Written answers
Wednesday, 2 May 2018
- Department of An Taoiseach
- Seirbhísí agus Tacaíochtaí Gaeilge
15. To ask the Taoiseach cén fáth nach bhfuil bogearraí ríomhaireachta OCR, atá in ann bun-siombail aibítir na Gaeilge, an fada, a aithint, ag an bPríomh-Oifig...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Local Improvement Scheme Administration
25. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the impact of the LIS, local improvement scheme, since its reintroduction in 2017; the way in which roads were selected at local level...
- Rural Recreation Scheme
30. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the development of rural recreation in 2018; his plans to revamp Comhairle na Tuaithe; and if he will make a statement on...
- Dormant Accounts Fund Administration
32. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new Dormant Account Fund plan will be published; his plans to increase spending in the coming years under the plan in view of...
- Local Improvement Scheme Funding
33. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason the newly announced local improvement scheme has had a funding reduction of €7 million from the 2017 allocation in...
- CLÁR Programme
34. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the CLÁR Programme 2018; the way in which it will benefit rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Departmental Agencies
36. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has discussed with Pobal its charitable status since becoming Minister; his views on whether its status as a charity may be in...
- Action Plan for Rural Development
37. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of jobs created under the Action Plan for Rural Development by constituency in tabular form; and if he will make a statement...
- Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding
38. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provided to a movement (details supplied) in 2017; and the funding that will be provided in 2018. [18904/18]
- Community Banking
39. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Finance in respect of the public banking investigation; and if he will...
- Rural Recreation Scheme
40. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to increase the number of rural recreation officers employed by his Department by appointing one in each county. [19079/18]
- Telecommunications Services Provision
41. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress of the actions under his Department’s remit for the mobile phone and broadband task force; and if he will make a...
- Youth Employment Initiative
42. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the required review of the disadvantaged youth employment initiative has been carried out; if so, if he will provide a copy of same;...
- Communities Facilities Scheme Applications
43. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next request for applications under the community facilities fund will be made; if eligibility for the fund is limited to...
- Rural Recreation Scheme
44. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the rural walks scheme will be reopened; the progress that has been made towards reopening the scheme; and if he will make a...
- Local Improvement Scheme Funding
45. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided to counties Carlow and Kilkenny under the local improvement scheme in 2017; his plans to announce a new...
- Dog Breeding Industry
46. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when his Department will publish the new guidelines for dog breeding establishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- CLÁR Programme
47. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects that were approved for safety measures outside schools under the CLÁR programme; his plans for the...
- Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding
48. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the recently announced €190 million SICAP 2018-2022 fund that will be made available to local community...
- Dormant Accounts Fund Administration
49. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures he is taking to address the issues raised in the report by Comptroller and Auditor General on the Dormant Account Fund;...
- Leader Programmes Funding
50. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the latest date by which all Leader funding will be approved for projects under the Leader Programme 2014 to 2020; the amount available...
- Voluntary Sector
51. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of support his Department provides to encourage and facilitate volunteering, in particular in counties without a volunteer...
- RAPID Programme
52. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports available for communities through the RAPID programme; the success of the programme to date; the detail of his commitment...
- Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation
53. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the commitment in the Action Plan for Rural Development regarding improvements to 600 towns and villages by 2019; and if...
- Leader Programmes Funding
54. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for delays in the provision of funds by his Department to local action groups for approved projects under the Leader...
- Brexit Issues
56. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has requested an economic impact report on the potential effect of Brexit on the Border counties; and if he will make a statement...
- Community Banking
57. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the report on the Sparkassen public banking model will be published; the reason for the delay in publication; and if he will make...
- Rural Recreation Scheme
59. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the rural recreation scheme will be announced; the number of projects that were funded via this scheme since 2017 to date in 2018;...
- Departmental Funding
60. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated to agricultural shows and tidy towns in 2017; his plans to repeat the contribution in 2018; and if he...
- Dormant Accounts Fund Administration
61. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the dormant accounts action plan 2018; the engagement and consultation he has had in drawing up a plan; and the steps...
- Leader Programmes Applications
63. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects that have been applied for and approved under the Leader programme to date; the number of applications being...
