Parliamentary questions

HSE Agency Staff Data

Carol Nolan

121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of agency nurses recruited to fill vacancies at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore in 2018. [5861/19]

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Carol Nolan

122. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on agency nurses at Portlaoise hospital in 2018. [5862/19]

HSE Agency Staff Expenditure

Carol Nolan

123. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on agency nurses at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore in 2018. [5863/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Carol Nolan

124. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients awaiting orthopaedic treatment at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [5864/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Carol Nolan

125. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients awaiting orthopaedic treatment at Portlaoise hospital. [5865/19]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Carol Nolan

126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the shortage of nurses at hospitals in Tullamore and Portlaoise. [5866/19]

Hospital Services

Carol Nolan

127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason new beds announced in the winter plan have not been opened at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [5867/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Carol Nolan

128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Laois on waiting lists for home help hours and home care packages. [5868/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Carol Nolan

129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Offaly on waiting lists for home help hours and home care packages. [5869/19]

Arts Centres

Carol Nolan

212. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the shortfall of €1.6 million in funding required for the commencement of building works in respect of a community arts centre in Tullamore, County Offaly, will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5870/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

365. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if an orthopaedic appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [5215/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

366. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list for six months or more for speech therapy. [5216/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

367. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list for 12 months or more for speech therapy. [5217/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

368. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list for 18 months or more for speech therapy. [5218/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

369. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list in excess of 24 months for speech therapy. [5219/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

370. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list for six months or more for occupational therapy. [5220/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

371. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list for 12 months or more for occupational therapy. [5221/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list for 18 months or more for occupational therapy. [5222/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

373. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly on the waiting list in excess of 24 months or more for occupational therapy. [5223/19]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

374. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment of need in counties Laois and Offaly. [5224/19]

Hospitals Data

Carol Nolan

375. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented with respiratory conditions at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore in 2018. [5225/19]

Hospitals Data

Carol Nolan

376. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented with respiratory conditions at Portlaoise Hospital in 2018. [5226/19]

Hospital Staff Data

Carol Nolan

377. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of respiratory specialists at Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [5227/19]

Hospital Staff Data

Carol Nolan

378. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of respiratory specialists at Portlaoise hospital. [5228/19]

Industrial Disputes

Carol Nolan

366. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he and the HSE will engage with a union (details supplied) to resolve the ongoing issues which have led to paramedics going on strike. [4072/19]

Industrial Disputes

Carol Nolan

397. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the actions he plans to take to resolve a dispute (details supplied). [4196/19]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Carol Nolan

1221. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to reintroduce compensation, which was previously paid to farmers affected by the designation and associated restrictions up to 2012, regarding agricultural losses incurred in respect of the permanent designation of special areas of conservation and special protected areas under the national farm plan scheme; and when she envisages its implementation. [1562/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Carol Nolan

222. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a school extension at a school (details supplied). [48260/18]

VAT Exemptions

Carol Nolan

162. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he has given consideration to exempting counselling and psychotherapy services from VAT in circumstances in which the practitioner is a registered practitioner but is not a psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45445/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems Expenditure

Carol Nolan

421. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications for funding made under the rural CCTV scheme; the number approved; the number that have issued since 1 January 2017; and the number of approved applicants that have local match funding in place but have not yet received grant aid. [45444/18]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Carol Nolan

671. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason Lyme disease is not included in the long-term illness scheme; the criteria for adding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45439/18]

Disease Incidence

Carol Nolan

672. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve diagnostic screening and testing for Lyme disease here and to monitor and record data on all cases of Lyme disease and not just the more extreme form, that is, neuroborreliosis. [45440/18]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Carol Nolan

673. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have applied for and been approved funding treatment for Lyme disease under the directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare scheme or the treatment abroad scheme. [45441/18]

Disease Management

Carol Nolan

674. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve treatment for Lyme disease here to mitigate the need for persons to travel abroad. [45442/18]

