Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 13 Dec — Watch Them Work

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 13 Dec – 19 Dec 2021 · 5 TDs · 3 bills voted on · 102 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Regulation of Tenderers Bill 2021

2021-12-15 · 1 vote · Sinn Féin PMB

A bill to provide that abnormally low tender bids for construction works with a contract equal to or above the EU threshold for public works are regulated, and disqualified, if …

full description

A bill to provide that abnormally low tender bids for construction works with a contract equal to or above the EU threshold for public works are regulated, and disqualified, if their low level is not adequately explained to the relevant authority, and that performance in prior public contracts be grounds for exclusion from participation in a procurement procedure.

Whether the bill should proceed (Second Stage) · motion failed 64–78

Voted for 2 Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Voted against 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Foetal Pain Relief) Bill 2021

2021-12-15 · 2 votes · Independent PMB

A bill to provide for pain relief for the foetus in certain cases of termination of pregnancy

full description

A bill to provide for pain relief for the foetus in certain cases of termination of pregnancy; and to provide for related matters.

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 103–37

Voted for 3 Colm Burke · Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Voted against 1 Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

The motion · motion passed 107–36

Voted for 3 Colm Burke · Mick Barry · Thomas Gould

Voted against 1 Pádraig O'Sullivan

Did not vote 2 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

2021-12-14 · 1 vote

The motion · motion passed 25–20

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 1 Mick Barry

Did not vote 3 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 4 votes · 19 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 19 total

Health 9 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if persons will be entitled to a refund of the cost incurred for the requirement of having an RT-PCR test taken when travelling into Ireland and the subsequent changes that occurred in the timing as to when the test should be taken in view of the changes which occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61355/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the restrictions that apply to persons travelling to Ireland from the United Kingdom who is an Irish citizen but a spouse is a non-UK and or non-European and both of whom have not been vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61356/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments for Covid-19 booster shots offered and the rate of uptake of the booster shots since the week commencing 22 November 2021 to date on a regional basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61375/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the uptake rate on eligible women attending for CervicalCheck appointments; if he will provide a breakdown by age category and county for each of the years 2019, 2020 and up to 30 September 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61695/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken by his Department to target reported low attendance rates for CervicalCheck appointments by women aged over 50 in certain counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61696/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the backlog of screening tests due to the suspension of CervicalCheck as a result of Covid-19 in 2020 has now been cleared; the number of tests that were carried out in 2019, 2020 and up to 30 September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61697/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of cervical cancer diagnoses that were made in 2019, 2020 and up to 30 September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61698/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the efficacy of the new cervical cancer test that detects HPV; the number of tests that have been HPV positive with no abnormal cell changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61699/21]
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed within the health service, by categories (details supplied), for the year ending 31 December, in each of the years 2014 to 2020 and at 30 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62029/21]
Further and Higher Education 5 questions
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students at higher education institutions (details supplied), who make up approximately 12% of the higher education student population in Ireland, are to be excluded from the public health free rapid antigen tests initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62030/21]
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that students studying on publicly funded Springboard programmes in private higher education institutions will be excluded from the free rapid antigen tests initiative while their fellow students on Springboard programmes in the public higher education institutions will be eligible to receive the tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62031/21]
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to including students at higher education colleges that are members of an association (details supplied) in the public health free rapid antigen tests initiative in view of the contributions by the students to the Exchequer; if not, if separate funding will be made available to those students for this once off public health initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62032/21]
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to the inclusion of students at higher education institutions that are members of an association (details supplied) in the public health free rapid antigen tests initiative in view of these institutions releasing their students to ease the staffing crisis in public primary schools and in early years settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62033/21]
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students at higher education institutions that are members of an association (details supplied) are to be excluded from the public health free rapid antigen tests given the Exchequer is providing free rapid antigen testing to international and European Union students studying in publicly funded higher education institutions who may never pay into the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62034/21]
Transport 2 questions
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to greater flexibility of current public transport incentives such as taxsaver tickets given the greater flexibility of office-based work and the hybrid approach to working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62173/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date in respect of the introduction of half-price transport for young persons as set out in budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62108/21]
Finance 2 questions
- 2021-12-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if research is under way with regard to the potential impact on motor tax revenue an increased uptake of electric vehicles will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62172/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the number of householders who made a local property tax return; the number of householders who accepted the initial Revenue Commissioners' determination; if a figure is available for projected revenue that will be raised by the tax in 2022; the way in which this compares with the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62110/21]
Environment 1 question
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a national retrofitting plan will be accompanied by additional supports in order to assist households with the cost of retrofitting their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61308/21]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 4 votes · 17 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 17 total

Health 4 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the home help hours for a person (details supplied) will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61130/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on their cross-Border application and reimbursement for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61849/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be updated to reflect persons having received their boosters and who will need it for the purpose of travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62482/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will make the HPV vaccine available free of cost to all persons who would medically benefit from it, particularly students who missed receiving it in school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62483/21]
Environment 2 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration has been given to converting oil heating systems to ecofriendly hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, biofuel instead of kerosene and other fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61338/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will expedite legislation to amend the Litter Pollution Act 1997 and the Waste Management Act 1996 to provide a lawful basis for local authorities to use closed-circuit television, CCTV, to detect and prosecute illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61339/21]
Social 2 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61126/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the short-term illness benefit will be extended to the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61845/21]
Further and Higher Education 2 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to extending rapid antigen testing to private third-level colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61847/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of extending rapid antigen testing to private third-level colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61848/21]
Transport 2 questions
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans for enhanced safety measures on the R635 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61603/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the status of, and position regarding, the steps he is taking to prioritise rural transport needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61604/21]
Finance 2 questions
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, rates will be restored for the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60863/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if the CRSS refusal for a business (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61738/21]
Foreign 1 question
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the supports his Department will provide for Irish tourists that may have either a positive antigen or PCR test for Covid-19 within a 72 or 48 hour timeframe of their scheduled return to Ireland and will not be able to travel home in such circumstances. [61513/21]
Education 1 question
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if antigen testing will be extended to post-primary schools and not just primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61846/21]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he envisages a shortage of urea in Ireland during quarter 1 of 2022; if measures are in place to maintain supply at required levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62589/21]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 3 votes · 55 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 55 total

