Written answers
Thursday, 23 June 2016
- Department of Finance
- EU Meetings
12. To ask the Minister for Finance the purpose of his attendance at the Bilderberg conference held in Germany in 2016; what was discussed there; if there is an official report available of the...
- Tax Code
13. To ask the Minister for Finance if it is logistically possible to introduce a tax on sugar sweetened drinks in 2017, in the event of a decision being made to proceed with such a tax; and if...
- Banking Sector Remuneration
14. To ask the Minister for Finance why he supported the exorbitant salary of the chief executive of Bank of Ireland at the bank's recent annual general meeting, given the State's 14%...
- NAMA Loans Sale
15. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has full confidence in the operation of the National Asset Management Agency, particularly following recent developments in relation to those involved...
- Central Bank of Ireland Investigations
16. To ask the Minister for Finance for an update on the Central Bank’s tracker mortgage investigation, including an update of the number of cases being investigated by financial...
- VAT Rate Reductions
17. To ask the Minister for Finance to make a special short-term provision, to allow grass and silage harvesting activities by farm contractors to be zero rated for a period of two years to allow...
- Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland
18. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is concerned by the relatively low level of lending undertaken by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland to date, and the corresponding average...
- NAMA Social Housing Provision
19. To ask the Minister for Finance if he believes amending NAMA’s mandate to include a more explicit goal of contributing to social and affordable housing here, would benefit the State...
- Fiscal Policy
20. To ask the Minister for Finance his estimate for the fiscal space in 2017 and 2018; the factors which may cause this to change prior to budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the...
- NAMA Loans Sale
21. To ask the Minister for Finance if he believes the events around the sale of Project Eagle requires a commission of investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17514/16]
- VAT Rebates
22. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a rebate of value added tax on authorised works associated with protected structures. [11546/16]
- State Aid Investigations
23. To ask the Minister for Finance if the State expended public money on legal or other services; if so, the amount, in the context of the current European Union investigation into a company's...
- Credit Unions
24. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to support the credit union sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17512/16]
- State Banking Sector
25. To ask the Minister for Finance the current timeline he envisages for disposal of the State’s holding in banks (details supplied); the market conditions he believes would need to be in...
- Central Bank of Ireland Investigations
26. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the investigation into mistreatment of tracker mortgage customers by Irish financial institutions; the timetable for resolution of the matter;...
- Mortgage Lending
27. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will direct a bank (details supplied) and request that all other banks release information on the extent they have used or not used the 15% loan-to-value...
- Excessive Deficit Procedure Administration
28. To ask the Minister for Finance the implications of a transaction the State entered into in 2015 in respect of its holding in Allied Irish Banks on the application of the expenditure rule in...
- Mortgage Resolution Processes
29. To ask the Minister for Finance to indicate, having regard to the many sacrifices and considerable progress made in the aftermath of the banking collapse, if the lending institutions might...
- Life Insurance Policies
30. To ask the Minister for Finance if he or the Central Bank has any plans to conduct a review into whole-of-life assurance policies, which have resulted in some enormous hikes in premiums...
- Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments
31. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of funding made available through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, for social and affordable housing provision; if he is satisfied with...
- Film Industry Tax Reliefs
32. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the recent success of a number of Irish films internationally, his plans to improve the section 481 tax relief; and if he will make a statement on...
- Motor Insurance Regulation
33. To ask the Minister for Finance if he and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport have received initial recommendations following a review of rising motor insurance compensation; if he...
- Credit Union Restructuring
34. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider deploying some of the unused funds allocated to the Credit Union Restructuring Board, ReBo, to support the development and growth of the...
- Statute of Limitations
35. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will act to remove the blanket six-year Statute of Limitations on financial complaints, which reportedly may hinder persons whose tracker mortgages were...
- Mortgage Interest Rates
36. To ask the Minister for Finance to list the changes in standard variable rates at the largest banks in the State since he met them in May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Home Repossessions
37. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will take on board the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness's recommendation to implement a moratorium on the repossession of houses; and if...