Wage-setting Mechanisms

Carol Nolan

1105. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to put safeguards in place to protect employees in the hospitality and tourism industry such as hairdressers to ensure that the 4.5% increase in the VAT rate from 9% to 13.5% will be passed on to customers and will not result in a reduction of wages for those in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45446/18]

Home Care Packages Administration

Carol Nolan

372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the allocation of home care package funding to CHO area 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41889/18]

Home Care Packages Provision

Carol Nolan

373. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ring-fence an allocation of home care package funding for dementia care in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41890/18]

Mental Health Services Funding

Carol Nolan

374. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the allocation of mental health service funding to CHO area 8 will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/18]

Mental Health Services Provision

Carol Nolan

375. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ring-fence an allocation of mental health service funding to extend delivery to a 24-7 service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/18]

VAT Rate Application

Carol Nolan

51. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance his plans in budget 2019 to reduce the rate of VAT on non-oral animal medicines from the current rate of 23% to a rate of 5% as allowable under Directive 2006/112/EC. [41424/18]

Tax Code

Carol Nolan

52. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if provision will be made in budget 2019 to decouple agricultural property from commercial property; and his plans to make provision for stamp duty rates in line with the current residential rates of 1% and 2%. [41425/18]

Teachers' Remuneration

Carol Nolan

68. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be restored in budget 2019 for middle management teaching posts in national schools. [41417/18]

Disadvantaged Status

Carol Nolan

69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding resources will be provided in budget 2019 to reduce class sizes in DEIS schools. [41418/18]

Teachers' Remuneration

Carol Nolan

70. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if pay equality will be restored for teachers in budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41419/18]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

71. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made in budget 2019 to increase the capitation grant to primary schools. [41420/18]

Minor Works Scheme Payments

Carol Nolan

72. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made in budget 2019 to increase the annual minor works grant to primary schools. [41421/18]

School Staff

Carol Nolan

85. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made in budget 2019 to provide teaching principals with one day per week administrative relief substitution cover. [41414/18]

Agriculture Industry

Carol Nolan

171. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if provision will be made in budget 2019 to provide low-cost loans to farmers. [41473/18]

Electricity Generation

Carol Nolan

190. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to increase the level of grant aid in budget 2019 for domestic solar energy systems; and his further plans to reduce the current average nine year wait time for a return on investment to a more attractive five year payback period. [41422/18]

Electricity Generation

Carol Nolan

191. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce an incentive scheme in budget 2019 to subsidise the cost of connecting agriculture solar energy suppliers to the ESB Networks grid in order to incentivise producers to contribute non-storable surplus to the grid in the absence of export tariffs for the supply of solar energy for same. [41423/18]

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Carol Nolan

230. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans in budget 2019 to continue the local improvement scheme; and his further plans to increase the level of funding available in the next round. [41416/18]

Schools Data

Carol Nolan

90. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-DEIS primary schools with two special classes other than autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes designated for pupils with special educational needs; the number of these schools that have a teaching principal; and the number that have an overall school enrolment between 113 and 175 inclusive that have a teaching principal. [39225/18]

Schools Data

Carol Nolan

91. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-DEIS primary schools with two special classes other than autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes in which the overall school enrolment is between 113 and 175 inclusive; the number in which the principal has administrative status; the name, address and roll numbers of these schools; and the criteria on which these positions of administrative principal were sanctioned. [39226/18]

Hospital Procedures

Carol Nolan

148. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when he expects to have sight of the chief medical officer’s report on the clinical and technical implication of using transvaginal mesh implants in surgical procedures [38165/18]

Hospital Procedures

Carol Nolan

149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the transvaginal mesh implant clinical protocols in place for surgical training, reporting and registration of procedures, reporting and publication of guidelines; and if the protocols in place meet the recommended standards of the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [38166/18]

Hospital Procedures

Carol Nolan

150. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of transvaginal mesh implant removals that have been performed here; if these were full or partial removals; the number that were publicly or privately funded, respectively; and the number as a percentage of total implant procedures performed in this regard. [38167/18]

