Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Catherine Connolly

51. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of Caranua; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45000/17]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund

Catherine Connolly

56. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the introduction by Caranua of new guidelines pertaining to obtaining support for funeral expenses, in particular, the requirement that service users divulge their personal circumstances to prospective funeral directors and in order to avail of support for funeral services the service users sign up to the new €15,000 limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44999/17]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Catherine Connolly

130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the qualifications of and training given to all Caranua staff, in particular to all application advisors in view of their particular role to offer support, information, advice and advocacy to those who have received awards from a court settlement or the redress board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45164/17]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Catherine Connolly

131. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the 2016 annual report of the appeals officer of Caranua will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45165/17]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Catherine Connolly

132. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 20 June 2017, the number of outstanding appeals at Caranua; the length of time those appeals are outstanding; when it is expected that the backlog will be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45166/17]

Asylum Support Services

Catherine Connolly

33. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations of the McMahon report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44279/17]

Youth Justice Strategy

Catherine Connolly

39. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the strategy in place for minors who are deemed unsuitable to enter the youth diversion programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44278/17]

Consular Services Provision

Catherine Connolly

102. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to reopen the Irish consulate general office in Cardiff; the estimated cost of reopening the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44522/17]

Garda Transport Data

Catherine Connolly

131. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans that came into the fleet in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number that were withdrawn during this period; his plans for further vehicles to come into the fleet before year end; the number in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44520/17]

HSE Properties

Catherine Connolly

146. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 28 September 2017, if the building will not be replaced pending that review; if so, if the insurance money will remain ring-fenced and safeguarded; when the review started; when it is expected the review will be completed; the stakeholders that are participating in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44310/17]

Illness Benefit Costs

Catherine Connolly

254. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost in a full year of reducing the number of waiting days for entitlement to illness benefit from six to four days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44521/17]

Air Corps Equipment

Catherine Connolly

282. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to fund the replacement of Cessna 172H aircraft for the Air Corps which are over 45 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44519/17]

Defence Forces Allowances

Catherine Connolly

58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure implementation of the EU working time directive for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44051/17]

Defence Forces Retirements

Catherine Connolly

64. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on recent reports that, due primarily to poor pay and conditions, almost 3,000 members of the Defence Forces have taken early retirement in the past five years; the implications for staffing levels in the Defence Forces; his plans to improve conditions for those serving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44050/17]

Equality Proofing of Budgets

Catherine Connolly

93. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the paper "Equality Budgeting - Proposed Next Steps in Ireland" is the document he referred to in his budget 2018 speech when he spoke of the development of a policy document which was published on 13 October 2017; if this paper is Government policy; the timeframe for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44262/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Catherine Connolly

117. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has communicated the Government's view of the position which should be reflected in the mandate being prepared and is due to be given to the European Commission for trade negotiations with UK; if the Government emphasised the importance of ongoing equivalence in equality, employment and environmental standards within such negotiations; if he has expressed a view for or against the inclusion of investor courts in this trade mandate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44261/17]

Visa Applications

Catherine Connolly

130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason spouse of an Irish national, SOIN, applications are taking 12 months to process; the steps that are being taken to reduce this time; the options available to a person who wants to work while waiting for their application to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44081/17]

Abortion Services Provision

Catherine Connolly

133. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the analysis that has been undertaken regarding the cost of introducing free access to abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44099/17]

Homelessness Strategy

Catherine Connolly

69. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the analysis undertaken or being undertaken by her Department on the short and long-term effects of homelessness on children and their development; the way this analysis guides her Department's policy on the protection of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43788/17]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

70. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43787/17]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Catherine Connolly

192. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the name, position and grade of all Caranua staff; the vacancies at the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43867/17]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund

Catherine Connolly

193. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the refusal by Caranua to provide funeral expenses for a person (details supplied) who survived a residential institution and, following five days' testimony at the commission, received a payment from the redress board, in view of the fact that Caranua has amended its criteria to include funeral expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43868/17]

Commencement of Legislation

Catherine Connolly

236. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when it is expected that section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 2011 will be commenced; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43937/17]

National Broadband Plan

Catherine Connolly

454. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the delay in connecting a person (details supplied) to the fibre to the home broadband network as neighbouring properties in the area have been connected under the same scheme; the stage reached by the installation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43645/17]

Road Safety Data

Catherine Connolly

465. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 527 of 3 October 2017, if he will provide the information received from European countries with the safest road safety record in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43438/17]