- Corporation Tax
39. To ask the Minister for Finance in the context of the budget 2017 process, if he intends to take action to tackle corporate tax loopholes and address the very low effective tax rate being...
- State Aid Investigations
40. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason Ireland is committed to appealing a decision on the Apple state aid case if it finds that state aid was present; the latest estimate of his...
- EU Budgets
41. To ask the Minister for Finance if he shares the views recently expressed by the Dutch Minister for Finance and chairman of the eurozone Finance Ministers, Mr. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, that...
- NAMA Assets Sale
42. To ask the Minister for Finance when agreeing to shorten the duration of time for the disposal of National Asset Management Agency assets, what consideration was given as to the way those...
- Carbon Tax Implementation
43. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to exempt household fuel products from carbon tax in view of the difficulties for fuel merchants and small businesses in the Border counties; and if...
- Tax Code
44. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to increase upwards the limits to inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17496/16]
- NAMA Accounts
45. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the work of NAMA to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/16]
- Public Interest Directors
46. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the merits of appointing public interest directors to the boards of banks; and his intention in this regard over the coming years. [17487/16]
- Public Private Partnerships
47. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of Exchequer funds that are set aside each year to service debt and-or repayment liabilities associated with public private partnerships for each of...
- Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision
48. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made in providing a solution to those persons in areas that have recently flooded whereby they can access flood insurance at affordable prices;...
- Financial Services Ombudsman
49. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to address the inability to complain of customers who become aware of difficulties with a financial product more than six years after they initially...
- Banking Sector
50. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for the future development role of Permanent TSB in the personal and consumer banking sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17535/16]
- Property Tax
51. To ask the Minister for Finance in the context of the budget 2017 process, if he is considering abolishing the local property tax and reverting to the direct funding of local authorities...
- Tax Exemptions
52. To ask the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals to extend the exemption on capital gains tax which currently operates for farmers who consolidate their family farm holding to...
- Central Bank of Ireland Staff
53. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of significant vacancies in the Central Bank enforcement division, including at very senior roles; the manner in which these vacancies are...
- Loan Books Purchasers
54. To ask the Minister for Finance when, as per the programme for Government, he will move to provide greater protection for mortgage holders, tenants and SMEs, whose loans have been transferred...
- Central Bank of Ireland
55. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the measures the Central Bank should introduce to address access to finance for first-time buyers, in particular those persons who have been...
- National Debt
56. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of Government debt that is deemed to be off-balance sheet for accounting purposes; the amount of Government debt that is deemed to be off-balance...
- Corporation Tax
57. To ask the Minister for Finance what he will do if the EU Commission decides in the next month, as is being reported, that a company's tax dealings (details supplied) breached state aid...
- Property Tax
51. To ask the Minister for Finance in the context of the budget 2017 process, if he is considering abolishing the local property tax and reverting to the direct funding of local authorities...
- Tax Exemptions
52. To ask the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals to extend the exemption on capital gains tax that currently operates for farmers who consolidate their family farm holdings to...
- Central Bank of Ireland Staff
53. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of significant vacancies within the Central Bank enforcement division, including at very senior roles; the manner in which these vacancies are...
- Loan Books Purchasers
54. To ask the Minister for Finance when, as per the programme for Government, he will move to provide greater protection for mortgage holders, tenants and small to medium-sized enterprises,...
- Credit Availability
55. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the measures the Central Bank should introduce to address the access to finance for first-time buyers, in particular those persons who have been...
- General Government Debt
56. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of Government debt that is deemed to be off-balance sheet for accounting purposes; the amount of Government debt that is deemed to be off-balance...
- Corporate Tax Compliance
57. To ask the Minister for Finance what he will do if the European Union Commission decides in the next month, as is being reported, that a company's tax dealings (details supplied) breached...
- Carbon Tax Yield
58. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious concern of fuel merchants in the Border counties following the imposition of a carbon tax on household fuel products; that the...
