Parliamentary questions

School Curriculum

Maureen O'Sullivan

16. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment was the appropriate vehicle for conducting a review of the place of history as an optional subject at junior certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19721/19]

Social Welfare Schemes Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

1405. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 15 May 2018, the estimated cost of a €1 increase in schemes (details supplied) in tabular form. [18647/19]

Museum Projects

Maureen O'Sullivan

1614. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent of funding for museums (details supplied); and her plans to take over the running and financing of another museum. [19373/19]

Road Traffic Legislation

Maureen O'Sullivan

250. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with groups as originally committed to in order to discuss concerns about legislation and the licensing system appertaining to horse drawn carriages in Dublin city further to correspondence (details supplied). [18310/19]

Insurance Costs

Maureen O'Sullivan

79. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the measures being taken to address the difficulties faced by persons and businesses regarding the high cost of insurance cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17784/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Maureen O'Sullivan

182. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for the reimbursement of a drug (details supplied). [17974/19]

Driver Licensing Exchange Agreements

Maureen O'Sullivan

218. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans on forming a bilateral agreement with the UK to honour driver licences post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17920/19]

Middle East Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

52. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the plans announced by the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing to move settlers into the illegally occupied Golan Heights; his further views on whether continued flouting of international law should be condemned more robustly by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17593/19]

Foreign Conflicts

Maureen O'Sullivan

63. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the impasse in Venezuela and the views of many that the EU and NATO-allied countries have shown hypocrisy in their reaction to the situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17595/19]

Human Rights

Maureen O'Sullivan

70. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his commitment on business and human rights will be honoured; and if Ireland will be a leader in illustrating the way in which business should operate on increased ethical lines. [17594/19]

Middle East Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

72. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the United States of America recognition of the occupied Golan Heights in conjunction with the previous recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; and his views on whether this will have a negative consequence on lasting peace and a two-state solution. [17591/19]

Foreign Policy

Maureen O'Sullivan

88. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the US Helms-Burton laws regarding Cuba are unjust; if he will push for the implementation of the EU-Cuba dialogue to counter growing aggression by the United States of America under the current administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17592/19]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Maureen O'Sullivan

366. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who access the treatment abroad scheme to receive deep brain stimulation surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17654/19]

Mental Health Services Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

381. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no mental health services in Summerhill primary care centre, Dublin 1 (details supplied); if the alternative location on North Great George's Street will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17686/19]

European Defence Capabilities

Maureen O'Sullivan

5. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the remit of the European peace facility, EPF; the way in which it will be financed; and the way in which it will contribute to conflict prevention and peace building. [16964/19]

Defence Forces Veterans

Maureen O'Sullivan

18. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the frustration and disappointment of veterans and their families over the issues surrounding the awarding of certain medals to those who fought in the Jadotville battle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16963/19]

Naval Service Operations

Maureen O'Sullivan

28. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 2 April 2019, if a coherent plan will be ensured for migrants after rescue which has not been the case with Operation Sophia for future missions by the Defence Forces in view of his concerns over the treatment of migrants when returned to Libya. [16962/19]

Job Initiatives

Maureen O'Sullivan

201. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Seetec service is the most relevant service for professional actors. [17069/19]

Deer Hunting

Maureen O'Sullivan

40. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that locals and tourists were denied access to a large part of the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Altnaboy, County Mayo until noon each day between 21 December 2018 and 7 January 2019 to facilitate legitimate deer hunting; the nature and purpose of the hunting; the persons or bodies who carried it out; and the number of animals killed. [16675/19]

Planning Issues

Maureen O'Sullivan

97. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties for communities in the Dublin Docklands area due to pressure from developers to increase heights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16370/19]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Maureen O'Sullivan

124. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which he can address the lengthy maintenance turnaround time for local authority properties before they can be allocated to new tenants while ensuring all best practices are followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16371/19]

Trade Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

166. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the number of goods import transactions and goods export transactions, respectively, in 2018 in Irish-UK trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16744/19]

Trade Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

167. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the number of goods import transactions for companies, individuals and firms in 2018 in Irish-UK trade; the number of goods export transactions for companies, individuals and firms for the same year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16745/19]

Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

562. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated first and full year cost of increasing the ECCE capitation grant by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16343/19]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

563. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated first and full year cost of increasing the affordable childcare subsidy for children under three years of age by €1 per hour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16344/19]

School Meals Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

585. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a school (detailed supplied) is excluded from the breakfast clubs which tackle food poverty; and if she will review this decision and make the necessary changes. [16219/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

593. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated first and full-year cost of increasing paternity leave by one week. [16339/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

594. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated first and full-year cost of increasing maternity leave by one week. [16340/19]

Social Insurance Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

598. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes in tabular form (details supplied). [16501/19]

Wildlife Control

Maureen O'Sullivan

655. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the licences issued under the Wildlife Act 1975 in each of the past five years in tabular form. [16735/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Maureen O'Sullivan

22. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress being made to address the entitlements of those whose profession is of a sporadic nature and the stress this causes for persons, for example, in the acting profession; and her plans to extend the arts scheme for longer than a year. [15646/19]

National Minimum Wage

Maureen O'Sullivan

41. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she can address the potential impact to the hairdressing industry due to the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 and the abolition of training rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15652/19]

Education and Training Boards Staff

Maureen O'Sullivan

314. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the purpose and function of the City of Dublin Youth Services Board; the number of staff employed by job title and grade; the number of staff on secondment or career break by title and grade; and the number of staff that are bilocated. [15942/19]

Youth Services Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

315. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of groups (details supplied) registered with the City of Dublin Youth Services Board; and the number of new groups registered in 2018. [15943/19]

Public Transport

Maureen O'Sullivan

33. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the public consultation process for residents along the proposed MetroLink and BusConnects route in the Griffith Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 area was carried out in good faith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15149/19]

Driver Test

Maureen O'Sullivan

59. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the number of driver test instructors hired in 2018 failed to reach the target set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15148/19]

White Paper on Defence

Maureen O'Sullivan

66. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the members of the high-level civil-military Steering Group on Defence; the responsibilities of each; the number of times the group has met in recent years; if minutes of these meetings are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15036/19]

White Paper on Defence

Maureen O'Sullivan

67. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason a strong strategic defence planning and decision making approach is required in this policy area; the major changes he envisages which may require legislative provision for the conduct of fixed cycle reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15037/19]

White Paper on Defence

Maureen O'Sullivan

68. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether some of the civil society organisations which made submissions to the original Green Paper on Defence should be invited into the review process of the White Paper on Defence; his further views on whether the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence would provide the ideal forum for their input into the review cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15038/19]

Defence Forces Equipment

Maureen O'Sullivan

69. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason a capital allocation for spending on military equipment under Vote 36 has been increased by €29 million to €106 million for 2019; the reason this extra increase will take place in 2019; his views on whether this is a particularly advantageous time to buy military equipment; if €250 million will be spent on a ship replacement programme in 2019; the status of the multi-role vessel described in the White Paper to be enabled for helicopter operations; the estimated costs in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15039/19]

Naval Service Operations

Maureen O'Sullivan

70. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the increasing criticism of Operation Sophia; his further views on its perceived relative failure to rescue lives in comparison to previous operations in the Mediterranean Sea; his views on its complicity in returning persons in circumstances in which there is clear evidence of torture of detainees; when he will make a decision on continuing to participate in Operation Sophia; the way in which Dáil Éireann will be consulted on the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15040/19]

Commemorative Events

Maureen O'Sullivan

71. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the theme of peacekeeping and human rights protection by the Defence Forces should be promoted during the contribution of his Department to commemorative events even as they refer to the foundation of the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15041/19]

International Agreements

Maureen O'Sullivan

77. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the remarks made at the UN Conference on Disarmament in February 2019 by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, that international arms control mechanisms are collapsing; his further views on the call by the Secretary-General on the United States of America and Russia to recommit to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and to extend the new START treaty before it expires in 2021; the role he will play in supporting the views of the Secretary-General and in furthering Ireland's traditional support for disarmament; if these issues of disarmament were raised during St. Patrick's Day engagements including with the Government of the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15042/19]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

9. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding an organisation (details supplied) receives from Tusla; the basis on which the organisation receives funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14342/19]

Childcare Services Regulation

Maureen O'Sullivan

11. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to tackle unregistered childcare facilities advertising as fully registered facilities; and the protocols in place to sanction premises that operate under false advertisement to ensure that parents have full confidence when seeking a childcare facility for their children. [14341/19]

Early Years Sector

Maureen O'Sullivan

19. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress she has made in addressing the concerns articulated by early years professionals regarding low wages and staffing issues; her plans to introduce a sectoral employment order to alleviate these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14343/19]

Departmental Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

22. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the criteria for allocating the €1.2 million from December 2017 for a new intervention programme to help young persons escape the influence of criminal networks; and when the funding will be allocated. [11722/19]

Greyhound Industry

Maureen O'Sullivan

89. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if progress been made by the Irish Greyhound Board towards creating a separate body for the registration of racing greyhounds in order that owners of greyhounds interested in track racing only will no longer have to register with the governing body for hare coursing. [13950/19]

Greyhound Industry

Maureen O'Sullivan

98. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a media report (details supplied) that greyhound racing here is perceived as lacking integrity in view of concerns such as doping and irregular betting being made by high profile racing sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13949/19]

Corporation Tax Regime

Maureen O'Sullivan

187. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of corporation tax paid in each of the years 2014 to 2018, from international companies registered in the Dublin docklands area; and his views on whether a proportion of these taxes should be ring-fenced to support initiatives in the nearby local communities. [12896/19]