Written answers
Thursday, 21 January 2016
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Sheepmeat Sector
10. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a premium of €20 per ewe to assist sheep and hill farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Food Safety Standards
11. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine while accepting the high level of traceability on Irish farms, if beef factories have full traceability of beef; if over 30-month old...
- Fish Quotas
12. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if European Union quotas are decided on historical fishing track-record, how Lithuania secured a horse mackerel and mackerel quota in...
- GLAS Administration
13. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the roll-out of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme including the expected expenditure in 2016; the estimated...
- Direct Payment Scheme Applications
14. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a sheep direct payment as suggested by some farm organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments
15. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will work towards a suckler cow premium of €200 per head in order to ensure that beef farmers can remain in business; and...
- Competition Law
16. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the move by the ABP Food Group to take a 50% stake in Slaney Foods; the effect this will have on competition in the beef...
- Beef Exports
17. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why beef exports to the United States of America were worth only €11 million in 2015, when predictions were that sales there...
- Beef Genomics Scheme
18. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated expenditure under the beef data and genomics scheme in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2306/16]
- Beef Industry
19. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has studied the recent submissions from the Irish Farmers' Association regarding price competition in the beef...
- Forestry Management
20. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the contribution to reducing flood-risk non-native shallow rooted trees, soil compaction by clear-felling with...
- Fertiliser Industry
21. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his efforts at the European Council of Ministers and his engagements with the European Commission to ensure a concerted European Union...
- Forestry Management
22. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of suggestions and examples of other countries where reforestation of the uplands with native species is a key measure...
- Competition Law
24. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recent sale of Slaney Meats to ABP Food Group will further reduce competition in the beef sector; if the Consumer and...
- Dairy Sector
25. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the dairy sector can compete effectively on the global and European Union markets given the abolition of milk quotas; if any...
- Forestry Sector
26. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a dedicated unit focused on ensuring native forestry is used as a climate change mitigation measure, given recent...
- Food Harvest 2020 Strategy
27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Food Harvest 2020, which aims to significantly increase dairy cow numbers, will result in the European Union imposing emissions...
- Dairy Sector
28. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase Irish milk production; his efforts to ensure banks afford credit flexibility to farmers while the Irish dairy...
- Beef Industry
29. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he will take to ensure healthy competition prevails in the Irish beef industry. [2276/16]
- Harbours and Piers
30. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce pay-parking in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2203/16]
- Department of Social Protection
- Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the support available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2532/16]
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
33. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the cap on rent allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2542/16]
- Jobseeker's Allowance Applications
34. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of a social protection payment for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on...
- Civil Registration Legislation
35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the situation that industrial relations issues involving registrars who are Health Service Executive...
- Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals
36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to the refusal of an application under the jobseeker's...
- Carer's Allowance Applications
37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to expedite an application by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make...
- Fuel Allowance Applications
38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow under the fuel allowance scheme; and if she will make...
- Community Services Programme
39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of a group (details supplied) in County Kerry and proposed cuts to its budget; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Disability Allowance Applications
40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2613/16]
- Family Income Supplement Data
41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of the family income supplement scheme by the number of children, by the average cost of each category, in 2016; and if...
- State Pension (Contributory)
42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Carlow was not advised of an entitlement to a widow's, widower's or surviving civil...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) has not received any rent payment despite a Private Residential Tenancies Board hearing decision...
- One-Parent Family Payments
45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the situation of a person (details supplied) will improve. [2671/16]
- Disability Allowance Eligibility
46. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for disability allowance or benefit; and if she will make a statement on...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when an increase in rent allowance will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a...
- Disability Allowance Payments
48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the level of payment under the disability allowance scheme or of an alternative payment for a person (details supplied) in County...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Credits
49. To ask the Minister for Finance to ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is given the single parent tax credit. [2615/16]
- Fuel Prices
50. To ask the Minister for Finance why fuel prices vary so much; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2543/16]
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
51. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the disabled drivers and passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2544/16]
- VAT Rate Application
52. To ask the Minister for Finance the date at which the 9% rate of VAT applicable to tourism lapses or if that rate is now fixed in law, barring legislative change; and if he will make a...
- Credit Unions Restructuring
53. To ask the Minister for Finance the effect, in fiscal terms, of reinvesting the remaining funds in the credit union restructuring board fund into the credit union sector on the fiscal space;...
- Motor Insurance Regulation
54. To ask the Minister for Finance if the insurance industry has explained the increased cost in car insurance to him; if the insurance industry is profiteering; and if he will make a statement...
- Tax Code
56. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the group A tax free thresholds (details supplied) to €308,000 and to €500,000; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Tax Yield
60. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenues from the introduction of a higher income contribution of 5% on incomes over €100,000 per year, applying only on the excess, using the...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Drainage Schemes Status
61. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flooding (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2545/16]
- Heritage Sites
62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of persons (details supplied) operating boats to Sceilig Mhicél; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2555/16]
- Flood Relief Schemes Status
63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flooding and its effect on residents (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Public Sector Pensions
64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address the issue of pensions for supervisors of community employment schemes and outline a timeline for these; and if he will...
