Parliamentary questions

Traveller Accommodation

Catherine Connolly

139. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the funds available from his Department to Galway City Council and Galway County Council for capital projects in Traveller housing since 2011; the amount drawn down by each of the local authorities since 2011; the achievements by each of the local authorities since 2011 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35273/16]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Connolly

141. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there will be an increase in funding for an organisation (details supplied) in 2017, particularly in view of the reduction in funding by 17% to that organisation since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35298/16]

Rural Resettlement Scheme

Catherine Connolly

149. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money granted to rural resettlement each year since 2012 in respect of the Government's commitment to rural resettlement; the current uptake of the scheme; if he will reinstate funding to Rural Resettlement Ireland, whose funding was cut in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31151/16]

Equality Legislation

Catherine Connolly

104. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps her Department is taking to introduce socio-economic status as a discrimination ground following legislative and case law trends across Europe and to ensure Ireland meets its obligations under EU and international law, such as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (Article 21) and recommendations from Ireland's second UN universal periodic review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34565/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Catherine Connolly

99. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have been refused a SUSI grant due to the fact they could not comply with the rigid requirement for specific documentation in relation to proof of address and, more particularly, in relation to those students who live with a relative and-or a friend and do not have utility bills but notwithstanding that it is their home and their address for social protection payments; the number of appeals that have been made arising from these circumstances and the number that were successful; the number of appeals that have been made to the Student Grant Appeal Board and the number that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33897/16]

State Aid

Catherine Connolly

124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the EU's general court ruling that the Government had provided illegal state aid to a refinery (details supplied) in the amount of €10 million when the refinery was owned by a company; if the Government and-or the company has appealed this ruling; if so, if they have received a date for the hearing of the appeal; if the Government has placed the €10 million and-or the required sum into an escrow account; the legal costs incurred by the State in all hearings to date in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33648/16]

Alternative Energy Projects

Catherine Connolly

198. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide copies of the environmental appropriate assessment and the environmental impact assessment reports for the original ten year foreshore lease granted to the Marine Institute in 2006 for the wave energy test site in Spiddal, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33470/16]

Alternative Energy Projects

Catherine Connolly

199. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the UNESCO world heritage Burren and Cliffs of Moher site was excluded from the environmental impact assessment screening process in relation to a foreshore lease application (details supplied) to construct an offshore electricity generating station on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33471/16]

Exploration Licences Data

Catherine Connolly

463. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of all existing applications to frack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33343/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Connolly

68. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 112 of 1 June 2016, the status of the application to construct a boundary wall between a school and a residential area (details supplied) given that all issues have now been resolved and all requested information has been provided. [33221/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Catherine Connolly

140. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33210/16]

Hospital Equipment

Catherine Connolly

144. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE west has the necessary funds to replace equipment (details supplied); if not, when it will be provided with the funds; the specific time span for the provision of the equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33216/16]

Departmental Offices

Catherine Connolly

112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of rent he is paying for every Intreo centre in the country (in tabular form); the terms of the leases; the nature of the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32332/16]

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

17. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cé mhéid airgid a chuir an Rialtas ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta sna blianta 2015 agus 2016 agus i mBuiséad 2017; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31149/16]

Rural Development Programme Projects

Catherine Connolly

20. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of money that was made available to counties under the town and village renewal scheme in tabular form; specifically which towns and villages; of those funds made available, the proportion that was used; the review process and analysis in place for the effectiveness of the scheme; the results of such a review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31152/16]

Maoiniú d'Eagrais Ghaeilge

Catherine Connolly

24. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an féidir léi soiléiriú agus míniú a thabhairt maidir leis an laghdú 9% ó thaobh na teanga, na Gaeltachta agus na n-oileán de; cé na heagraíochtaí agus na scéimeanna a bheidh thíos leis an laghdú seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31148/16]