Labour Court Recommendations

Carol Nolan

410. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he is putting in place to yield in whole or in part the pension claims of community employment supervisors in budget 2019 and to honour Labour Court Recommendations LCR 19293 and LCR 16000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33545/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Carol Nolan

528. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progression to new premises of a school (details supplied); and the further status of the project within either the planning or forward planning unit of his Department. [33544/18]

Garda Deployment

Carol Nolan

838. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of core unit gardaí attached to the Laois-Offaly division from January 2009 to date by division, district and sub-district in tabular form. [33478/18]

Garda Deployment

Carol Nolan

839. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to the Laois-Offaly division from January 2009 to date by rank, district and sub-district in tabular form. [33479/18]

Garda Station Opening Hours

Carol Nolan

840. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the weekly opening hours of Garda stations (details supplied) in the Laois-Offaly division in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [33480/18]

Garda Resources

Carol Nolan

846. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and type of Garda vehicles allocated to the Laois-Offaly division for each year from January 2009 to date by division, district and sub-district, in tabular form. [33553/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Carol Nolan

1565. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting access to ophthalmology services for periods (details supplied). [33462/18]

Health Services Staff Data

Carol Nolan

1566. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of orthodontists employed by the HSE in counties Laois and Offaly; and the number of persons under 18 years of age awaiting access to treatment for periods (details supplied). [33463/18]

Health Services Staff Data

Carol Nolan

1567. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical child psychologists currently providing services to children under 18 years of age in counties Laois and Offaly. [33464/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Carol Nolan

1568. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting an assessment of need. [33465/18]

Health Services Staff Data

Carol Nolan

1569. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists employed in counties Laois and Offaly to provide dentistry services to primary school children; and his plans to improve the service. [33466/18]

Audiology Services Data

Carol Nolan

1570. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting access to audiology services for periods (details supplied). [33467/18]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Carol Nolan

1571. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting access to CAMHS services for periods (details supplied). [33468/18]

Speech and Language Therapy Data

Carol Nolan

1572. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting access to speech and language therapy services for periods (details supplied). [33469/18]

Occupational Therapy Data

Carol Nolan

1573. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting access to occupational therapy services for periods (details supplied). [33470/18]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review

Carol Nolan

1574. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of the fair deal scheme; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33471/18]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Carol Nolan

1689. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, to fill the vacancy created in March 2018 by the departure of a consultant dermatologist (details supplied); and if there are plans to outsource the doctor's patient list for treatment to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [34173/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

1690. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the referral to the National Treatment Purchase Fund of a person (details supplied) who has been on a waiting list for urgent treatment for more than three years will be authorised. [34174/18]

Mental Health Act Review

Carol Nolan

1693. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when he plans to publish the reform of the Mental Health Act 2001; if it will provide both for mental health patients' right to have control over their own treatment and the regulation of community mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34196/18]

Farm Inspections

Carol Nolan

1922. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of complaints submitted following farm inspections since January 2015 in circumstances in which such a complaint related either to the process of inspection related to procedures or methods of inspection or related to an inspector; and the number which related to an aspect of a farm inspection by county and nature of complaint. [33531/18]

Early Childhood Care and Education Data

Carol Nolan

2330. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of complaints received in respect of the operation of the ECCE scheme three entry points for enrolment categories of persons (details supplied). [33499/18]

Early Childhood Care and Education Data

Carol Nolan

2331. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of complaints received in respect of the proposed changes in the ECCE scheme reduction of three entry points for enrolment to a single entry point from categories of persons (details supplied). [33500/18]

Homeless Persons Data

Carol Nolan

2671. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of children under 18 years of age who have been residing in emergency accommodation in counties Laois and Offaly; the number who have been in residence for periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33537/18]

Waterways Ireland Funding

Carol Nolan

2788. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timeframe in which she will provide complete funding to Waterways Ireland to restore the walkway on a weir (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33416/18]

