Parliamentary questions

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

450. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which she plans to create an environment in which the cultural sector can be supported through multi-annual budgeting to allow a more strategic and sustainable focus, particularly among the State's cultural institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37095/16]

Digital Archiving

Joan Burton

451. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider creating an enabling environment for digitisation of archives and records across all levels in the State, including cultural institutions, Government bodies, educational institutions and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37096/16]

Budget 2017

Joan Burton

452. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the projects her Department is prioritising in budget 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37097/16]

Arts Promotion

Joan Burton

453. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which she plans to create an environment in the arts that is more welcoming to young persons with special educational needs; if specific funding will be provided to programmes to promote the inclusion of young persons with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37098/16]

Arts Promotion

Joan Burton

454. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider subsidising the costs of participation for young persons in the arts to promote inclusion from all economic backgrounds; if specific funding will be provided to programmes to promote the inclusion of young persons from various economic backgrounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37099/16]

Arts Promotion

Joan Burton

455. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which she plans to create a more inclusive environment in the arts for children from immigrant families; if more multilingual arts programmes will be available to children; if specific funding will be provided to programmes to promote the inclusion of young persons from various cultural backgrounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37100/16]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

456. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will outline her plans to increase funding in the arts over the lifetime of the Government; and her views on whether funding for the Arts Council and Irish Film Board should be doubled. [37101/16]

Copyright Legislation Review

Joan Burton

747. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will undertake a full review of the rights of artists here including a thorough examination of existing copyright laws and the current Competition Act. [37073/16]

Public Sector Pay

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussion he has had with representatives of employers and trade unions in respect of the issues arising from proposed strikes in the public service. [33717/16]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Health has met. [36232/16]

Syrian Conflict

Joan Burton

35. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further discussions he has had with his counterparts in respect of the humanitarian crisis in Syria. [33529/16]

Northern Ireland

Joan Burton

2. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with First Minister for Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, regarding the implications of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. [34890/16]

US Presidential Election

Joan Burton

13. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with the office of the President-elect of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump; and the implications of his election for the future of US-Ireland relations. [34888/16]

Garda Deployment

Joan Burton

144. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda division on 31 October 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36171/16]

Garda Deployment

Joan Burton

145. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that transferred into the Kildare division from other Garda divisions in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36172/16]

Garda Deployment

Joan Burton

146. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that transferred out of the Kildare division to other Garda divisions in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36173/16]

Garda Civilian Staff Data

Joan Burton

147. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilians in the Garda workforce in each Garda division on 31 October 2016. [36174/16]

Garda Reserve

Joan Burton

148. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the present strength of the Garda Reserve by Garda division on 31 October 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36175/16]

Community Policing

Joan Burton

149. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí by Garda division on 31 October 2016. [36176/16]

Garda Accommodation

Joan Burton

152. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Garda intelligence headquarters, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, was recently sold to a REIT that wishes to redevelop the complex; if suitable accommodation has been secured for the staff; the length of time it will take to relocate these offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36240/16]

Garda Accommodation

Joan Burton

153. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff accommodated in the Garda intelligence headquarters, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2; her plans to accommodate its offices in future in view of the recent sale of the building to a REIT that plans to redevelop the building; if new suitable accommodation has been secured for the staff; the length of time it will take to relocate these offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36241/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

223. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all the statutory approvals have been secured for a school (details supplied); and if the design team for the project has sent in its report and tender documents for approval by his Department. [36177/16]

Education and Training Boards

Joan Burton

177. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection the options available to persons drawing credits but not receiving a social protection payment in terms of training; the schemes open to such persons; and his plans to extend options for job training for this category. [35571/16]

National Drugs Strategy Budget

Joan Burton

219. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health his plans to continue the pilot funding, under the dormant accounts programme, measure 4, in 2017, to assist the Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force and other task forces to develop an alcohol strategy and the delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35634/16]

State Examinations Reviews

Joan Burton

25. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report on junior certificate syllabus, subject and assessment reforms and his key priorities in this regard for 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35239/16]

School Accommodation

Joan Burton

35. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals he is reviewing, in conjunction with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to realise the programme for Government commitment to have schools available for child care services outside school hours; if community groups and private providers will be allowed tender for access to those facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34874/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joan Burton

37. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce class sizes and build on the measures to reduce class sizes in the previous budget. [34873/16]

Education Policy

Joan Burton

60. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he plans to progress the three areas in the education sector that he has identified as his core priority areas of focus in the sector, including assisting children with special needs, supporting schools and building a stronger bridge between education and the workplace; the reason he has prioritised these three areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34875/16]

Education Policy

Joan Burton

68. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a report on the consultation process he has established on a new three-year strategy for education of skills, Strategy for Education and Skills 2016-2018; when he expects the consultation process to finish and the final report to be published; the key priority areas of the consultation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34872/16]

Third Level Costs

Joan Burton

74. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he plans in order to deal with concerns regarding third level student support and funding challenges for third level institutions. [34871/16]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

76. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Brexit last met; and the status of its work. [34892/16]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on social policy and public service last met; and the status of its work. [34889/16]

Court Sittings

Joan Burton

48. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has had discussions in respect of vacancies and backlogs in the Court of Appeal in the context of the programme for Government; and if the Government has plans to address delays in the administration of justice here, particularly in the Court of Appeal. [33528/16]

Deportation Orders

Joan Burton

146. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the decision to deport a person (details supplied); the reason the decision to deport was made considering that the person's spouse and children are resident here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34672/16]

Schools Building Projects

Joan Burton

203. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress by his Department in conjunction with the County Donegal ETB in the design and tender process for the new buildings for a school (details supplied) that is to commence construction in 2017; if there is a delay in his Department sanctioning the ETB hiring a design team; if so, the reason for such a delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34455/16]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Joan Burton

204. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal by KWETB for a new national training centre for pre-apprenticeship and post-apprenticeship training in Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34461/16]

School Staff

Joan Burton

228. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reform the model of leadership in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34763/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joan Burton

229. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide primary and post-primary average class size figures for Ireland and other EU member states; his plans to tackle large class size concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34764/16]

Commencement of Legislation

Joan Burton

230. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are remaining sections of the Teaching Council Act to be commenced; the timescale for commencing such sections; and the number of fitness-to-teach complaints received and processed to date since he commenced these provisions in July 2016. [34765/16]

Proposed Legislation

Joan Burton

231. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he proposes to publish a draft of the education (parent and student charter) Bill; the details of the proposed pre-legislative scrutiny process; and the timetable in this regard. [34766/16]

Commencement of Legislation

Joan Burton

232. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he will address concerns that the Teaching Council, in the absence of a statutory complaints procedure for use at school level, will be expected to address complaints that are better resolved at local level and thus have fewer resources to deal with very serious complaints that may arise. [34767/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Joan Burton

233. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether there is a clear pay disparity between teachers recruited before 1 January 2011 and those recruited thereafter; his views on whether it is unacceptable to maintain such pay disparities; his plans to address pay equality issues beyond the steps already agreed in regard to restoration of a qualification allowance payment; the cost of restoring teachers recruited since 1 January 2011 to the previous pay scale; the elements which make up this cost; and the number of teachers affected. [34769/16]

School Admissions

Joan Burton

234. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the recently published Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill of the Labour Party; his views on the aims and objectives of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34770/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Joan Burton

235. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is planning to issue a directive on implementing pay deductions for members of teachers' unions that rejected working additional hours under the Croke Park agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34771/16]

State Examinations Reviews

Joan Burton

236. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the roll-out of the junior cycle reform process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34772/16]

Skills Shortages

Joan Burton

237. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the areas that have been highlighted as having skills shortages by the skills and labour market research unit, SLMRU, such as business administration and management, the green economy, financial services, IT, manufacturing engineering, sales, marketing and transport; the way in which he plans to tackle these skills shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34773/16]

After-School Support Services

Joan Burton

238. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the suggestions by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation that related capital investment will be necessary if the programme for Government commitment on having schools available for child care services can be successfully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34774/16]

Disadvantaged Status

Joan Burton

239. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage the review of the school support programme through the DEIS, Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools, initiative is at; when this review will be completed and published; if he envisages any changes to the funding or delivery model of the DEIS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34776/16]

School Curriculum

Joan Burton

240. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide new courses in the leaving certificate, such as coding, physical education and politics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34777/16]

Educational Disadvantage

Joan Burton

241. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the new national action plan for educational inclusion will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34778/16]