- Rural Development Programme Funding
64. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural regeneration fund which was announced as part of Project Ireland 2040; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Defence
- Defence Forces Remuneration
65. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status the joint submission by his Department and the management of the Defence Forces that was lodged to the Public Sector Pay Commission...
- Defence Forces Reserve
67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the Reserve Defence Forces have legal protection regarding the safeguarding of their positions in their regular employment if they...
- Defence Forces Retirements
68. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason his Department failed to consider propositions supporting a supplementary pension or to conduct a stand-alone review of compulsory...
- Defence Forces Strength
72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacancies at each rank in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19311/18]
- Defence Forces Remuneration
73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to publish the assessment submitted by the Defence Forces to his Department in February 2018 on the loss of Defence Forces personnel;...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Religious Persecution
79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Indian authorities and/or at the European Foreign Affairs Council the recent report by an organisation (details...
- Northern Ireland
80. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in implementing legislative measures as required under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a...
- Diplomatic Representation
81. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which his response to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 24 April 2018, stating that the OPCW investigation had no role in...
- Department of Finance
- Summer Economic Statement
82. To ask the Minister for Finance when the summer economic statement is planned. [19089/18]
- Vehicle Registration
83. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department is undertaking a review of the vehicle registration tax following recent European Court of Justice rulings; and if he will make a statement...
- Banking Sector Data
84. To ask the Minister for Finance the number and proportion of adults who hold a bank account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19239/18]
- Insurance Industry
85. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to address the crisis in the business insurance sector (details supplied). [19247/18]
- Bank Branch Closures
86. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the announcement that 27 office service centres are to be closed by a bank (details supplied); the location of each; the number of staff that work...
- Central Bank of Ireland Supervision
87. To ask the Minister for Finance the role the Central Bank has with regard to outsourced services utilised by banks operating here; if the Central Bank has specific powers to assess the...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Pension Provisions
88. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 383 of 20 June 2017 and other statements from his Department (details supplied), the position...
- Building Regulations
89. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 24 April 2018, if his attention has been drawn to issues raised (details supplied) on the...
- Flood Relief Schemes
90. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a temporary road constructed by the Office of Public Works on the lands of a person (details supplied) will now be removed and the...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a full-time special needs assistant will be reinstated for a person (details supplied). [19157/18]
- Student Grant Scheme
92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 353 of 19 April 2018, if special funding for a person (details supplied) will be granted; the position...
- School Staff
93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the percentage was calculated in respect of his recent statement that 34.5% of teachers are in promoted positions in primary and...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a reduction of one in primary school class sizes from September 2019. [19184/18]
- School Curriculum
95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the new subjects or subject areas being considered by his Department or the NCCA, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, as potential...
- Departmental Records
96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the dates of issue of annual P60 forms to teachers and other education staff for the year ended 31 December 2017; the reason for complaints of...
- Teacher Data
97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out an investigation of the number of Irish qualified teachers at primary and post-primary level who are teaching...
- School Accommodation
98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for splitting a school (details supplied) to two separate locations; his plans to relocate the school in its entirety to the new...
- School Curriculum
99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provision for the teaching of financial literacy for school children and adults outside of the formal education system; and if he will make a...
- School Accommodation Provision
100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent extension will be expedited in view of serious health and safety concerns...
- Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the anomaly whereby lone parents in receipt of back to education allowance are deemed ineligible to receive the SUSI...
- Planning Issues
102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department's observation made to An Bord Pleanála regarding the planning permission sought to build housing on the land adjacent to a...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Legal Services Regulation
103. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 25 April 2018, if the complication with the roll of barristers is beyond that...
- Northern Ireland
104. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in implementing legislative measures as required under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement; and if he will...
- Garda Data
105. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 21 March 2018, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Brexit Staff
106. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the working groups and processes in place within his Department and within the statutory agencies under his remit in...
- Property Valuations
107. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases referred for arbitration to the property arbitrator for a decision in each of the past ten years to date;...
- Asylum Applications
109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason it is taking 19 months for asylum seekers to receive an interview with the International Protection Office as...