- Postal Services
59. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of his engagement with the post office network; if and when he will publish a draft ministerial order pursuant to section 67 of the Post and...
- Universal Social Charge Abolition
60. To ask the Minister for Finance his position on abolishing the universal social charge by 2021; and his plans to replace the potential €5.6 billion income per annum by 2021 that this...
- EU Meetings
61. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of meetings he attended in Germany in 2016; the purpose of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/16]
- Insurance Costs
62. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to implement the motion on insurance costs passed by Dáil Éireann on 9 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17536/16]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Citizenship Applications
63. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Muslims who have applied for Irish citizenship in the past three years; the number of these who are legally living here for the past...
- Visa Applications
64. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for a visa appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17638/16]
- Penalty Points System
65. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if a motorist is entitled to receive photo and calibration details from the fixed charged processing office of An Garda Síochána prior...
- Judicial Appointments
66. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the process of selecting persons for judicial appointments; her plans to change this system; if further appointments will be made prior to these...
- Sex Offenders Restrictions
67. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Sex Offenders Act 2001 empowers the authorities to place restrictions on sex offenders, who have committed sex assaults against children,...
- Garda Deployment
68. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the staff levels in the Garda Síochána vetting unit in Thurles, County Tipperary, annually in each of the years 2011 to 2015, inclusive,...
- Garda Station Refurbishment
69. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a Garda Síochána station (details supplied); her plans for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17668/16]
- Garda Resources
70. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of resources that have been spent in order to police bogland, in particular the bog in Monivea, County Galway; and if she will make a...
- Magdalen Laundries
71. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to encourage relevant religious orders to contribute to the Magdalen restitution fund; the date of the last contact her...
- Garda Misconduct Allegations
72. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the statutory inquiry relative to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17775/16]
- Road Traffic Offences Data
75. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers An Garda Síochána visited and requested to surrender their licence after receiving correspondence from the Road...
- Garda Transport Data
76. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda Síochána cars and marked Garda Síochána vans that were allocated to the R district as...
- Garda Investigations
77. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation received; and the number of prosecutions which took place relating to...
- Visa Applications
78. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a visa; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17853/16]
- Residency Permits
79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for long-term residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17854/16]
- Immigration Status
80. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the residency status or eligibility to achieve long-term residency and naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will...
- Residency Permits
81. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will re-examine the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17875/16]
- Asylum Applications
82. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the determination of residency entitlement and eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she...
- Immigration Status
83. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17878/16]
- Residency Permits
84. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17880/16]
- Prison Accommodation Provision
85. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality why a newly built prison in County Cork is operating at 160% capacity as of 14 June 2016, as determined by the Inspector of Prisons bed capacity;...
- Department of Finance
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
86. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the waiting times involved when appealing a decision made under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme 1994; his...
- Insurance Industry Regulation
87. To ask the Minister for Finance his views that the motor insurance companies are operating a regime of age discrimination with increased premiums for the young and the old and whether such...
- Insurance Costs
88. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to deal with the high cost of insurance for businesses as evidenced by the 2016 National Competitiveness Council's cost of businesses...
- Home Repossessions
89. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will put in place a moratorium on repossessions of principal dwelling homes until the measures contained in A Programme for a Partnership Government have...
- Corporation Tax Regime
90. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider a higher rate of tax on excessive profits made by vulture funds, for example, where margins are greater than 50%; and if he will make a...
- Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility
91. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to review the eligibility criteria for a person to qualify for a primary medical certificate under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax...
- VAT Rate Reductions
92. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the 9% VAT rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17653/16]
- Revenue Commissioners Staff
93. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed by the Revenue Commissioners in Nenagh, County Tipperary, in each of the years from 2011 to 2015, inclusive, indicating the...
- Home Repossessions
94. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the lending institutions are proceeding on foot of instructions from the Central Bank in the matter of repossession of family homes or...
- Budget Targets
98. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which budgetary projections remain on target for the balance of the current year; the extent to which he expects any adjustments to be required...
