Written answers
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Budget Consultation Process
13. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures in place, as part of the reform programme undertaken by his Department, to ensure transparency and accountability around the...
- Public Services Provision
18. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the public spending to GDP rate; his further views on whether it is sufficient to deliver quality public services; and if he...
- Public Sector Pay
19. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on ending different pay scales and terms and conditions for new entrants to the public service; and if he will make a statement...
- Appointments to State Boards
26. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in view of the recent developments at Horse Racing Ireland, there any other State agencies where business cases have been made to his...
- Additional Voluntary Contributions
27. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown, by grade, of the number of civil servants participating in additional voluntary contribution, AVC,...
- Education Funding
28. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on his role with the Minister for Education and Skills in the design and operation of the proposed Exchequer-employer...
- Heritage Sites
29. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address an issue (details supplied) with regard to Carrigafoyle Castle, Ballylongford, County Kerry; and if he will make a...
- Public Procurement Regulations
31. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all provisions from EU directives pertaining to increasing the share of public procurement contracts by small and medium-sized...
- Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses
32. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider putting in place criteria for the awarding of Government contracts that would ensure these contracts are awarded to...
- Public Expenditure Policy
33. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the discrepancy in investment in public services between Ireland and other EU countries; his further views on the ratio of...
- Labour Employer Economic Forum
34. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the matters discussed at the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 5 October 2016. [30638/16]
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Garda Investigations
35. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will issue an apology to a person (details supplied). [30995/16]
- Ombudsman for Children Remit
36. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which she will publish legislation to extend the remit of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman to include cases concerning children...
- Garda Resources
37. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the taxpayer of Garda resources used outside Leinster House, including Garda presence and barriers, on budget day, 11 October 2016;...
- Legal Services Regulation
38. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the appointment procedure in place for the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, in particular the procedures which were used by the Council of the...
- Work Permits Applications Data
39. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received by her Department from non-EEA fishing crew members who were already working here before the cut-off point...
- Divorce Process
41. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the specific legal and constitutional constraints to introducing clean break divorce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31065/16]
- Department of Finance
- Insurance Costs
42. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason a person who has spent €20,000 modifying a taxi to make it wheelchair accessible is being quoted over €5,000 for insuring the vehicle;...
- Budget Submissions
43. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of pre-budget submissions his Department received on budget 2017; the number of organisations met with by departmental officials following their...
- House Purchase Schemes
45. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider backdating the first-time buyer tax rebate, as announced as part of a new measure of budget 2017, to include first-time buyers who had...
- Revenue Commissioners Resources
46. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the backlog in the Revenue Commissioners offices in processing forms; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Budget Measures
47. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide for each tax measure announced in budget 2017, the full year cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31051/16]
- Department of Education and Skills
- State Examinations
49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that students taught by members of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland will not be disadvantaged in the junior...
- School Accommodation
50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a scheme available where old portacabins previously used in schools are now being leased or given to groups, for example Men's Sheds...
- Schools Building Projects Status
51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the approval of stage 2B for a school (details supplied) in order that this new school building project can proceed to tender stage;...
- Capital Expenditure Programme
54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the capital funding that will be available for schools to apply for in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31032/16]
- Education and Training Boards Staff
55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacancies his Department sanctioned on the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board since July 2013; and if he will make a...
- School Costs
56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the disparity in school costs which exist from school to school throughout the country; and the inequality...
- Clár Tógála Scoileanna
57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le scoil nua atá beartaithe do Ghaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí, Baile Dhún...
- Summer Works Scheme Data
58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of schools which have received their summer works grant prior to the end of summer term 2015-2016; the number of successful...
- Schools Building Projects Data
59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress under the school construction programme in 2016; the projects that have been progressed; the stage at which each project has...
- Early Childhood Care and Education Staff
60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide for the upskilling of professionals in early childhood care and education settings following recent inspection reports...
- School Accommodation
61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of inspectorate memos that have been filed with his Department in respect of issues with school buildings or facilities over each of...
- Minor Works Scheme Data
62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the allocation of the minor works grant for each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a...
- School Patronage
63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any instances whereby the provision of Irish language education has been decoupled from the current procedure for patronage for the...
- Educational Disadvantage
64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has conducted any recent studies into the barriers to third level education for young persons from lower socio-economic groups;...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 through policy measures; the relevant policy...