Scéimeanna Teanga

Catherine Connolly

34. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta ós rud é go ndúirt an Rialtas in 2007 go raibh siad ag glacadh le moltaí an SCT (Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíochta), an bhfuil sé ar intinn acu na moltaí tábhachtacha a chur i bhfeidhm; go háirithe an bhfuil an moladh maidir le SLG (Scéim Labhairt na Gaeilge) a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú le cur i bhfeidhm; cén costas a bhainfeadh le moltaí an SCT a chur i bhfeidhm; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31150/16]

Legal Services Regulation

Catherine Connolly

38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the appointment procedure in place for the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, in particular the procedures which were used by the Council of the Bar of Ireland for choosing its nominee to the authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31027/16]

Foreshore Licence Conditions

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that the additional one year foreshore lease for the Galway bay test site, March 2016 - March 2017, granted and dated 11 July 2016, which was applied for by the Marine Institute, Oranmore, County Galway, to continue to occupy and to utilise the existing facility under the terms and conditions of the original lease granted in 2006 (details supplied), is an extension of time only, and that no other conditions or changes have been made or granted in the one year foreshore lease extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31017/16]

Foreshore Licence Conditions

Catherine Connolly

78. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the original foreshore lease document (details supplied) amounts to thirteen pages, while the granted one-year, short-term foreshore lease extension document is 60 pages long in relation to the foreshore lease applied for by the Marine Institute; if he will confirm the substantive differences between the two documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31018/16]

Foreshore Licence Conditions

Catherine Connolly

79. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the foreshore lease extension of one year has been granted to the Marine Institute for the Galway Bay test site without environmental impact assessments having been conducted for this lease extension, as required under national and EU legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31072/16]

Údarás na Gaeltachta Funding

Catherine Connolly

118. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs given the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas and given Údarás na Gaeltachta's confirmation that an increase in its capital budget to €12 million per annum would enable it to create an additional 1,000 new jobs over three years, if she will commit to this funding request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22913/16]

Home Care Packages Funding

Catherine Connolly

20. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the funding made available for County Galway and south Mayo for home help packages in 2016; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of going over budget early in the year to relieve the pressure on the hospital, the service has now been severely curtailed with the result that there are both delayed discharges and delayed admissions to the hospital; the steps that have or will be taken to make sufficient funds available to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30393/16]

Hospitals Building Programme

Catherine Connolly

32. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health regarding the planning for a new hospital for County Galway on the grounds of Merlin Park, in view of the fact that the capacity of the existing hospital is number one on the risk register and that the clinical director and the chief executive officer of the hospital and the management of a group (details supplied) have all confirmed that a new hospital is necessary, if this was discussed or raised at his recent meeting with the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30394/16]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Catherine Connolly

84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the new 75 bed unit in GUH is almost complete and will not be able to take in patients due to the lack of resources; the funding for staff and resources that has been or will be made available as a matter of urgency so that the new unit can be fully opened and utilised in view of the pressure on the existing hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30392/16]

Mental Health Policy

Catherine Connolly

109. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the review for A Vision for Change; when the review will be published; the steps that have been taken to reinstate the implementation body that served such a vital role in monitoring the implementation of A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30396/16]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Catherine Connolly

115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing cancellation of outpatient appointments for oncology services in Galway University Hospital; the explanation that has been offered by the Health Service Executive for these cancellations; the steps he will take to cease this practice in view of the vulnerability of the patients in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30395/16]

Mental Health Policy

Catherine Connolly

487. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to end the practice of placing children and adolescents in adult psychiatric wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23032/16]

Hospital Procedures

Catherine Connolly

434. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number and nature of the non-elective procedures that have been cancelled per month since January 2016 to date in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29604/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Catherine Connolly

435. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been identified as appropriate for discharge but cannot be discharged due to inadequate follow-up services, including the provision of home care packages, home help hours, respite beds and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29605/16]

National Internship Scheme Review

Catherine Connolly

38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding the evaluation of JobBridge, promised in September 2016, his plans for replacing JobBridge with more targeted schemes aimed at specific groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28734/16]

