Written answers

Thursday, 21 April 2016

  • Department of Social Protection
    • Rent Supplement Scheme
      1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of areas in which a co-operative system has been established between the local authorities and community welfare officers...
    • Carer's Allowance Applications
      3. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application under the carer's allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Louth has been refused in view of the medical...
    • Pension Provisions
      4. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons must work 48 years to qualify for a full pension; her views on whether this is a particularity long period and that the tier system...
    • Supplementary Welfare Allowance Appeals
      5. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have a decision on an appeal for supplementary welfare allowance. [7882/16]
    • Carer's Allowance Payments
      6. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when arrears will issue under the carer's allowance scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Invalidity Pension Appeals
      7. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal in respect of an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be expedited and approved. [7912/16]
    • Jobseeker's Allowance
      8. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the manner in which term-time workers in the education sector on low working hours receive jobseekers' payments when school...
    • Social Welfare Payments Administration
      10. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of recent commitments made to support the post office network, the reason her Department is encouraging social welfare recipients to...
    • Carer's Allowance Applications
      11. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will have a decision on an application under the carer’s allowance scheme; and if she will...
    • Disability Allowance Eligibility
      12. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to restore disability allowance to a person (details supplied). [7954/16]
    • Fuel Allowance Payments
      13. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to extend the fuel allowance period due to uncharacteristically low temperatures in early April. [7955/16]
    • Departmental Investigations
      14. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of investigations carried out by her Department's Scope section between 1 January 2006 to date in 2016, providing figures for each year,...
    • Invalidity Pension Appeals
      18. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal in respect of an application for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be expedited and approved as...
  • Department of Finance
    • Tax Code
      19. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of no longer explicitly excluding seafarers aboard fishing vessels from the entitlement to the seafarer's allowance. [7831/16]
    • VAT Rate Application
      20. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason it is possible for bus companies to claim the value added tax back on new coaches that they purchase but not possible to claim the value added tax...
    • Tax Credits
      21. To ask the Minister for Finance the rationale for his Department's changes to the single parent tax credit which only allows one parent to receive it. [7903/16]
    • Tax Code
      22. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider some mechanism to give a tax break for low paid workers who have to pay annual rail commuter tickets to get to and from work (details...
    • Fiscal Policy
      23. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 14 April 2016, the estimates and sources on the fiscal space for the years 2016 to 2018 that form the basis of his...
    • Tax Collection
      24. To ask the Minister for Finance what exactly the Revenue Commissioners mean when they refer to the estimated value of contract and to the degree should this be accurate as to the actual...
    • NAMA Portfolio
      25. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of acres of residential land and the number of residential units the National Asset Management Agency owns or controls, directly or indirectly,...
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
    • Flood Relief Schemes Status
      26. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a project (details supplied) in County Cork will be completed. [7908/16]
    • Pension Provisions
      27. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors. [7974/16]
  • Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
    • Industrial Development
      28. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts made to date and being undertaken at present to attract an industry or manufacturing facility to a location (details...
    • Job Creation
      29. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the urgent need to provide much needed additional job opportunities throughout County Cavan; the proposals, if any,...
    • Enterprise Support Schemes
      31. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if financial assistance is available to develop enterprise centres; if so, the level of funding provided in 2014 and 2015 towards such...
    • Community Enterprise Centres
      33. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current position of an application under the community enterprise initiative for part-funding towards the appointment of a manager...
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Food Industry Development
      34. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the significant number of food sector companies in Naas and surrounding areas in County Kildare, the policies his Department is...
    • Fishing Industry
      35. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to undertake a review of the seafarer's allowance scheme with a view to broadening its reach, in particular to seafarers aboard...
    • Beef Data Programme
      36. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments under the beef scheme for 2014 will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [7835/16]
    • Animal Welfare
      37. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a company (details supplied) seeking greyhounds from here, in view of the decision by the...
    • Basic Payment Scheme Payments
      38. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue for Scottish derogation to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the...
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • Garda Remuneration
      40. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason rent allowance has been removed from young gardaí; if she will consider re-instating this allowance to help new members of the...
    • Garda Investigations
      42. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a criminal investigation into allegations (details supplied) has been instigated by An Garda Síochána; if the Garda has taken...
    • Prisoner Releases
      44. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners recalled to serve their sentences after early release; the basis for same in this regard; and if she will make a statement...
    • Criminal Prosecutions Data
      45. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drug dealing convictions under mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for possession of drugs over a value of €12,500 as set...
    • Garda Deployment
      46. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and rank of gardaí in the Drogheda district for each year since 2010; if in view of the significant increase in population she...
    • Garda Investigations
      47. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7933/16]
    • Crime Levels
      48. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware that burglaries in the Drogheda, County Louth, area have increased by 8% in the past year; the steps that can be taken to assist...
    • Liquor Licence Applications
      49. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to renew a publican licence for a person (details supplied). [7987/16]
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs
    • Child and Family Agency Investigations
      50. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with reference to a case (details supplied), the location of the material that the Health Service Executive social worker had been dealing...