- Psychological Assessments
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 11 October 2016, if he will indicate of the 7,924 pupils with which National Educational...
- School Transport Review
68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of the review of school transport as per the programme for government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31094/16]
- Disadvantaged Status
69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way and when schools can apply for the delivering equality of Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools DEIS scheme; if there are to be...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the special educational needs, SEN, model following budget 2017 and the way it will operate; if it will operate any differently to...
- School Accommodation Provision
71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Wexford for additional accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Schools Building Projects Applications
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for an extension by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31180/16]
- Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government
- Voluntary Sector Funding
73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that the volunteer centres which have suffered significant decreases in funding of...
- Housing Adaptation Grant
74. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if all rights and opportunities in terms of access to housing adaptation grants are extending to those who have been...
- Local Authority Funding
75. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to Kerry County Council, Listowel Town Council, Tralee Town Council and Killarney Town Council...
- Tenant Purchase Scheme
76. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will amend the new tenant purchase scheme to allow residents of houses that were build under Part V agreements...
- Foreshore Licence Conditions
77. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the additional one year foreshore lease for the Galway bay test site, March 2016 - March 2017...
- Vacant Sites Levy
80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if guidelines have been issued to local authorities on the operation of the vacant site levy; and if he will indicate...
- Energy Schemes
81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide the necessary funding to Dublin City Council to allow the local authority to commence phase two of...
- Department of Social Protection
- State Pension (Contributory) Data
83. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the projected savings to the Exchequer as a result of changes in the criteria for qualification for the contributory old age pension since these...
- Invalidity Pension Applications
86. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
87. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31048/16]
- Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility
88. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will resolve this case where an Irish citizen, who is now living abroad, cannot...
- Back to Education Allowance Applications
89. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a back to education application was not processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on...
- Rural Social Scheme Administration
90. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the expansion of the rural social scheme following budget 2017; the way the extra places will be spread throughout the country; when...
- Work Placement Programmes
91. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of his Department's plans for the Tús scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31070/16]
- Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
92. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will reinstate a jobseeker's allowance payment in respect of a person (details supplied). [31076/16]
- Back to Education Allowance Applications
93. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been denied an opportunity to enhance their employability through a masters degree, by the rejection of an...
- Disability Support Services
94. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide further details on the additional €2 million allocated in budget 2017 to pre-activation supports for persons with...
- Departmental Agencies
95. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will acknowledge the work that has been completed by the local boards of citizens information and MABS, Money Advice and Budgeting Services,...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Undocumented Irish in the USA
96. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of illegal Irish immigrants in the US; if discussions have taken place with the US authorities in regard to same; and if he will...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Relief Schemes
97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a map outlining the geographic extent of the region described as the Gort Lowlands by the OPW recently. [31030/16]
- Flood Prevention Measures
100. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure that the OPW's social media page (details supplied) last updated in 2013 and will become an effective tool for...
- Coast Guard Services
101. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the contract for the construction of a coastguard station was terminated at Greystones, County Wicklow; and if he will make a...
- Public Sector Pensions
103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 885 of 16 September 2016, the reason he has no plans to review the spouse's and children's payment...
- Drainage Schemes
104. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 26 May 2016, if he will arrange for the OPW to reassess a river (details supplied) in...
- Public Expenditure Policy
105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that public expenditure projections remain on course and are likely to remain on course...
- Departmental Operations
110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which voluntary retirements, ordinary retirement or redundancies throughout the public sector have impacted particularly...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Wildlife Conservation
115. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will request a wildlife officer to visit the property of a person (details supplied) to investigate and deal with serious...
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
116. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will request that the National Parks and Wildlife Service re-erect boundary fences where the national park backs up onto the...
- Rural Development Programme
117. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she will release the €10 million available to local authorities under the town and village renewal scheme; and if she...
- Údarás na Gaeltachta Funding
118. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht given the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas and given Údarás na...
- Department of Health
- Nursing Staff Remuneration
119. To ask the Minister for Health if he has given approval to the restoration of the incremental credit for the 36-week clinical placement undertaken by graduate nurses between 2011 and 2015;...
- Services for People with Disabilities
120. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the task force that was to be established within three months of the formation of the Government to examine the issue of personalised budgets; if...