Waterways Issues

Carol Nolan

2789. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when restoration works will commence on a weir (details supplied); when it is proposed that the works will conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33417/18]

Hospital Procedures

Carol Nolan

547. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when the chief medical officer’s report into the investigation of claims regarding transvaginal mesh complications will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30335/18]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Carol Nolan

548. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received by the HSE for transvaginal mesh removal in the UK through the treatment abroad scheme; the number approved and denied, respectively; the grounds for refusal in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30336/18]

Hospital Procedures

Carol Nolan

549. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if proposals have been made to commission scanning, imaging or ultrasound devices in hospitals to detect polypropylene transvaginal mesh or sub-urethral sling complications; his plans to train or recruit specialised radiologists and or technicians to carry out this function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30337/18]

Illness Benefit Data

Carol Nolan

545. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of claims for illness benefit and disability allowance that have been made and approved, respectively, in the two and a half year period since the introduction of JobPath in July 2015 to December 2017; and the comparison with the two and a half year period January 2013 to June 2015 prior to the introduction of JobPath. [26642/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Carol Nolan

363. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the waiting list for juvenile arthritis treatment in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; and the waiting times for same. [22123/18]

Hospital Staff

Carol Nolan

364. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the World Health Organization, WHO, recommendation for paediatric rheumatologists for a population the size of Ireland is six; the ratio of patients to paediatric rheumatologists; and his plans to recruit additional doctors. [22124/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Carol Nolan

412. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/18]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Carol Nolan

110. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a date has been set for a meeting of the high-level forum on community employment supervisor pensions; if his attention has been drawn to the anger and frustration of community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; his views on the fact that their contribution to improving the life chances of scheme participants and to their overall local communities is not being properly recognised at the end of their careers in spite of a Labour Court ruling in their favour; his further views on whether the Government may be undermining the Labour Court by ignoring its recommendation; and the steps he will take to resolve the matter. [18716/18]

Special Educational Needs

Carol Nolan

250. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Offaly has been refused funding for the central activity space element in its funding application for a new autism spectrum development unit. [17952/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Carol Nolan

102. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of grant applications received under the community based CCTV scheme since its launch in 2017; the number of applications approved; the value of those allocations; the obstacles encountered in the roll-out which may militate against take-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16927/18]

GLAS Payments

Carol Nolan

1043. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers will receive the balance of GLAS payments due since December 2017. [14942/18]

Brexit Issues

Carol Nolan

14. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to negotiate additional PEACE IV funds for the existing programme and seek agreement for a new PEACE programme to address the challenges of inter-community conflict and cross-Border relationships in view of instability resulting from the Brexit withdrawal process. [8719/18]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Carol Nolan

101. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if special provision has been made in the procurement process to facilitate existing service providers to tender collectively as a consortium in relation to the Garda youth diversion projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13489/18]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Carol Nolan

102. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if social benefit clauses have been written into the notice of tender to ensure that the additional wrap-around services which Garda youth diversion clients avail of due to their delivery in a wider youthwork setting will be provided for under the new service delivery model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13491/18]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Carol Nolan

103. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the procurement document for Garda youth diversion projects stipulates a provision for a transfer of undertakings from existing service providers to the recontracted service providers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13493/18]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Carol Nolan

104. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the procurement document in relation to Garda youth division projects will make special provision for or give weighting to tendering bodies that undertake to sub-contract existing service providers to ensure continuity of service in existing divisional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13495/18]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Carol Nolan

105. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to defer the publishing of the procurement notice until all parameters regarding the transition from the existing service providers have been explored and every reasonable option to enable them to form alliances or consortia to competitively tender has been examined and communicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13497/18]

Garda Youth Diversion Projects

Carol Nolan

272. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to defer the publishing of the procurement notice until all parameters regarding the transition from the existing service providers has been explored and every reasonable option to enable them to form alliances or consortia to competitively tender have been examined and communicated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13496/18]

Rural Resettlement Scheme

Carol Nolan

66. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to establish a rural resettlement scheme to stem outward migration from rural areas. [8722/18]