- Direct Provision System
110. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of McMahon report recommendations 4.75 and 4.87 in view of the capacity concerns in the direct...
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Enterprise Support Schemes
111. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available for expanding existing businesses; the further grant aid which is available for a project (details supplied);...
- Jobs Protection
112. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she is taking to protect jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Cavan in view of the recent media reports. [19246/18]
- Department of Health
- Hospital Appointments Status
113. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [19138/18]
- Medical Card Eligibility
114. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated amount it would cost to award medical cards to persons with a recognised disability who do not qualify due to means; and if he will make a...
- Hospital Appointments Status
115. To ask the Minister for Health when an ENT appointment for a person (details supplied) in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda will be scheduled. [19141/18]
- General Practitioner Services
116. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a general practitioner practice (details supplied) which has closed; his views on the impact such a closure has on patient...
- Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration
117. To ask the Minister for Health the reason expenses (details supplied) for persons in receipt of the fair deal scheme are not taken into account when calculating their liability to the...
- Health Services Provision
118. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has had only two procedures; and if the procedure will be carried out on a regular basis. [19150/18]
- Hospital Appointments Status
119. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [19153/18]
- Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments
121. To ask the Minister for Health the date on which treatment will recommence for a person (details supplied); if the long-term treatment arrangement has been agreed; if future treatment will...
- Health Care Professionals
122. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied there are adequate measures in place to assist qualified Irish speech and language therapists who have trained in the UK and wish to return...
- Disability Activation Projects
123. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in implementing the recommendations of the Make Work Pay report (details supplied) in view of the fact that 71% of persons of working...
- Departmental Expenditure
124. To ask the Minister for Health the operational costs of his Department in each of the years 2011 to 2017, excluding the HSE budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19169/18]
- Hospital Appointments Status
125. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19173/18]
- Home Care Packages Provision
126. To ask the Minister for Health the assessments that have taken place into the extent of the inability of the HSE to provide home care hours to the level and duration recommended by its...
- Mental Health Services Expenditure
128. To ask the Minister for Health the average cost of treating persons who are sent to Britain by the HSE to access mental health services due to the fact that no suitable service exists here....
- Patient Files
130. To ask the Minister for Health the mechanism in place in the HSE to enable regular updates or reports on the treatment and progress of patients; the way in which progress and treatment is...
- Mental Health Services Data
131. To ask the Minister for Health the number of wards of the State sent to Britain for mental health treatment due to the fact that no suitable treatment is available here in each of the years...
- General Practitioner Services
132. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding general practitioners charging a person (details supplied) for routine blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19224/18]
- Hospital Appointments Status
133. To ask the Minister for Health if an earlier date for a procedure for a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19229/18]
- Hospital Facilities
134. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the opening of the minor injuries unit in the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19242/18]
- Hospitals Funding
135. To ask the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided in order to ensure maximum utilisation of capacity at a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement...
- Commencement of Legislation
136. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to commence Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19282/18]
- Services for People with Disabilities
137. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the disparity in services (details supplied); his plans to allocate more resources; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Commissions of Investigation
138. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the work of the Farrelly commission with particular reference to the progress and expenditure to date; if interim reports will be...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- GLAS Payments
139. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment under the 2017 GLAS scheme has not issued to a farmer (details supplied) in view of the fact that they have been...
- Agriculture Schemes
140. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding is available specifically for the setting up of a permaculture farm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on...
- Organic Farming Scheme
141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the organic farming scheme will reopen for applications; his plans to reopen the scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement...
- Agrifood Sector
142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of recent discussions he had with the European Agriculture and Trade Commissioners on the need to protect the agrifood...
- Agriculture Scheme Payments
143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farming payments were allocated to a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19284/18]
- Herd Data
144. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for change of herd ownership by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Fisheries Protection
145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of his Department's proposed eel licence buy-out scheme; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Bus Services
147. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to develop improved bus services for persons using the bus to access Connolly hospital and St. Francis Hospice in Dublin 15;...
- Driver Test Centres
149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a matter (details supplied) regarding funding will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19218/18]
- Haulage Industry Regulation
150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of discussions to date he has had with his British counterpart on legislation in the British Parliament regarding the...