Road Safety Strategy

Catherine Connolly

466. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a report (details supplied) submitted to his Department in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43439/17]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Catherine Connolly

536. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the statutory review of the disbursement scheme for the Dormant Accounts Fund due in December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43622/17]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Catherine Connolly

537. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the balance in the Dormant Accounts Fund at the end of September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43623/17]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Catherine Connolly

538. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development why his Department spent less than half of the amount provided for in Vote Estimates from the Dormant Accounts Fund in the 2012 to 2016 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43624/17]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Catherine Connolly

539. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the 2015 and 2016 action plans relating to the disbursement scheme; the reason for the delay in publication; when they will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43625/17]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Catherine Connolly

540. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of disbursement reports, similar to the disbursement of moneys from the investment and disbursements accounts annual report 2014, that have been published on an annual basis prior to this report; the reports that have been published since; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43626/17]

IDA Ireland Expenditure

Catherine Connolly

17. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent on the three year investment programme winning abroad which commenced in 2014; the value being obtained for this spend; the new sector and business opportunities which have been identified; the number of jobs that have been created; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43031/17]

IDA Ireland Portfolio

Catherine Connolly

43. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number and location of IDA sites in Galway city and county that are not in use; the length of time they have not been in use; the amount they were purchased for and when; if the empty sites have been used since their purchase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43030/17]

Education Grants

Catherine Connolly

96. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore grants for student primary teachers' attendance at mandatory Gaeltacht courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43039/17]

Health Services Staff Data

Catherine Connolly

120. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists employed by the HSE in Galway city and county; his plans to increase spending on the provision of podiatrist services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43041/17]

Data Collection

Catherine Connolly

67. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the public service records management plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42699/17]

Departmental Properties

Catherine Connolly

112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school buildings in the ownership of his Department; the number of those that are vacant, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42698/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Catherine Connolly

386. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); the communication that the person has received regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42920/17]

Health Services

Catherine Connolly

417. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to the roll-out of the national integrated medical imaging system, NIMIS, the number, name and location of HSE hospitals in which this system has been installed; the number, name and location of HSE hospitals in which this system is in operation; the number, name and location of the HSE hospitals operating under a different system; the provisions within the NIMIS to allow for co-operation within the non-NIMIS, for example, the sharing of images and reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42247/17]

Fáilte Ireland

Catherine Connolly

555. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the nature of Fáilte Ireland's occupancy, if as a tenant or in ownership, at a location (details supplied); the proposed relocation plans post-sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42706/17]

Childcare Services Staff

Catherine Connolly

604. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce a scheme, similar to the recently announced scheme whereby newly qualified accountants will receive a salary of almost €18,000, funded by Solas to fund newly qualified early years teachers to work in the sector in view of the serious staffing crisis in that sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42639/17]

Childcare Services Regulation

Catherine Connolly

605. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the consequences facing crèches found to be non-compliant with the legislative requirement to only hire persons with a minimum FETAC level five; if conditions will be attached to their registration; if so, the conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42640/17]

Seaweed Harvesting Licences

Catherine Connolly

726. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if seaweed harvesters, who for more than 20 years have been cutting seaweed on a set area of State-owned foreshore and or taking dislodged seaweed cast up on a particular stretch of seashore, can register their traditional rights under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009; the other options available to register their traditional right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42748/17]

Housing Agency

Catherine Connolly

729. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the membership of the working group established by the Housing Agency; the position of each; the number of times the group has met; the input the group has had into the national vacant housing reuse strategy; the nature of the input; if he will provide a copy of its submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42845/17]

Housing Agency

Catherine Connolly

730. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the national vacant housing reuse strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42846/17]

Vacant Sites Data

Catherine Connolly

731. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the register of vacant sites for Galway city and County Galway; the number and location of vacant sites on the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42847/17]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Catherine Connolly

732. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and location of units purchased by Galway City Council and Galway County Council under the buy-and-renew scheme; the number that have been made available for social housing; the expected date by which the remaining units will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42848/17]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Catherine Connolly

733. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties acquired by Galway City Council and Galway County Council in relation to the repair and leasing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42849/17]

National Mitigation Plan

Catherine Connolly

51. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the national mitigation plan will be discussed in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41906/17]

Gorse Burning

Catherine Connolly

51. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the inter-agency gorse fire group has been established; the specific objectives and term of the group; the number of times the group has met; the names and positions of each of the members; if an interim report has been published; if so, if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41671/17]