Parliamentary questions

Early Childhood Care and Education Standards

Joan Burton

588. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of on-site audits carried out by her Department or on its behalf on ECCE providers in each of the years 2015 to 2018; the attendance records of those children for when payment was made; the proportion of providers audited in each of the years in question; and if she will provide a detailed analysis of the results of these audits. [11478/19]

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Joan Burton

589. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is the policy of her Department, or the agents under the remit of her Department, to check all PPS numbers of children supplied by ECCE providers with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to confirm that the numbers quoted are correct and that the children are eligible and resident here; if so, the number of PPS numbers checked in each of the years 2015 to 2018; and the number of cases which required additional investigation. [11479/19]

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Joan Burton

590. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is the policy of her Department, or the agents under the remit of her Department, to check all PPS numbers of children supplied by ECCE providers with the Department of Education and Skills to confirm that the children are not also registered as pupils in a national school; the number of PPS numbers checked in each of the years 2015 to 2018; and the number of cases which required additional investigation. [11480/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

591. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in her Department engaged in the audit of funded programmes; the level of qualifications of each, for example, part or fully qualified accountants; and the number of on-site audits carried out for each of the programmes managed by her Department in each of the years 2015 to 2018. [11481/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

17. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the level of state aid that will be made available in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; the provision that is provided for same in the Revised Estimates; if she has sought permission from the European Commission for aid to specific sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9964/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

41. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the level of state aid that will be made available in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; the provision provided for same in the Revised Estimates; if she has sought permission from the European Commission for aid to specific sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10636/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

84. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of state aid that will be made available in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; the provision provided for same in the Revised Estimates; if he has sought permission from the European Commission for aid to specific sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11295/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take in relation to schools (details supplied); when work on the schools will be completed; when the schools will have full possession of all their facilities and school buildings again; the negotiations between the builders responsible and his Department; if there have been developments such as legal action in terms of the flaws and failures identified in the cases of these particular school buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10872/19]

Abbey Theatre

Joan Burton

16. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a recent report from the OECD with respect to literacy standards amongst third level students; if his Department has carried out research on literacy among students attending third-level courses; if so, the findings of such studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/19]

Abbey Theatre

Joan Burton

27. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the junior certificate curriculum is appropriate and is not overloaded with topics, but rather concentrates on core topics essential to numeracy, literacy and general social development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10875/19]

Abbey Theatre

Joan Burton

46. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a new secondary school in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; the location his Department plans to locate the school; the catchment area to be covered by the new school; his views on whether the new school addresses the needs for school places in areas in which a significant amount of new housing is being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10873/19]

Abbey Theatre

Joan Burton

51. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to adjust the status for the junior certificate curriculum for geography or history; his views on the importance of these subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10874/19]

All-Island Civic Dialogue

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the fifth plenary session of the all-island civic dialogue on Brexit; if he had subsequent conversations with the political party leaders present; and the issues that were discussed. [9421/19]

Departmental Staff

Joan Burton

43. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review and revise guidelines on the accountability of public servants on State boards, in particular civil servants from his Department who are members of State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10675/19]

National Lottery Regulator

Joan Burton

44. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received an opinion from the regulator of the national lottery regarding the threat to the national lottery and the good cause fund posed by online, offshore bet-on-lottery operators; if he will publish this opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10639/19]

National Children's Hospital Expenditure

Joan Burton

67. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the cost overrun of the national children’s hospital project; his further plans to conduct an evaluation of the oversight role of his Department for major construction projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10635/19]

Public Sector Pay

Joan Burton

71. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the likely gross and net cost of the recent pay agreement with nurses; his plans to examine and review likely pay implications for other public sector workers and the wider economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10638/19]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Joan Burton

162. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the figures for the capital plan are subject to evaluation and examination by his Department before inclusion in the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7361/19]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Joan Burton

163. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the capital plan is prepared and profiled; the regularity with which the budget is re-examined to identify changes required in provisioning for capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7360/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

247. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the level of state aid that will be made available in the event of a no-deal Brexit; the provisions provided for same in the Revised Estimates; if she has sought permission from the European Commission for aid to specific sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10764/19]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Joan Burton

290. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health his views on the role of pharmaceutical assistants in the operations of pharmacies throughout Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the threat that their qualifications could be voided and that 365 pharmaceutical assistants, almost all of them women in their 50s, could end up being made redundant; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10396/19]