- Inflation Rate
99. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which any inflationary indicators have been detected in the economy which might require correction; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Economic Data
100. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he remains satisfied that all economic indicators remain stable and consistent with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Housing Issues
101. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he sees opportunities for incentives to encourage the construction sector to embark on an accelerated house building programme given the...
- House Prices
102. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he remains satisfied that first-time house buyers or the purchasers of a family home will not be priced out of the market in the future;...
- Loan Books Purchasers
103. To ask the Minister for Finance if provision can be made statutorily or otherwise to ensure that venture capital purchasers of loan books are required to comply with guidelines set down by...
- Economic Competitiveness
104. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the continued competitiveness of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17768/16]
- UK Referendum on EU Membership
105. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he has evaluated the likely future impact on financial and other markets in the event of a United Kingdom exit from the European Union; if...
- Mortgage Interest Rates
106. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which variable mortgage interest rate charges can be brought into line with those applicable in adjoining jurisdictions, eurozone and otherwise;...
- Banking Sector Regulation
107. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of life loans in respect of residential properties in issuance here; the total amount owed on these loans, if such loans are still being marketed...
- Central Bank of Ireland Enforcement Actions
108. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 224 to 227 of 17 February 2015, the status of the enforcement investigation by the Central Bank; the number of...
- Banking Sector Data
109. To ask the Minister for Finance the proportion of bank current account customers who have switched current account in each year from 2010 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Credit Union Data
110. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of credit unions who have applied for an exemption from the €100,000 maximum deposit in respect of individual accounts; the number of...
- Pension Fund Fees
111. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who were granted a personal increase in the standard fund threshold applying to their pension in 2015; the cumulative increase...
- Tax Yield
112. To ask the Minister for Finance the yield from excise duty and value added tax on the sale of alcoholic products, in each of the years from 2011 to 2015, broken down by reference to licensed...
- Departmental Meetings
113. To ask the Minister for Finance the meetings he or officials of his Department have had with representatives of advocacy groups on behalf of distressed mortgage holders, and persons whose...
- Tax Yield
114. To ask the Minister for Finance the yield from exit tax paid on life assurance policies, in each year from 2008 to 2015; if the same rate of exit tax applies to all persons, regardless of...
- Deposit Guarantee Scheme
115. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will recommend that small shareholders be compensated by the State, at least to the extent of the entitlement of depositors under the bank deposit...
- Revenue Documents Issuance
116. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have investigated the reason a P45 was not issued to a person (details supplied). [17905/16]
- Department of Education and Skills
- Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a scheme whereby a person who is 21 years of age, whose application is pending for refugee status, can attend college here and...
- School Admissions
118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 16 June 2016, to address the question in respect of publishing or otherwise setting out the legal...
- Graduate Medicine Programme Fees
119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby banks are refusing to make student finance available to those wishing to study graduate...
- Private Schools
120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the value of the State subsidy to private schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17707/16]
- Budget 2016
121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money provided under the Revised Estimates for 2016 in order to address demographic increases in the school population; if this...
- Higher Education Courses Provision
122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated costs in terms of both current and capital spending, to provide for estimated demographic increases over each of the ten years for...
- Technological Universities
123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details of the estimated costs associated with the establishment of each of the technological universities, over the next five year...
- School Transport Provision
124. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why the Revised Estimates contain a reduction of 2,000 students in terms of the output targets for school transport; if sufficient funding has...
- State Examinations Commission
125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the review being carried out by the State Examinations Commission into the reasonable accommodation for certificate examinations scheme is...
- National Educational Psychological Service Staff
126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the length of each of the vacancies within the National Educational Psychology Service that are currently vacant for over two months; and if he...
- Special Educational Needs
127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference of the review of the special needs assistance scheme due to be carried out by the National Council for Special Education;...
- Further Education and Training Programmes Funding
128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a breakdown by county of the amount of money provided for the purposes of upskilling young persons between 18 and 24 years of age; and...
- Higher Education Institutions Expenditure
130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a breakdown of the amount of funding allocated by his Department to each third level institution in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to...