- Medicinal Products Prices
121. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the cost of drugs required by sufferers of Crohn’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30993/16]
- Hospital Appointments Status
122. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for surgery at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- National Treatment Purchase Fund Payments
123. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will start releasing money for privately funded operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31022/16]
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme Eligibility
124. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the fair deal scheme and the way such scheme applies to farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31034/16]
- Hospitals Building Programme
125. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for expansion works (details supplied); the discussions he has held in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Autism Support Services
126. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the Galway and Roscommon autism spectrum disorder service based in Athenry for 2015 and 2016 to date...
- Obesity Strategy
127. To ask the Minister for Health if there are funds available to assist communities in healthy living initiatives, supports and infrastructure in view of the fact that there is a renewed focus...
- Medical Card Applications
128. To ask the Minister for Health if the medical card application form can be reopened in the case of a person (details supplied) to consider additional information recently submitted; and if...
- Health Services Access
129. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will resolve this case, where an Irish citizen, who is now living abroad, cannot access...
- Hospital Appointments Administration
130. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times for persons to receive an outpatient appointment at the rheumatology department at Our Lady's Hospital in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim,...
- Hospital Appointments Status
131. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will have an operation performed at Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Home Care Packages Expenditure
133. To ask the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a home care package for each CHO area, in tabular form; the total number of home care packages provided within each CHO; the...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
134. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a colonoscopy in the Lourdes hospital in Drogheda; the number of persons on the waiting list over one year and two...
- Vaccination Programme
135. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address serious concerns of parents of girls who are reporting adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement...
- Home Care Packages Data
136. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of home care packages in the Dublin South Central constituency. [31116/16]
- Hospital Appointments Status
140. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with required surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31120/16]
- Medicinal Products Availability
144. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding for medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31128/16]
- Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
145. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an application for HSE equipment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31131/16]
- Information and Communications Technology
147. To ask the Minister for Health the extent of investment in modern technology within the health service over the past six years to date; his plans for investment in this area with particular...
- Food Safety Standards
148. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for addressing the serious health risks attached to the use of energy drinks; if the dangers or side effects have been brought to the attention of...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Agriculture Scheme Payments
149. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Statute of Limitations 1957 prohibits, in any way, his Department's ability to retake or penalise any agriculture overpayments...
- Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme Applications
150. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval of funds will be released to a person (details supplied) under the TAMS II young farmer capital investment scheme....
- Agriculture Scheme Payments
151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there was a variance in payments to a person (details supplied) in view of the fact entitlements paid in 2015 were to be...
- Knowledge Transfer Programme
152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) can be considered at this stage for the knowledge transfer and innovation scheme in County Sligo as...
- Dairy Equipment Scheme Applications
153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) who applied under the TAMS programme has not received correspondence on their application; and...
- GLAS Payments
154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a GLAS 2015 payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Waste Disposal Charges
155. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the legislation that was introduced to take effect of the agreement with regard to the 12-month delay on introducing the...
- National Broadband Plan Administration
158. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if upgrade works on the national broadband scheme will take place in Stackallen, County Meath. [31023/16]
- Waste Disposal Charges
160. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 540 of 11 October 2016, if he will provide a list of companies that have signed up...
- National Broadband Plan
161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31127/16]
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Disabled Drivers Permits
162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all rights and opportunities in terms of access to disabled parking for carers, and so on, will be extended to those who have been...
- Swimming Pool Programme Status
163. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will expedite the approval for the next stage of a project (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Obesity Strategy
164. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are funds available to assist communities in healthy living initiatives, supports and infrastructure in view of the fact that...
- Road Safety
165. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will carry out a safety review of the N5, a national primary route from Tarmonbarry to Ballaghaderreen, which has numerous accident...
- Vehicle Testing
166. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding testing by the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31081/16]
- Sports Capital Programme Administration
167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of awarded sport grants which have been drawn down by sports clubs, indicating the value of the grant...
- Bus Services
169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new bus shelters installed by county for each of the years from 2010 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a...
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Workplace Relations Commission
171. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by Workplace Relations Commission inspectors since the date of the introduction of the new...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Youth Work Projects Funding
172. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way she intends to spend the additional €5.5 million funding allocated for youth work programmes in budget 2017; and if she will...