Parliamentary questions

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

James Lawless

418. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the list of the current conditions covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18228/16]

Medicinal Products

James Lawless

419. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a subsidised asthma medication for persons under 18 years of age in the absence of asthma being recognised under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18229/16]

School Transport Provision

James Lawless

154. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will work with Bus Éireann to provide a school bus from Cluain Dara, Derrinturn, County Kildare, to Oakland secondary school in Edenderry, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16849/16]

Nursing Home Services

James Lawless

395. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of staff working in an institution (details supplied); if this is the full complement of staff required for the number of residents in this unit; if there are plans to add additional staff to this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16982/16]

Nursing Home Services

James Lawless

396. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the transport arrangements for residents in an institution (details supplied); the number of vehicles available to this institution; if this unit has a specific allocation of specialised vehicles or is in a share arrangement for use of these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16983/16]

Patient Transport Provision

James Lawless

397. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the policy of the Health Service Executive on receiving transport vehicles (details supplied) that have been sponsored by charitable organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16984/16]

Research Funding

James Lawless

45. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will provide funding to scientists engaged in basic research following the publication of Innovation 2020; the provisional deadline for applications in 2016; the scientific disciplines he will accommodate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15842/16]

School Transport Provision

James Lawless

88. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a secondary school bus will be provided from Johnstown Bridge in County Kildare to a school (details supplied) due to the volume of students travelling and given that there is no bus from there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16300/16]

Parental Leave

James Lawless

95. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will award extra days under the parental leave scheme to parents with children who have special needs given the many hospital and other appointments to which they need to accompany their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15571/16]

Garda Transport Data

James Lawless

131. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new vehicles supplied to Garda Síochána stations in the Naas divisional district in the past 24 months; if and when she will supply public order unit vehicles to the Leixlip district in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15958/16]

Garda Resources

James Lawless

136. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí in each of the districts of the Naas division in County Kildare; if she will increase the number of community gardaí in these districts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16044/16]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

James Lawless

176. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to end or change the tax relief scheme for mortgage interest paid on a home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16041/16]

Public Sector Pay

James Lawless

196. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will examine and end the pay inequality for teachers who qualified after 2011, given that it is now five years since these measures came into effect and that the Government has proposed establishing a public service pay commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15561/16]

Rail Services Provision

James Lawless

583. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Phoenix Park tunnel link on the Kildare rail line will open and be operational; the new services to be provided, including a late evening option; when a new timetable will be available; if the service for passengers continuing to travel to Heuston Station rather than onwards through the tunnel will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15917/16]

Road Projects

James Lawless

584. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the trilogy of roads projects in the greater Naas area in County Kildare, specifically the Sallins bypass, widening the M7 to three lanes and the new motorway interchange at Osberstown; the status, progress and timeline for these projects for design, construction and delivery (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15918/16]

Road Projects

James Lawless

585. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a second bridge for Celbridge in County Kildare (details supplied); if he or the National Transport Authority plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15920/16]

Hospital Staff

James Lawless

194. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is not having their contract, which is set to expire in three weeks, renewed; if a replacement consultant is being appointed, and if the hospital can cope with the loss of such a specialised consultant. [15277/16]

Electoral Divisions Establishment

James Lawless

272. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the next electoral Constituency Commission is due to convene, following the recent census; if Dáil or local electoral areas, or both, are due for consideration and, if so, the expected timeline around same; the terms of reference likely to be set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14520/16]

Medical Card Applications

James Lawless

432. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a case (details supplied) whereby an applicant for a general practitioner card finds themselves unable to backdate a claim for an appointment while their application was being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14551/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

James Lawless

433. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who is not receiving funding for required health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14584/16]

Road Projects

James Lawless

616. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional sound abatement measures can be put in place at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14348/16]

Legislative Measures

James Lawless

617. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislation, if any, in place or planned to regulate and monitor the alleged import of designated end-of-life vehicles from the UK and elsewhere, which subsequently return to our roads via a re-sale and repair, and which may pose a safety hazard to drivers and other road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14349/16]