- School Staff Appeals Mechanism
132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals to the staffing appeals boards that have been considered in the academic years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, in tabular form;...
- Schools Refurbishment
133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to allocate funds to repair a school playground (details supplied) in County Kildare, which has been identified for repair since 2012; if he is...
- School Accommodation
134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional accommodation will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17820/16]
- School Management
135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the regulations and practices for breakfast and after-school clubs; if he will provide this extra provision as part of a...
- Teaching Council of Ireland
136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 16 June 2016, if he will provide further clarification (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Schools Building Projects
137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe in respect of a new school building for a school (details supplied); when the temporary building is expected to be in place; if...
- Arts in Education Charter
139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to fully implement the Arts In Education Charter; the status of the implementation group; and if he will make a statement...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Public Sector Allowances
141. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a...
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
142. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of ensuring that public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and...
- Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data
143. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mortgage to rent applications that have been refused in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form,...
- Tenant Rights
144. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended, as part of the examination of various housing legislation, to amend the forfeiture of Part IV tenancy...
- Housing Assistance Payments
145. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended as part of the administration of the housing assistance payment scheme that some households'...
- Private Residential Tenancies Board
146. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of a query by a person (details supplied) regarding the effectiveness of the Private Residential Tenancies...
- Library Services
147. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to amalgamate library services in County Roscommon with counties Sligo and Leitrim; if such plans will put any...
- Waste Management
148. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a legal obligation on all waste collection providers, to furnish households with bins for black, brown and...
- Water and Sewerage Schemes Status
149. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17855/16]
- Local Authority Housing Mortgages
150. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new local authority mortgage loans and the total value that have been given out in each of the years 2011 to...
- Local Authority Staff Data
154. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government how many local authorities employ an arts officer; if posts are vacant whether they are subject to an embargo; if so, what...
- Department of Social Protection
- Child Benefit Payments
155. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on proposals to link child benefit payments to school attendance rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17708/16]
- School Meals Programme
156. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools at primary and post-primary level who currently avail of the school meals programme; the number of these that are under the...
- Redundancy Payments
159. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position of an employee, whose employment was terminated due to the business not being able to discharge wages due, and where this business has...
- Rent Supplement Scheme
160. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of a query by a person (details supplied) regarding how the misuse of rent allowance payments is prevented. [17834/16]
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
161. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that his Department releases the rent supplement for a person (details supplied). [17655/16]
- Job Initiatives
162. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the jobseekers who are referred to JobPath and also found to be eligible for the EmployAbility service, due to illness, injury, mental ill health...
- Illness Benefit Payments
163. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the rate of illness benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/16]
- Family Income Supplement Eligibility
164. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for a refusal of payment for a person (details supplied) under the family income supplement scheme; and if he will make a statement on...
- Back to Work Allowance Applications
165. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) under the back to work enterprise allowance scheme; and if he will...
- Social Welfare Benefits
166. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reintroduce the telephone allowance for old age pensioner’s which was reduced in 2014. [17678/16]
- Public Sector Allowances
167. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
168. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of ensuring that public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and if he will make a statement...
- Carer's Benefit Payments
169. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if half-rate carer's payment will be restored, as a matter of urgency, in the case of a person (details supplied) on a full-time basis; and if he...
- Social Welfare Benefits
170. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the top-up allowance paid to participants on JobBridge, Tús and community employment schemes; if no increase is planned,...
- Child Benefit Administration
171. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the age at which child benefit is paid to cover children in full-time education up to 19, 20, 21 and 22 years of age...
- Family Income Supplement
172. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the weekly family income thresholds by €5 and €10, respectively, per child for each income band; and if he will...
- Child Benefit Payments
173. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases before the High Court in which the payment of child benefit is being contested on equality grounds; the implications of these...
- Social Welfare Fraud Data
174. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount recovered through Operation DIRT in 2014 and 2015; the amount recovered by Operation DIRT since its inception; his views on the...