    • Foster Care Expenditure
      51. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of financial settlements to children abused in foster care services for each of the past ten years; and the financial amounts of...
    • Foster Care Policy
      52. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views in relation to the support services made available to children who have been abused in foster care.; and if he will make a...
  • Department of Health
    • Home Care Packages Administration
      53. To ask the Minister for Health if finance for home care packages and home help assistance have been curtailed since January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7822/16]
    • Speech and Language Therapy Provision
      54. To ask the Minister for Health if speech and language therapy will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if he will expedite the matter [7826/16]
    • Hospital Appointments Delays
      55. To ask the Minister for Health if a medical appointment can be expedited for a person (details supplied). [7828/16]
    • Health Services Funding
      56. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding funding in the case of a person (details supplied). [7829/16]
    • General Practitioner Services Provision
      57. To ask the Minister for Health the updated position with regard to the provision of a full-time general practitioner service in Rathmore, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Primary Care Centres
      58. To ask the Minister for Health the proposals in place to upgrade a health centre (details supplied) in County Cork. [7852/16]
    • Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
      59. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the delays in registration of nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7855/16]
    • Drugs Payment Scheme
      60. To ask the Minister for Health if he will refund a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 who purchased medical equipment under the drug repayment scheme; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Respite Care Grant Eligibility
      61. To ask the Minister for Health if respite support will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15. [7857/16]
    • Home Help Service Eligibility
      62. To ask the Minister for Health if an application for home care hours will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7. [7858/16]
    • Hospital Accommodation Provision
      63. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for delay in opening the additional beds in the community hospitals in Kenmare and Dingle, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Autism Incidence
      64. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children who have been assessed by the Health Service Executive as having a diagnosis of autism for each of the years from 2010 to 2015. [7862/16]
    • Speech and Language Therapy Provision
      65. To ask the Minister for Health if, further to an assessment and diagnosis by the Health Service Executive, he will outline the number of children who are currently awaiting the services of a...
    • Health Services Data
      66. To ask the Minister for Health if, further to an assessment and diagnosis by the Health Service Executive, he will outline the number of children currently awaiting the services of an...
    • Orthodontic Services Provision
      67. To ask the Minister for Health when orthodontic service will be provided at a school (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7874/16]
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      68. To ask the Minister for Health if an agreement has been made between the United Kingdom and Ireland so that if an Irish citizen who has worked long term in the UK, and held a UK medical card,...
    • Health Services Provision
      69. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding bariatric oxygen therapy; and if this treatment has been used in the case of a person (details supplied). [7885/16]
    • Hospital Procedures
      70. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7904/16]
    • Primary Care Centres Provision
      71. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a health care centre in Rathmore, County Kerry. [7905/16]
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      72. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7915/16]
    • Ambulance Service Staff
      73. To ask the Minister for Health the number of officer positions in the national ambulance service filled for each of the years 2012 to 2015 and to date in 2016; the locations of these...
    • Ambulance Service Accommodation
      74. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the building of new ambulance Stations in Enniscorthy and Gorey, County Wexford; when they will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering...
    • Health Services Staff Recruitment
      75. To ask the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7943/16]
    • Cancer Screening Programmes
      76. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the roll-out of BreastCheck to 65 to 69 year old women; the number of women screened in 2015; the number of women who will be able to...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      77. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, for urgent...
    • Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists
      78. To ask the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an orthodontic appointment for treatment in the orthodontic department of Letterkenny University...
    • Orthodontic Services Data
      79. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times for the orthodontic department in Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, in respect of those assessed as Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3...
    • Speech and Language Therapy
      80. To ask the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists available to children with an autism spectrum disorder in the Dublin Mid-West...
    • Speech and Language Therapy Provision
      82. To ask the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists available to children with a mental health difficulty in the Dublin Mid-West...
    • Medical Card Applications
      84. To ask the Minister for Health if a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be fully examined as all the information has been returned by the person....
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      85. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is awaiting a medical appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7975/16]
    • Home Care Packages Administration
      86. To ask the Minister for Health the policies his Department and the Health Service Executive are pursuing to encourage more persons to enter the home care package sector; the policies in place...
    • Health Insurance Data
      87. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently availing of private health insurance in each of the following age groups: 17 years and under; 18 to 29 years; 30 to 39 years; 40...
    • Hospital Appointments Status
      88. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment for a child (details supplied). [7992/16]
    • Hospital Beds Data
      89. To ask the Minister for Health the number of net additional beds that will be provided at University Hospital Galway on completion of the 75 bed extension; if he will provide, in tabular...
    • Ambulance Service
      90. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to remove the only intermediate care vehicle (national ambulance service patient transfer service) in the north Cork area and...
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Prisoner Releases
      91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the interventions his Department has made on behalf of a person (details supplied) who is incarcerated in prison in Egypt: the steps he has...
    • EU Meetings
      92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement...
    • North-South Ministerial Council
      93. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he put forward at North-South Ministerial Council meetings in relation to the establishment of additional cross-Border bodies...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Special Educational Needs Data
      94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with an autism spectrum disorder receiving special needs supports, special needs assistants, resource teaching and so on in...