Health 22 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if persons who have completed a level 6 vaccination course through a company (details supplied) can apply as vaccinators; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61168/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on outpatient waiting lists, by hospital, in County Cork. [62537/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on inpatient waiting lists, by hospital, in County Cork. [62538/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on elective procedure waiting lists, by hospital, in County Cork. [62539/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of home care hours; and the number of hours assigned in County Cork by LHO. [62540/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting home care hours; and the number of hours they are waiting for, in County Cork, by LHO. [62541/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of staff members, by role, currently employed in, and working on, children’s disability network teams in County Cork, by team, in tabular form. [62542/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his Department has engaged with SouthDoc since the reopening of its Blackpool facility; and if there is an intention to resume normal operating hours in this facility. [62543/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with medical cards in County Cork, by LHO. [62544/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the vaccine booster programme for those under 50 years of age who received a vaccine (details supplied). [62545/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the reopening of the Keltoi facility. [62546/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of times the Minister for State with special responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy has met an organisation (details supplied) since their appointment. [62547/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of community addiction projects, by county, that are funded by his Department. [62548/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the stabilisation units promised in budget 2021. [62549/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the funding for family support networks committed to in budget 2021. [62550/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the previous membership of the National Oversight Committee on the National Drugs Strategy; and the new proposed membership. [62551/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the format the promised further discussion on membership of the National Oversight Committee will take. [62552/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if further details will be provided on the proposed plan to address crack cocaine, as promised in budget 2022. [62553/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if the Minister for State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy has met with the Tallaght drug and alcohol task force since the publication of its recent report. [62554/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting residential treatment and detox, by county, in tabular form. [62555/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has issued updated guidance for peer-support addiction recovery group meetings. [62556/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if an outreach programme is planned for delivery of vaccine boosters to vulnerable hard to reach cohorts, for example, homeless persons and those in active addiction. [62557/21]
Housing 13 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of build-to-rent planning permissions approved in County Cork in 2021; and the number of units this equates to. [61582/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering applications from other private providers interested in providing the mortgage-to-rent scheme. [62514/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HAP inspections are being outsourced to private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62502/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding his Department will deliver to local authorities to ensure that they can employ a full-time vacant homes officer from January 2021. [62503/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a funding application was received under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund for Blackpool from Cork City Council in 2020; and if so, the reason this was rejected. [62504/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is an obligation on a property owner to pay outstanding derelict site levies upon the sale of a property. [62505/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the derelict sites legislation grants a provision for delay of placement on the register in a situation whereby a person intends to dispose of dereliction; and if there is a time limit on this delay. [62506/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of HAP tenancies enacted to date in 2021, by local authority; and the cost of HAP, by local authority, in tabular form. [62507/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to strengthen regulations on short-term letting. [62508/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the zoned land levy. [62509/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the vacant sites levy. [62510/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can apply for funding for mortgage-to-rent schemes they offer. [62516/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the levies applied, collected and outstanding in respect of the vacant sites levy, by local authority in 2019; and the cumulative outstanding amount currently, by local authority, in tabular form. [62570/21]
Transport 5 questions
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve the booking system through Irish Rail for persons with a travel pass. [62341/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of delaying the M20 process and the timeline for delivery of the M20 project. [62340/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if applications for the road safety improvement scheme 2022 have closed; the number of applications received from Cork City Council; the number of these in areas (details supplied); and the number of successful projects if approved. [62561/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which John F. Connolly Road, Cork has been in a state of serious disrepair for an extended time period (details supplied); and the role his Department will play in rectifying this issue. [62566/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if his Department received a funding application from Cork City Council for work on John F. Connolly road. [62567/21]
Finance 4 questions
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the number of existing residential housing units that have been acquired by real estate investment trusts, REITS, and Irish real estate funds in each of the years 2018 to 2020, by county; his views on whether the tax advantages provided by both tax structures are justified with respect to the acquisition of existing dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62339/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance his views on and response to the ESRI paper, Prudent government borrowing can mitigate inadequate housing supply and upward pressure on prices and rent; and if he met with the ESRI on same. [55907/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the status of the survey of vacant properties undertaken within the local property tax process. [62513/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the number of meetings his Department has held with the ESRI in the past 12 months; and the topic of these meetings. [62518/21]
Environment 2 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the implementation of the National Broadband Plan in an area (details supplied). [61428/21]
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions being undertaken by his Department to address the scourge of illegal dumping. [61429/21]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2021-12-14 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the horse project for Cork city. [61204/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for a horse project has been made by Cork City Council; and if not, if private individuals can make these applications. [62569/21]
Education 2 questions
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the status of the process of securing a new school building for a school (details supplied). [62558/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of applications under the minor works scheme she received for schools in areas (details supplied). [62559/21]
Justice 2 questions
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications received for the new scrambler initiative by county, in tabular form. [62568/21]
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the status of the appointment of a gambling regulator. [62562/21]
Public 1 question
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the proposed front-line worker bonus. [62517/21]
Social 1 question
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons under the age of 25 receive an increased jobseeker’s payment when living alone; and if this applies to homeless persons of the same age. [62474/21]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2021-12-16 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with BusConnects in Cork, given that there is no proposed bus service from the northside of Cork city to Munster Technological University. [62560/21]