- Departmental Schemes
177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims under the dental treatment services scheme in each of the years 2011 to 2015, in tabular form; the annual cost of the scheme;...
- Social Welfare Benefits Data
178. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims under the optical treatment benefit scheme in each of the years 2011 to 2015, in tabular form; the annual cost of the scheme;...
- Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times
179. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the time it takes to receive a decision from the medical review and assessment section, for certain payments (details supplied) as of 14 June 2016...
- Labour Activation Measures
180. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the anomalies in the Gateway scheme that exist for families in respect of the number of children; if he is examining a review of...
- Social Welfare Code Reform
181. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the innovations being made to engage those prior participants of the one-parent family payment scheme whose children are now older in preparation...
- Rent Supplement Scheme
182. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will put in place, following the recommendations of the report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness launched on 17 June...
- Education and Training Boards Staff
183. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the sick leave entitlements of an employee of an education and training board in the event of a workplace accident; if the education and training...
- Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
184. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when arrears of jobseeker's allowance will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17871/16]
- Carer's Allowance Appeals
185. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if, given the medical evidence available in the case of a person (details supplied) a review and or appeal will take into account the up-to-date...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility
186. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to indicate, notwithstanding the replies to previous parliamentary questions on the matter, whether the proceeds of a family home arising from a...
- Carer's Allowance Appeals
187. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to indicate, notwithstanding replies to previous parliamentary questions in the case, if he is aware of the hardship currently being suffered by a...
- Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
188. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support in line with current rent of €900 per month will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); if any...
- Disability Allowance Payments
189. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the disability allowance claim in the case of a person (details supplied) will be backdated to the date the person applied for invalidity...
- Social Insurance
190. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the outcome of an investigation into the employment of a person (details supplied). [17904/16]
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children
191. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to protect unaccompanied minors who arrive in refugee camps on the Greek islands; and if he will make a statement on...
- Humanitarian Aid
192. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to ensure the money provided by Ireland to refugee camps is being used in a manner that will improve, in practical...
- Public Sector Allowances
193. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
194. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of ensuring that public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and if he will make a...
- Israeli Settlements
195. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following his statement at the Paris Middle East peace summit regarding the urgent need for action and the danger caused by settlement...
- Foreign Conflicts
196. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in 2016 at the European Union, United Nations and other international bodies, to support moves to bring the war in...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Public Sector Allowances
198. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
199. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of ensuring that public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and if he will make...
- Public Sector Pensions
200. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeline for reversing the public service pension reductions introduced during the crisis in line with the Fine Gael election...
- Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses
201. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the delay in the issuing of guidance to local authorities on the use of social contracts in public contracts; and if he...
- Public Sector Pensions Data
202. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount deducted from those persons in receipt of a public sector pension, under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Deer Hunting
203. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will grant a section 32 permit to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17819/16]
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
204. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in her Department; and if she will make a statement on...
- National Museum
206. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the vacant posts on the board of the National Museum will be filled; the reason for the delay in appointing members to this...
- Arts Funding
207. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the avenues available to a long established voluntary community musical organisation (details supplied) to apply for funding to...
- Arts Plan
208. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she will publish the promised plan for the arts; her plans to publish the plan as a draft and seek further consultation; the...
- Department of Health
- Services for People with Disabilities
209. To ask the Minister for Health why vocational educational services are ceasing operation in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17650/16]
- Voluntary Sector
210. To ask the Minister for Health to review the situation that members of the voluntary sector working in section 39 funded organisations who were subject to pay reductions are now not getting...
- Health Care Policy
211. To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made in relation to the All-Ireland Network Board, established to oversee the creation of a single, all-island treatment network for...
- Hospital Services
212. To ask the Minister for Health the number of the nine new radiographer posts in University Hospital Galway (details supplied) who will be dedicated primarily to musculoskeletal...
- Health Services Reports
213. To ask the Minister for Health the follow-up that will be undertaken, following the publication of the second annual report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System; if there will...
- Services for People with Disabilities
216. To ask the Minister for Health to grant funding to a school (details supplied) in order that they may maintain the services they provide, after a hospital withdrew funding from the school,...