Tax Reliefs Data

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the savings that will accrue to the Exchequer from the €1 million cap on special assignee relief programme, SARP, recipients; the reason this was not extended to existing beneficiaries to date in 2019; the number of persons who accessed SARP in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the tax cost in 2017 and 2018; the number of existing beneficiaries that earn over €1 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9968/19]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the effect of a no-deal hard Brexit on customs clearance and other requirements for importing from the UK and Northern Ireland, respectively; his views on the implication of a no-deal hard Brexit for VAT and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9967/19]

Brexit Preparations

Joan Burton

30. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to date and plans to take to upgrade customs posts in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit, specifically in relation to areas along the Border with Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9966/19]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

36. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to make specific changes to income, corporation or value added tax heads in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9965/19]

Cancer Services Provision

Joan Burton

145. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the security of fragile chemotherapy compounding at present and into the future, particularly in the context of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10068/19]

Medicinal Products Supply

Joan Burton

146. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure an uninterrupted supply of chemotherapy drugs in the context of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union; his further plans to ensure the availability of individually compounded treatments for cancer patients; his plans to avoid disruption to chemotherapy treatment; his further plans proposed or put in place to safeguard supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10069/19]

Pharmacy Services

Joan Burton

147. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the policy regarding in-house pharmacists in hospitals, particularly in respect of specialised drugs such as chemotherapy drugs; if his attention has been drawn to the views of pharmacists that their continued development within hospitals could lead to savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10070/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

93. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of financial state aid support which will be available from her Department in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; the provision made in the revised Estimates for same; the level of support committed to by the EU Commission; the persons she has met with in relation to state aid for this scenario to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9992/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

177. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of financial state aid support that will be available to producers in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; the level of support committed to by the EU Commission; the persons he has met with in relation to same to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9990/19]

Brexit Supports

Joan Burton

202. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his officials have engaged with the European Commission for the provision of state aid to hauliers and other transport providers in the event of a no-deal hard Brexit; the meetings he has held on same; the organisations he has engaged with on same; the level of support which will be made available to the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9991/19]

Appointments to State Boards

Joan Burton

5. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the appointments made by him to State boards and agencies under the aegis of his Department. [9422/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

58. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of conferences staff of his Department have attended in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff that attended each conference; and the cost of same in each year. [9176/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Burton

59. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the amount spent in advertising and-or sponsorship in respect of conferences external and internal, respectively in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; and the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same. [9193/19]

Departmental Data

Joan Burton

60. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department that attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to his Department or agency under the remit of his Department; if his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; and the cost in this regard. [9210/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

62. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of conferences staff of his Department have attended in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff that attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9166/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Burton

63. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent in advertising or sponsorship in respect of conferences external and internal, respectively in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9183/19]

Departmental Data

Joan Burton

64. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff in his Department that attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to his Department or agency under the remit of his Department; if his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; the cost in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9200/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

93. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of conferences staff of his Department have attended in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff who attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9170/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Burton

94. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount spent on advertising and-or sponsorship in respect of conferences external and internal, respectively, in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/19]

Departmental Data

Joan Burton

95. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in his Department who attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department; if his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; the cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9204/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

124. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the number of conferences attended by staff of his Department in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff who attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9169/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Burton

125. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the amount spent in advertising and-or sponsorship in respect of conferences, external and internal, respectively, in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9186/19]

Departmental Data

Joan Burton

126. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff in his Department who attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to his Department or agency under the remit of his Department; if his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; the cost in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9203/19]

Tax Collection

Joan Burton

134. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 25 of 14 February 2019, the amount involved under each tax heading (details supplied); the number of cases in each heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9324/19]

Tax Collection

Joan Burton

135. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 25 of 14 February 2019, the amount involved under each tax heading (details supplied) in tabular form; the number of cases in each heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9325/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

149. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of conferences staff of his Department have attended in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff that attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9174/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Burton

150. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on advertising and-or sponsorship in respect of conferences, external and internal, respectively in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9191/19]

Departmental Operations

Joan Burton

151. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff in his Department that attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to his Department or agency under the remit of his Department; if his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; the cost in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9208/19]

Departmental Staff Data

Joan Burton

186. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of conferences that staff of his Department have attended in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff that attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9167/19]