    • School Transport
      95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 10 February 2015, if she will provide details of the school buses referred to that are or were owned...
    • Schools Property
      96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the future use of a former primary school at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the...
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current progress on building works at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7825/16]
    • Summer Works Scheme Applications
      98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application under the summer works scheme for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will...
    • School Programmes
      99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason animal shooting clubs are being allowed access to schools and pupils for public relations exercises; and if there are any restrictions...
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of a primary school construction project (details supplied) in County Mayo, if she will outline a projected timeframe for the...
    • Summer Works Scheme Applications
      101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application under the summer works scheme 2016 (details supplied) in County Cork. [7911/16]
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project to increase capacity at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next...
    • Schools Refurbishment
      104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional class rooms for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next...
    • School Enrolments Data
      105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an analysis of the demand for secondary school places in Wexford town and the capacity to provide same; and if she will make...
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the...
    • SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data
      110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the figures for the number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year apprentices registered with SOLAS for the following construction trades:...
    • School Transport Administration
      111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the date of the agreed approach with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for charging for depreciation referred to...
    • School Transport Review
      112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the value-for-money review on school transport, if she will publish details of table 5.4 on page 32 and include current...
    • School Curriculum
      114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers and schools that signed up for the new training scheme for the reformed junior cycle system; and if she will make a...
    • Student Grant Scheme
      115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will permit third level students who take up Quality and Qualifications Ireland courses through the Central Applications Office system to...
    • School Enrolments
      116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills is she will confirm that there are sufficient school places for entry to primary schools in the Carpenterstown area of Dublin 15 to meet current...
    • Special Educational Needs Service Provision
      117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider not proceeding with proposed changes to the way in which children with special educational needs in schools are assessed,...
    • Schools Building Projects Status
      118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the new community school for Maynooth, County Kildare; when construction will start on the school; and if she will make a...
  • Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
    • Rental Accommodation Scheme Criteria
      119. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government her plans to alter the requirements to qualify for the rental assistance payment scheme (details supplied); her views on...
    • Irish Water Expenditure
      120. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, regarding the planned infrastructural investment by Irish Water of €4 billion over the period 2016-2021, he...
    • Motor Tax Rates
      121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a category of vehicle has a 12 months motor tax rate of €710 and other vehicles of similar power and...
    • Local Authority Housing Mortgages
      122. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if mortgage protection insurance is required on all annuity loans from local authorities in respect of loans to purchase...
    • Planning Issues
      123. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of planning applications invalidated by Cork County Council western division from 1 January 2016 to 31 March...
    • Homeless Persons Supports
      124. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of current services available in counties Louth and Meath for persons who find themselves...
    • Homeless Accommodation Funding
      129. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of funding allocated to Louth and Meath County Councils for provision of emergency...
    • Homeless Accommodation Provision
      131. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of the provision of emergency accommodation in counties Louth and Meath for the years 2010 to 2016; and if he...
    • Homeless Persons Data
      132. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of persons who have presented as homeless in counties Louth and Meath for the years 2010 to...
    • Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists
      133. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the average waiting time for an allocation of social housing in respect of a single applicant for counties Louth and Meath...
    • Local Authority Funding
      139. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amounts allocated to Louth and Meath County Councils for local authority housing repairs, retrofitting and returning...
    • Community Care Provision
      142. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government why there has been no funding approval for the community centre facility part of the Drumillard housing project being...
    • Waste Disposal
      143. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that a company (details supplied) is demanding that customers pay upfront for collection of wheelie bins...
  • Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
    • Broadband Service Provision
      145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that there is no fibre broadband available to the Kilcannon Business Park, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy,...
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Road Projects Status
      147. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed bypasses for Macroom and Ballyvourne, County Cork, to ensure proper access between counties Cork and Kerry;...
    • Road Safety
      148. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7837/16]
    • Air Navigation Orders
      149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 853 of 14 April 2016, if he will provide a breakdown by country of origin of the 57 refusals of...
    • Road Improvement Schemes
      150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 835 of 14 April 2016, if he will identify any schemes or options for funding available within his...
    • Airport Development Projects
      153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the viewing area and facility that will be retained as part of the newly proposed runway system at Dublin Airport; if this area and...
    • Traffic Management
      154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 583 of 22 March 2016, if the recent announcement by Dublin City Council to pedestrianise large...
    • Military Aircraft
      155. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any United States military drones that are overflying any jurisdiction anywhere in the world are controlled or operated via any...
    • Sports Capital Programme Applications
      156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding an application for a sports grant by a club (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Rural Transport Programme Data
      157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of transport services that will be provided under the rural transport programme in tabular form, by county,...
    • Rail Services
      158. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to discuss with Dublin Area Rapid Transport services how wheelchair users can be facilitated better so that there is someone available to...
  • Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • Wildlife Conservation
      161. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the co-ordinates of all reported sightings of the corncrake on Inis Meáin Island, County Donegal, over the past five years; and...
    • Special Protection Areas Designation
      162. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide maps of the areas which it is planned will be designated as an area of conservation as part of the Falcarragh-Meenlaragh...