Parliamentary questions

HSE Expenditure

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

626. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health when a new contract was last agreed by the HSE for the provision of taxi services for the Cork city and county area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37678/16]

Health Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

627. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health when the last mini competition was held by the HSE, in the context of the provision of taxi services in Cork city and county and when the last mini competition was held which led to the signing of a contract, whether new or otherwise. [37679/16]

Youth Services Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

765. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding that has been allocated to youth services for 2017; the amount of funding that has been allocated to Foróige, the National Youth Development Organisation for 2017; and if she will compare it against the funding allocated in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to the sector and the organisation. [36864/16]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Eligibility

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

70. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Finance if a person is entitled to a rebate under the help to buy incentive scheme if they take out a mortgage for 90% of the build value. [36661/16]

Local Authority Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

245. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that Cork City Council can remain financially viable; if he will take steps to remedy the underfunding of same by the Government; the steps he will take to rectify the loss of funding from changes in commercial rates caused by Government policy; and the way he will assist putting Cork City Council on a sound financial footing. [35806/16]

Local Authority Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

248. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he intends to take to ensure that Cork City Council can remain financially viable; his plans to take steps to remedy the underfunding of same by the Government; the steps he intends to take to rectify the loss of funding from changes in commercial rates; and the way he intends to assist putting Cork City Council on a sound financial footing. [35878/16]

HIQA Inspections

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

415. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent audit at Mercy University Hospital, Cork, by HIQA (details supplied); his further views on the high infection prevention and control risks revealed in that report; the steps he will take to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35889/16]

Child Detention Centres

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

566. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the review of practices at Oberstown detention centre will be completed; if the review will be published before the end of 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35861/16]

Traveller Accommodation

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

32. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 25 October 2016, his views on the low drawdown level of funding by local authorities for Traveller accommodation; his further views on whether all of the funding will be drawn down by the end of the year; and the action he will take against local authorities who repeatedly fail to draw down the funding provided for this purpose. [35455/16]

Social and Affordable Housing

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

42. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the ongoing review of the social housing approval, procurement and tendering process committed to in action 2.11 of the action plan; and if he will respond formally to the four recommendations contained in a policy briefing paper that his office received on 3 November 2016. [35454/16]

After-School Support Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

143. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the commitment in the programme for Government that additional capitation funding will be provided to schools which make buildings available for afterschool care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34184/16]

School Completion Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

339. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeframe for the development of a new school completion strategy as promised in the programme for Government; the details on the consultation process leading to such a strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34183/16]

Youth Services Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

342. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when youth organisations in receipt of funding from her Department will be informed of their 2017 funding allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34178/16]

Youth Employment Initiative

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

343. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the youth employability initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34179/16]

School Completion Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

344. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeframe for implementation of the legislative commitment in the programme for Government to increase the mandatory school leaving age to 17 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34180/16]

Departmental Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

345. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the funding in each of the years from 2011 to date in 2016 for schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34181/16]

National Youth Strategy

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

346. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeframe for the development of the LGBT youth strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34182/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

19. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the required capacity currently exists to meet the needs of the implementation of the single affordable child care payment; the plans she has in place to expand the capacity of the public child care sector over the coming years; the progress likely to be made on such capacity planning by the time the scheme is commenced; and if she is satisfied that all children seeking a place on the SACP scheme will have a place for 2017. [33785/16]

Brexit Issues

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

29. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans she has in place to deal with the potential loss of substantial funding to the youth work sector as a result of withdrawal of EU PEACE funding post Brexit. [33539/16]

Guardians Ad Litem

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

32. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on her Department's paper, Preparing a Policy Approach to the reform of Guardian Ad Litem Arrangements, with particular reference to the legal representation of guardians ad litem in court proceedings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33538/16]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

43. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions her Department is putting in place to deal with unaccompanied refugee minors coming here; the preparations her Department is making for additional unaccompanied minors; and the services available to these children who are coming here with significant levels of trauma. [33536/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

48. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps her Department is taking to assist childminders registering with Tusla; the supports available to childminders who have registered; and if her Department is reviewing the current criteria for those registering as childminders. [33540/16]

Children in Care

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

54. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether Tusla has both the capacity and the resources to ensure aftercare plans for all children who are leaving care; and her further views on whether the resources are available to deliver on all aftercare plans in time for the commencement of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015. [33537/16]