- Home Help Service Provision
217. To ask the Minister for Health if additional home help hours will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17651/16]
- Mental Health Services Staff
218. To ask the Minister for Health the number of the 34 posts in the national forensic mental health service, which are required in order to meet more secure therapeutic environments for those...
- Hospitals Funding
221. To ask the Minister for Health if the €7.85 million funding for the proposed rehabilitation unit in Roscommon County Hospital has been withdrawn; if so, on what grounds; and if the...
- Primary Care Centres
222. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to move the primary care centre in Monksland, south Roscommon from the Galway-Roscommon-Mayo area, CHO2, into the Laois-Offaly,...
- Proposed Legislation
223. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the publication of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016, to amend section 2(2) and other sections of the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act;...
- Medicinal Products Availability
224. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the delay in drafting regulations to enable the introduction of Suboxone (an alternative to methadone), bearing in mind that they were expected at...
- Public Sector Allowances
226. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of reintroducing allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17686/16]
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
227. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of ensuring public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Medical Qualifications
228. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby the student debt burden on those qualifying from graduate entry medicine is so great that many are...
- Orthodontic Services Provision
229. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17726/16]
- Hospital Appointments Status
232. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17731/16]
- Orthodontic Services Provision
234. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17733/16]
- Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
238. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider including multiple system atrophy as part of the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17739/16]
- Orthodontic Services Provision
239. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17740/16]
- Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
240. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a an application for medical equipment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17741/16]
- Orthodontic Services Provision
241. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17742/16]
- Hospital Appointments Status
242. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17771/16]
- General Medical Services Scheme
243. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that persons (details supplied) who are the holders of a medical card and who wish to transfer to a doctor in the vicinity of where they now...
- Drugs Payment Scheme Data
244. To ask the Minister for Health the annual cost of the drug payment scheme; the annual number of beneficiaries of the scheme; the number of individual monthly claims, in each of the years...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme
245. To ask the Minister for Health the amount raised by the State from charges on the estate of persons who received nursing home care under the nursing home support scheme in each of the years...
- Health Insurance Data
246. To ask the Minister for Health the number of health insurance policies offered in the market here as at December 2011, December 2012, December 2013, December 2014, December 2015 and at...
- HSE Staff Recruitment
247. To ask the Minister for Health why the Health Service Executive has reintroduced a freeze on recruitment of front-line staff; if he will consider points raised in corresponsdence (details...
- Hospital Appointments Status
248. To ask the Minister for Health to expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [17823/16]
- Hospital Consultant Recruitment
249. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultant posts, by specialty, that are currently vacant at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; when the Health Service Executive was informed about...
- General Practitioner Data
250. To ask the Minister for Health the number of general practitioner vacancies in community care area 9. [17838/16]
- Nursing Staff Provision
251. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the shortage of nurses in Kerry mental health service, in particular male nurses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Orthodontic Services Provision
252. To ask the Minister for Health the status of dental treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17856/16]
- Speech and Language Therapy Provision
253. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times for access to speech and language services in County Tipperary; the number of children and adults waiting for same; and if he will make a...
- Hospitals Building Programme
254. To ask the Minister for Health the current or pending funding allocations being considered for South Tipperary General Hospital particularly those for infrastructure investment; and if he...
- Accident and Emergency Departments
255. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work of the emergency task force established to tackle the high rates of patients being treated in accident and emergency departments; and if...
- Addiction Treatment Services
256. To ask the Minister for Health the services available to those wishing to combat gambling addictions or problem gambling; the measures he is taking to tackle this; the number of those...
- Hospital Charges
257. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money that is being received by the health service from the €100 charge for accident and emergency care in hospitals; the percentage of...
- Medical Card Applications
259. To ask the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17879/16]
- Pharmacy Regulations
260. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to repeal section 14 (1)(f) of the Pharmacy Act 2007 which prohibits pharmacists who become bankrupt from being registered with the Pharmaceutical...