- Flood Relief Schemes Applications
65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of several incidences of flooding since 2014 which have occurred along the Murvagh river basin in County Donegal, which...
- Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure
66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding allocated to each of the competent State agencies and authorities for the co-ordination and implementation of flood risk...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Basic Payment Scheme Payments
68. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the 2015 basic payment scheme and the areas of natural...
- GLAS Payments
69. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2592/16]
- Departmental Reports
70. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will release the accident report on the loss of 230,000 salmon at Gerahies in County Cork on 1 February 2014 given that the...
- Land Issues
75. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support for farmers renting land and entitlement and the available back-up when these are sold out. [2621/16]
- Single Payment Scheme Transfers
76. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will make a decision on the transfer of entitlements to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under the single payment...
- Agriculture Scheme Payments
77. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a payment under the single payment scheme and the areas of natural...
- Agrifood Sector
78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment will increase throughout the agrifood sector over the next five years; and if he will make a statement...
- Fish Landings
79. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the weight and value of the offshore fish catch by Irish trawlers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2687/16]
- Fishing Industry
80. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment will increase in the fishing sector, including in fish processing; and if he will make a statement on...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
82. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the agrifood sector will survive proposed the carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Food Labelling
83. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if labelling food with countries of origin is central to food traceability; and if the practice continues to be honoured in the letter...
- Beef Exports
84. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the disparity in beef prices on supermarket shelves in the United Kingdom to the disadvantage of Irish beef will continue; and if...
- Dairy Sector
85. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that smaller dairy farmers can compete effectively in milk production in the aftermath of the allocations of milk...
- Food Exports
86. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he will develop new markets for Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat over the next five years; and if he will make a...
- Farms Data
87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2695/16]
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Medicinal Products
88. To ask the Minister for Defence the number and the percentage of Irish Defence Forces personnel who were prescribed the drug Lariam in each of the years 2001 to 2015, in tabular form. [2557/16]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Probation and Welfare Service
90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on allegations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2530/16]
- Garda Deployment
91. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to each local Garda Síochána drugs unit in Dublin in each of the years 2013 to 2016 to date; and if...
- Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations
92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the resources within her Department, including staff and the budget, she will allocate to following up on the issues raised in the report of the...
- Taxi Regulations
94. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the carriage office received any reports regarding the cloning of taxi plates in the Dublin area between 2003 and 2006; if an...
- Garda Recruitment
95. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the next intake of Garda Síochána recruits to the Garda College, Templemore, in 2016 will commence; and if she will make a...
- Leave to Remain
96. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to defer an order for refusal to remain in the State by a national of the United States of America (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Garda Deployment
97. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Carlow and Kilkenny division on 1 January in each of the years 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016; and if she will...
- Spent Convictions Legislation
98. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Spent Convictions Bill 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2611/16]
- Garda Deployment
99. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 14 January 2016 (details supplied), the number of gardaí in Mullinahone Garda station in County...
- Garda Stations
100. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will develop a new Garda station building on the same site as the current station, which was built nearly 30 years ago and is now...
- Repatriation Costs
101. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the funding schemes in place through her Department or through non-Government agencies funded by her Department to give a grant to non-Irish...
- Naturalisation Applications
102. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose case for naturalisation is beyond doubt but who due to a variety of...
- Immigration Status
103. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or potential residency status of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2672/16]
- Asylum Applications
104. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 11 June 2015, the current and likely residency status of a person (details supplied) in County...
- Immigration Status
105. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and potential residency status of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2674/16]
- Deportation Orders
106. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when stamp 4 will issue to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24. [2678/16]
- Immigration Status
107. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when residency status will issue to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2679/16]
- Deportation Orders
109. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the further options open to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has been served with a deportation order; and if she will make a...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Family Resource Centres
110. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the South West Kerry Family Resource Centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2635/16]
- Preschool Services
111. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a free preschool education place is available to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Early Childhood Care Education
113. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the full year cost in 2017 of increasing the capitation grant to the early childhood care and education scheme to €67.50 for the...
- Department of Health
- Hospital Facilities
114. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 510 of 21 April 2015, when improvement works will start on Carndonagh Community Hospital in County Donegal; when the new...
- Health Services
115. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2533/16]
- HSE Staffing
116. To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff, and the number of vacancies, by job title, in the National Office for Rare Diseases in the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a...
- Respite Care Services
117. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a cut in respite hours to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2539/16]
- Hospital Services
118. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned closure of the Coolevin unit in St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park in County Dublin, including the rationale for the closure and...
- Hospital Appointment Status
119. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive a hospital appointment. [2558/16]
- Long-Term Illness Scheme Applications
120. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under the long-term illness scheme; if she will expedite it; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Appointment Status
121. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive a hospital appointment. [2566/16]
- Medical Card Administration
122. To ask the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who holds a medical card has to pay for the administration for an injection; and if he will make a statement...