National Mitigation Plan

Catherine Connolly

241. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in view of the importance of the issue of climate change and in view of the commitment in the programme for Government to produce a national low carbon transition and mitigation plan and following the establishment of the Climate Change Advisory Council, if the council will issue a public advisory statement ahead of the publication by his Department of a draft plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29056/16]

National Mitigation Plan

Catherine Connolly

242. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment in respect of the national low carbon transition and mitigation plan, the person who will be consulted in its development; the process that will be undertaken to develop the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29057/16]

Departmental Strategy Statements

Catherine Connolly

151. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in his Department's statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way in which his Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership Government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28648/16]

Home Care Packages Expenditure

Catherine Connolly

455. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the funding made available for home help and home care packages for the community health care organisation, CHO, area 2 comprising Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in each of the past five years; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this area has spent in excess of those funds which were provided; the amount of those excesses; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision has now been taken to bring the level of service and expenditure into equilibrium with allocated budgets, notwithstanding that patients and families are suffering as a result of insufficient home help and home care packages or that patients cannot be discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28517/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Catherine Connolly

456. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to increase home care and home help for a person (details supplied) to allow for discharge from hospital. [28518/16]

Programme for Government

Catherine Connolly

606. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in her Department's statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way in which her Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership Government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28649/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Catherine Connolly

613. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reflect and deliver on a public duty (details supplied) in her Department's statement of strategy due to be published in October 2016; the way in which her Department is engaging with the programme for a partnership Government commitment to equality and gender proofing in the departmental and budgetary process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28647/16]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Catherine Connolly

46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality given Ireland's commitment in September 2015 to take in 4,000 persons under the Irish refugee protection programme over a two-year period, the number of refugees under this programme who have arrived to date; the specific steps which have been taken to ensure this commitment is met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27426/16]

Garda Vetting Applications

Catherine Connolly

47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the location for processing of Garda vetting applications; the number of persons employed to manage this process; if there is a backlog, and if so, the numbers and reasons for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27425/16]

Flooding Data

Catherine Connolly

906. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question Number 456 of 12 July 2016, if the tree management package works scheduled to begin on 1 September 2016 are in line to begin on that day; when such works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25284/16]

Flooding Data

Catherine Connolly

907. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 12 July 2016, the funding applications under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme that have been received by the OPW; if any determination on the applications has been made; the outcome of the funding applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25285/16]

Flooding Data

Catherine Connolly

908. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 12 July 2016, and with reference to the statement that certain works on the OPW channel have been identified, and these are being put in hand, the number and particulars of the works on the OPW channel which have been identified, in tabular form; when these works commenced; the stage of completion and when it is expected that they will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25286/16]

Tourism Industry

Catherine Connolly

1634. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the severe problem posed by illegal dumping at a specific site (details supplied). [24929/16]

Statutory Instruments

Catherine Connolly

1645. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide the list of statutory undertakers under the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927 and any statutory instruments subsequent to the stated enactment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24668/16]

IDA Ireland Expenditure

Catherine Connolly

35. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is aware that IDA Ireland incurred expenditure totalling €10.4 million on a lease, comprising €1 million for rent and associated costs for office space, for a property that was not occupied during 2015, and that €9.4 million was paid in 2015 to exit the lease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23054/16]

Drugs Crime

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the current resources being provided for the detection of drugs in the Border, midlands, west region and the State in general [22957/16]

Customs and Excise Controls

Catherine Connolly

99. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the withdrawal of the drugs sniffer dog from Ireland West Airport, Knock; the reason no dog is available for the entire Border, midlands and west region; when a replacement dog will be provided for the airport and a separate dog for the Border, midlands and west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22954/16]

Customs and Excise Controls

Catherine Connolly

100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the current resources being provided for the detection of drugs in the Border, midlands and west region and the State in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22955/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Catherine Connolly

298. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person, (details supplied) including when the person will receive an appointment. [22973/16]