-05-14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider reducing aid provided to national government bodies and agencies in Ghana and Uganda given their decision to harden laws that criminalise same-sex relations. [21285/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government provides official development assistance to any countries and governments of countries in which same-sex relations are criminalised; if so, if he will provide a list of those countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19669/24]
• Social 9 questions

  • 2024-10-22 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people currently in receipt of the carer’s allowance; and her best estimate of the number of these availing of the opportunity to engage in other paid work or part-time employment. [42444/24]
  • 2024-10-08 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of carer’s allowance; how many of these are full-time (24/7) carers; how many are not full-time as they have other jobs (noting this is permitted up to 19 hours a week); and if she had considered a higher payment for full-time (24/7) carers relative to those who have other jobs in addition to being on carer’s allowance. [39729/24]
  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection given her Department's large over-estimation of the cost of new measures in recent years (details supplied), whether she has initiated any review or actions to better understand the reasons for these over-estimates, whether she believes they might be cultural to the Department and if she can give any reassurance that the cost of the social welfare package for 2025 will not also be over-estimated or over-stated. [35582/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would support a change in the law to allow people to register their gender as intersex or to change it from indeterminate to intersex either through self-identification or medical advice. [25152/24]
  • 2024-05-14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of maternity benefit, paternity benefit and parents leave benefit; the initial cost estimate provided to the Minister and to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the year the benefit was legislated for; his views on the discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21279/24]
  • 2024-05-14 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether people medically determined to be intersex should be required to register as male or female; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21284/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on her plans to introduce pay-related social insurance benefits for jobseekers; the estimated cost of same; and the estimated the cost to extending this approach in case to maternity benefit, paternity benefit, parents benefit and illness benefit. [19664/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection when she received the review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015; whether it has been presented to Cabinet or to a Cabinet Sub-Committee; when she will make a recommendation to Government on the matter; and the process that is being followed to aid her to do so. [19665/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to make provision for people who are medically determined to be intersex due to their chromosomes or characteristics to be recognised in law. [19666/24]
• Justice 7 questions

  • 2024-10-15 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice the number of fatal road traffic collisions in each of the years 2016 to 2024; the number of drivers involved per year; the number of drivers whereby the status of their driving licence or learner permit is unknown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40943/24]
  • 2024-10-15 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda members assigned to roads policing units; if her Department will update the website with publication of figures for the month of July and August 2024, by Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40944/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice if the figure of €24 million is accurate in relation compensation being offered to the families of Stardust victims; if a separate payment is being made to cover legal fees incurred by the State and families; and to provide a breakdown of the amount, or if this is not possible, any estimate provided to her from the Attorney General or State Claims Agency (details supplied). [37495/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice if she has been briefed on the war and humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan; whether she is aware than two million refugees have already left the country and that many will make their way to Europe; if she is making contingency plans for this; and if she has made an intervention on the matter at Justice and Home Affairs Council meetings at EU level. [37500/24]
  • 2024-06-25 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice the evidence that exists of passports or other international travel documents being thrown in bins or flushed down toilets in State airports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27090/24]
  • 2024-05-21 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice if she has any figures or estimates on the number of Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection and applicants for international protection resident in Ireland who may have crossed the border into Northern Ireland and on into Britain; and what efforts, if any, are being made to monitor the matter. [22589/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Justice the status of the criminal justice - disregard for certain convictions related to consensual sexual activity; and if she expects to publish the legislation in advance of Pride. [19672/24]
• Education 4 questions

  • 2024-10-22 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was refused funding for roof repairs. [42675/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education if she will authorise payments to a school (details supplied). [37499/24]
  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education if she is making any contingency plans for the possibility of having to provide school places for a wave of refugees coming to Europe and Ireland from Sudan due to the war, famine and humanitarian crisis unfolding there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37502/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education if she will request her officials to move a school rebuilding project (details supplied) to stage 2B; or if not will she ask her officials to meet the school authorities to agree a timeline for the project to advance. [25153/24]
• Enterprise 4 questions

  • 2024-06-25 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the numbers on the opening of new retail businesses and closure of such businesses; and whether there is any evidence of an increase in net or gross closures, in tabular form. [27103/24]
  • 2024-06-25 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the numbers on the opening of new hospitality businesses and closures of such businesses; and whether there is any evidence of an increase in closures, net and gross, in tabular form. [27104/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the most up to date numbers on the opening of new hospitality businesses and closures of such businesses; and whether there is any evidence of an increase in closures, net and gross. [25145/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the most up to date numbers on the opening of new retail businesses and closure of such businesses; and whether there is any evidence of an increase in net or gross closures. [25146/24]
• Taoiseach 4 questions

  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach to provide the most up to date numbers on employment levels in the hospitality sector and whether there is any evidence of reduced hours or net job losses [25147/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach to provide the most up to date numbers on employment levels in the retail sector and whether there is any evidence of new job losses or reduced hours [25148/24]
  • 2024-06-11 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach the number of PPS numbers issued to Ukrainian adult and children beneficiaries of temporary protection and to estimate how many of these are still active [25151/24]
  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach if the CSO is giving consideration to asking about sexual orientation in the next census, as the United Kingdom does. [19670/24]
• Public Expenditure 3 questions

  • 2024-10-22 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he or his officials have met with the commissioners or senior staff of the Standards In Public Office Commission to discuss data breaches by the organisation and inappropriate or illegal disclosures to the media of personal information by the organisation to media organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42445/24]
  • 2024-09-18 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on the previous commitment by the Office of Public Works to install planting on the north road in the Phoenix Park to segregate the bicycle lane from the new one-way road system, which would make the system clearer for drivers and safer for cyclists. [36513/24]
  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW owns or controls the disused church on the grounds of a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33853/24]
• Finance 2 questions

  • 2024-09-09 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance given his Department's over-estimate of the cost of tax reductions in recent years (details supplied), whether he has initiated any review or actions to better understand the cause of these over-estimates and if he can give any reassurance that the cost of the tax package for 2025 will not also be over-estimated or over-stated. [35583/24]
  • 2024-07-23 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the stated cost for each of the main tax reductions in budgets 2022 and 2023; and the actual outturn cost for each, for both years. [32143/24]
• Defence 1 question

  • 2024-10-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he has carried out a SWOT analysis or any other detailed analysis on Ireland joining the European Sky Shield Initiative; if he has any concerns that Northern Ireland could be under this protective umbrella, leaving the State more vulnerable and exposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38695/24]
• Children 1 question

  • 2024-09-24 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is making contingency plans to provide accommodation and other supports for a wave of refugees coming to Europe and Ireland from Sudan due to the war, famine and humanitarian crisis unfolding there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37501/24]
• Housing 1 question

  • 2024-06-25 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has had any contact in person or in writing within the past six months with the secretary of an organisation (details supplied) and if he has used the opportunity to raise the matter of financial irregularities at the organisation [27091/24]
• Tourism 1 question

  • 2024-05-01 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the construction of a velodrome at the Sport Ireland Campus. [19671/24]