- Hospital Appointments Status
261. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/16]
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Tuberculosis Eradication Programme Payments
262. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the compensation payments for reactor cattle from the suckler cow herd, is significantly below the market value and does not...
- Beef Data Programme
263. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the beef data scheme; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Forestry Premium Payments
264. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) is eligible to draw forestry premium on lands, as no premium has been drawn down on this land in the...
- Public Sector Allowances
265. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on...
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
266. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of ensuring that public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and if he will...
- GLAS Applications
267. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for a refusal of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he...
- TAMS Administration
268. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17736/16]
- Forestry Sector
269. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of rules on replanting forestry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17744/16]
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
270. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average annual payment farmers were able to draw down under the rural environment protection scheme; and if he will make a...
- Rural Development Programme
271. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on providing grant aid for anaerobic digestion on farms; the grant aid currently available for bioenergy production for...
- TAMS Applications Data
272. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of applications received to date under tranches 1, 2 and 3 of the TAMS II schemes, in tabular form; the number of...
- Rural Development Programme Funding
273. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation under the rural development programme in the years 2014 - 2020; the expenditure incurred in the years 2014 and 2015;...
- Young Farmers Scheme
276. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make an allocation for 2016 and 2017 for young farmers under the national reserve scheme; when he will announce the...
- GLAS Payments
277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment for a person (details supplied) under the green low carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a...
- Herd Data
278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure that a herd number is issued to a person (details supplied) without further delay in order to allow...
- Pigmeat Sector
279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 284 of 2 June 2016, if funding has been allocated to the Irish Pig Society to provide...
- TAMS Applications
280. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an existing 40% TAMS II application will be transferred to a 60% application, without having to make a new application, and lose...
- Herd Data
282. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a herd number for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17868/16]
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Inland Fisheries Ireland
283. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the Inland Fisheries Ireland organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17672/16]
- Angling Season
284. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position surrounding pike fishing on Lough Sheelin, County Westmeath; to allow pike fishing on this lake during the...
- Public Sector Allowances
285. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a...
- Broadband Service Provision
286. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to ensure the provision of broadband for the Kinnitty, Cadamstown and Ballyboy areas of County Offaly; and if...
- Postal Services
287. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the increase in postage charges by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17808/16]
- Radio Broadcasting
288. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to consider amending the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland local community radio station licence regulations, to reduce...
- Broadband Service Provision
289. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the provision of efibre broadband to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Renewable Energy Generation
291. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to invest in the solar energy sector; if consideration was given to this sector in the context of our 2020...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Transport Infrastructure Provision
292. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in view of the reluctance of the Government to commit to the overall construction of the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway immediately, if...
- Public Sector Allowances
293. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
294. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of ensuring that public sector workers recruited in his Department post-2011 are paid on the pre-2011 rate; and if he will make...
- Marine Tourism Promotion
295. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount generated by marine tourism in each of the years 2013 to 2016, to date. [17839/16]
- Transport Infrastructure Provision
296. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review the decision not to proceed with the development of the M20 motorway between Limerick and Cork given the importance of the...
- Coast Guard Services
297. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of building works for a coast guard station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17862/16]
- Rail Network Expansion
298. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to establish a rail link between Letterkenny, County Donegal, and Derry city; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Road Projects Status
299. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the A5 road project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17883/16]
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
300. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in her Department; and if she will make a statement on...
- EU Programmes
302. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has issued a reply to correspondence (details supplied); the action she intends to take on the matter; if she will meet all of...
- Prompt Payments
306. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 279 of 16 June 2016, if the 15-day prompt payment rule is on a voluntary basis in both the...
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
307. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of current investigations being carried out by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission into anti-competitive...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Public Sector Staff Remuneration
309. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of reintroducing public sector allowances for public sector workers in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Appointments to State Boards
311. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the delay in filling two vacancies on the board of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; and if she will ensure that board...
- Child and Family Agency
312. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs why Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has not yet responded to a person (details supplied); when it will make contact; if it has an issue...