Psychological Assessments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

518. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will arrange an assessment for a person (details supplied) and assign a social worker to support the family as soon as possible. [33587/16]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

217. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised that an area under current excavation (details supplied) does not include underground cesspits which may also contain remains; if the commission is aware of such concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33111/16]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

218. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the second interim report of the commission of investigation on mother and baby homes will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33112/16]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

219. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider requesting an audit of adoption records to ascertain the scale of illegal and forced adoption that occurred within the state, particularly those associated with mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33113/16]

Public Sector Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

250. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if or when the two extra hours to be worked each week for persons who would normally have worked 35 hours a week, agreed under the public service stability agreement, are due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32647/16]

Direct Provision System

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

98. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ensure all direct provision centres throughout the State are meeting child protection standards; the frequency with which inspections are carried out on average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31574/16]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

305. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings made to the State by providing the pro rata rate increase in jobseeker's allowance for persons under 26 years of age as opposed to the standard increase of €5 given to persons of 26 years of age and older; his reasoning in deciding to apply a pro rata increase as opposed to a standard increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31538/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

328. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for welfare payments disallowed on the basis of the habitual residence condition each year since its introduction, broken down into Irish citizens, EU-EEA citizens and third country nationals, in tabular form. [31905/16]

Road Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

563. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans Transport Infrastructure Ireland has to prevent sound pollution and related nuisance along the route of the M28 upgrade, particularly in the Rochestown and Maryborough neighbourhoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31762/16]

Road Projects

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

564. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans Transport Infrastructure Ireland has to reduce pollution and related nuisance along the route of the N40, particularly alongside the Togher and Wilton areas. [31763/16]

Youth Services Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

605. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the €5.5 million increase in youth funding allocated in the budget. [31570/16]

Children and Young People’s Policy Framework

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

606. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31571/16]

National Youth Work Advisory Committee

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

607. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the national youth work advisory committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31572/16]

Youth Work Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

608. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current policy on the consolidation of youth projects and the duplication of youth services in smaller areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31573/16]

Child Care Services Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

611. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of child minders who have registered with Tusla since 1 August 2016 to date. [31785/16]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

285. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has provided for specific improvement grants in budget 2017. [31215/16]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

286. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the sums granted by his Department for specific improvement grants in each of the years since 2014, including for the forthcoming year as announced under budget 2017. [31216/16]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

299. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is the policy of his Department that where a homeless single parent presents or declares as homeless with homeless services, that such a family will be accommodated together in emergency accommodation and that a single parent family will not be separated in any circumstances when being provided with emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

647. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will arrange an assessment for a person (details supplied). [30255/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

665. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had any discussion with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government regarding circumstances where a homeless single parent presents or declares as homeless with homeless services; the policy her Department has on the matter; her views on whether such a family should be accommodated together in emergency accommodation and that a single-parent family should not be separated in any circumstance when being provided with emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30820/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

666. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of her Department regarding situations where families, particularly single-parent families, having become homeless find themselves separated due only to lack of alternative accommodation; her views on whether Tusla should not take an adverse view of such arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30825/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

667. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of Tusla regarding situations where families, particularly single-parent families, having become homeless find themselves separated due only to lack of alternative accommodation; if Tusla takes an adverse view of such arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30826/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

668. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of her Department regarding situations where families, particularly single-parent families, find themselves in emergency accommodation; her views on whether Tusla should not take an adverse view of the family being in this accommodation; and if this will be considered a basis for concern as regards the child's welfare that might lead to a child being removed from the care of his or her parents. [30827/16]

Child and Family Agency Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

669. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of Tusla regarding families, particularly single-parent families, who find themselves in emergency accommodation; if Tusla takes an adverse view of the family being in this accommodation; and if this will be considered a basis for concern as regards the child's welfare that might lead to a child being removed from the care of his or her parents. [30828/16]

School Transport Expenditure

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

43. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with the recommendation by a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in an abolition of fees for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30029/16]

Visa Applications

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

25. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a waiver in place to facilitate the application for a visa for a spouse for persons with limited financial means, or any other means of assisting those with low incomes in certain circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29329/16]

School Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

104. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the money allocated for guidance counsellors in schools has been ring-fenced to ensure it is used to fund only that service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29870/16]