- Sports Capital Programme Administration
151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to launch the 2018 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/18]
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Asylum Support Services
152. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children seeking asylum awaiting the allocation of a social care worker; the average wait time; and if she will make a...
- Foster Care
154. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the maximum age for a person to commence fostering children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19170/18]
- Foster Care Data
155. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in foster care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19171/18]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Regional Development Initiatives
156. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will report on the progress of the Atlantic Economic Corridor, the work of the task force and the support his Department is...
- Telecommunications Services Provision
157. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work to address mobile phone coverage blackspots which is a measure of the action plan of the mobile phone and...
- Leader Programmes Funding
158. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated for the Leader programme in 2017; the expenditure at the end of 2017; the funding allocated for and the...
- Grant Payments
159. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he expects to be in a position to examine eligibility for grant aid through his Department for various...
- Action Plan for Rural Development Funding
160. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if voluntary and or community groups in County Kildare engaged in the production of musical and dramatic productions at local level...
- Voluntary Sector Funding
161. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which local voluntary groups such as men's sheds or women's groups may be eligible to apply for assistance to his...
- Leader Programmes Administration
163. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which his Department will interact with the Leader programme when identifying suitable projects for attention and...
- Community Development Initiatives
164. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for various voluntary and community groups and projects throughout the country and County Kildare in 2018; and if he will...
- Tidy Towns Committees Funding
166. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he will be in a position to offer development assistance to the various tidy towns committees in County Kildare...
- Town and Village Renewal Scheme
167. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which his Department can assist in the promotion of local historic sites or buildings heretofore undeveloped for...
- Charities Regulation
168. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which his Department monitors the registration of charities with a view to ensuring that all charities are registered...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Free Travel Scheme Data
169. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to award travel passes to persons who do not qualify due to means; and if she will make a...
- Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if jobseeker's allowance being paid to a person (details supplied) can be paid to their bank account. [19142/18]
- Social Welfare Eligibility
171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appointment to meet a social welfare officer will be scheduled for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- State Pension (Contributory) Data
172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending a pension payment of €243.30 to all persons resident here who are 66 years of age and...
- State Pension (Non-Contributory) Data
177. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a non-contributory State pension in which the amount received is below the top rate of...
- State Pensions Payments
178. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of men and women, respectively, in receipt of each of the State pension payments; and the number of qualified...
- Child Maintenance Payments
181. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the social welfare payments through which child maintenance payments are accessed as means towards such entitlements. [19212/18]
- Pension Provisions
183. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she and her predecessors have taken to address the concerns of members of an association (details supplied) about...
- Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
186. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if safeguards will be put in place to enable pensioners have a greater say in the governance of their pension scheme in view...
- Pensions Legislation
188. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to amend section 81E of the Pensions Act 1990 to abolish the six to 12 month time bar in which pensioners cannot...
- Invalidity Pension Applications
190. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension will be processed; and if she will make a...
- Disability Allowance Applications
191. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a disability allowance. [19249/18]
- Job Losses
192. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to meet with employees at a bank (details supplied); the supports her Department will provide; and if she will make...
- State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals
193. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for a State pension (non-contributory) by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Personal Micro Credit Scheme
194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number and percentage of credit unions that have signed up to the personal micro credit scheme; the number and proportion...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Tenant Purchase Scheme
195. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new tenant purchase scheme will be published. [19151/18]
- Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report
196. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he will receive and publish the report and recommendations of the committee established to review local electoral areas....
- Protected Disclosures
197. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if an unredacted copy of the report submitted by Galway City Council relative to the case of a person (details supplied) will...
- Social and Affordable Housing Data
198. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide data (details supplied) published by his Department in respect of affordable housing in each of the years...
- Property Registration Authority Administration
199. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has examined the possible effects of measures in the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 which make it...
- EU Regulations
200. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 262 of 7 December 2017 and 631 of 27 March 2018, when the European Union (Licensing of...
- European Parliament Elections
201. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the stage at which negotiations at European Union level on the reallocation of seats in the European Parliament following...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Departmental Correspondence
202. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied) regarding an aqueduct; if the necessary works will be...