- Health Services Staff
123. To ask the Minister for Health if the addiction counsellor who currently works at a hospital (details supplied) but is due to retire will be replaced immediately; and if he will make a...
- Mental Health Services
124. To ask the Minister for Health if in December 2015 a person (details supplied) was admitted to an adult psychiatric unit in Waterford city. [2623/16]
- Mental Health Services Provision
125. To ask the Minister for Health the number of residential facilities and the number of beds in each facility for children with psychiatric illness, by region. [2624/16]
- Hospital Appointments Administration
126. To ask the Minister for Health to put a minimum notice protocol in place for patients at Letterkenny University Hospital in County Donegal to ensure that when their appointments are...
- Hospital Appointment Status
127. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2632/16]
- Hospital Appointment Delays
128. To ask the Minister for Health to investigate the delay in scheduling an operation at a hospital (details supplied) for a person. [2645/16]
- Hospital Appointments Administration
129. To ask the Minister for Health if patients at Letterkenny University Hospital whose appointments are being outsourced will be given financial assistance to attend their appointments; and if...
- Hospital Appointment Status
130. To ask the Minister for Health if a third consultant rheumatologist has been appointed to Sligo General Hospital; if the outreach rheumatology clinic will be reinstated in Letterkenny...
- Treatment Abroad Scheme
131. To ask the Minister for Health the assistance being offered to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare towards the costs of an operation which will be conducted outside the State. [2675/16]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Human Rights Issues
132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify a situation regarding a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/16]
- Passport Services
134. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will arrange for a person (details supplied) in County Louth to be contacted to discuss a passport issue; and if he will make a...
- Consular Services Provision
135. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consular assistance being given to a person (details supplied) detained in the Philippines; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why Irish citizens who have emigrated with their family are classed as overseas students when they return to study at third level; and if she...
- Special Educational Needs Staffing
137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address concerns raised in correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement...
- Educational Disadvantage
138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a facility (details supplied) in County Cork; why it is not the subject of whole-school evaluation; if she will work with it to...
- School Funding
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funding for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2585/16]
- Teacher Redeployment
140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to introduce a scheme to enable permanent primary school teachers, currently participating in a temporary teacher exchange scheme for five...
- School Funding
141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a school grant by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 15 December 2015 if she will allocate resource hours or special needs assistance to a person...
- Special Educational Needs Staffing
143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of schools amalgamating and the Special Needs Assistants in these schools, if they have a right to continue employment in the new...
- Schools Building Projects Status
144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the tendering process in relation to the design team...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will allocate five hours learning support per mainstream teacher to an all-girls school (details supplied) in County Donegal instead of...
- Schools Building Projects Status
146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2655/16]
- Teachers' Remuneration
147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many teachers, prior to the Croke Park agreement, had their supervision pay allowance on a pensionable basis; and what its total worth was...
- School Placement
148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the allocation of secondary school places and the relationship schools have with their feeder schools particularly regarding a...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Motor Tax Exemptions
149. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Clare can utilise a herd number as a means of availing of commercial motor...
- Mortgage Arrears Rate
150. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of shared ownership mortgages extant in arrears and in the mortgage arrears resolution programme, and owing...
- Fire Stations Upgrade
151. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if €450,000 announced by the former Minister of State, Mr. Michael Finneran, was allocated to Roscommon County...
- National Payments Plan Implementation
152. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to notify all local authorities to accept cheques for payment due, for vehicle tax, rates and so on from small and medium...
- Housing Issues
153. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the consideration of proposals contained in the Irish League of Credit Unions’ social housing...
- Water Services Funding
154. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the funding or assistance he has provided to Irish Water for the proposed construction of its Treatment Plant in Clonmel,...
- Housing Issues
155. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop a shared ownership scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2656/16]
- Redundancy Payments
156. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of enhanced redundancy for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2665/16]
- Building Regulations
157. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he will establish the investigation panel to examine the issue of mica; what the process will be for home owners...
- Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration
158. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he will launch a new tenant purchase scheme. [2668/16]
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Warmer Homes Scheme Data
159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 896 of 13 January 2016, regarding the warmer homes scheme administered by the...
- ESB Networks
160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will mandate that Electricity Supply Board Networks meter readers receive An Garda Síochána clearance...
- Broadband Service Provision
161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will revert to this Deputy on a matter regarding broadband in an area (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Roads Maintenance Funding
162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received an application from Mayo County Council for funding for a road (details supplied) in the county which constitutes a...
- Air Services Provision
163. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made any representations to the Department of Transportation in the United States of America on the application by Norwegian...
- Road Network
164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a new bridge at Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana in County Donegal; the amount of funding ring-fenced for the project; when...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Commemorative Events
165. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht how Irish persons at home and abroad can access the DVD of the Ulster 2015 National Famine Memorial Day. [2540/16]