Road Projects

James Lawless

618. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the three linked road upgrade schemes in north Kildare (details supplied); if tenders recently issued for the three projects to be taken together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14354/16]

Nursing Staff

James Lawless

81. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of the nurse in the diabetes clinic in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24, who specialises in assisting those with insulin pumps; if the specialist nurse who is on long-term sick leave will be replaced; if it is intended to ever provide the same service in Naas Hospital, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13756/16]

Hospital Facilities

James Lawless

90. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if the following issues in Naas Hospital, County Kildare, can be addressed, in view of the recent expansion of the hospital to include a second wing: the extra resources and personnel needed to deal with this extra capacity; the inadequate number of theatre nurses in the hospital; if operations are being cancelled due to theatre nurses being redeployed in the hospital due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13757/16]

Special Educational Needs

James Lawless

166. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children with autistic spectrum disorder have access to primary and secondary school places in County Kildare; if he will increase funding, given the increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14042/16]

Unfinished Housing Developments

James Lawless

184. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress in completing unfinished housing estates in County Kildare; the number of these he can hand over to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14041/16]

Cultural Policy

James Lawless

226. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she supports proposals from the National Campaign for the Arts for an all-party approach to national cultural policy similar to that adopted by the Minister for Health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14156/16]

Vacancies on State Boards

James Lawless

227. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of vacancies on the boards of the Arts Council and national cultural institutions; when she will fill them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14159/16]

Arts in Education Charter

James Lawless

39. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the implementation of the Arts in Education Charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13333/16]

Property Tax Exemptions

James Lawless

83. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance to examine a matter (details supplied) regarding local property tax. [13849/16]

Disability Support Services Provision

James Lawless

176. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine and review the case of a person (details supplied) and to expedite the nursing hours which have been granted. [13942/16]

Garda Deployment

James Lawless

185. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the operating hours and numbers of gardaí based at Naas, Leixlip, Clane, Carbury, Celbridge and Maynooth Garda stations for each year since 2008 in tabular form. [12796/16]

After-School Support Services

James Lawless

301. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his upcoming three year strategy, which will include increasing after-school hours, will take into consideration the after-school care providers; the impact these changes will have on this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12821/16]

Water Charges Data

James Lawless

371. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average annual domestic water charge amount per house; the number of households in total which paid their water charges; the number in total which claimed the €100 water conservation grant; the number which paid their water charges but did not claim the €100 water conservation grant; the number of households which did not pay their water charges but did claim the €100 water conservation grant; and the cost of administering the water conservation grant and collecting the charges for each of the years 2015 and 2016 to date, in tabular form. [12795/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

James Lawless

439. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the policy which excludes Irish citizens from building up A Class contributions while working in the European Patent Office despite other Irish citizens in other European institutions being able to do so; to extend this allowance to the European Patent Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12721/16]

Heritage Fund

James Lawless

592. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available from her Department, bodies under the aegis of her Department or other sources, for remedial and improvement works to a historical house and gardens (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12709/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

James Lawless

661. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of surgery waiting time for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12712/16]

Teacher Redeployment

James Lawless

83. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support a case (details supplied) regarding supplementary panel rights. [12240/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

James Lawless

116. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme, including if he will expedite and approve it. [12239/16]

Waste Management

James Lawless

158. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for pay-by-weight bin charges for those who have to dispose of incontinent or household medical waste; if progress has been made since the last parliamentary question (details supplied) tabled on this issue; and if this will be resolved before 1 July 2016. [11923/16]

Water Meters Installation

James Lawless

159. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the suitability and effectiveness of installing water meters for apartments in apartment blocks, given the difficulties involved in identifying which apartment actually uses the water. [11933/16]

Taxi Licences

James Lawless

341. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) has not been able to obtain a place on the waiting list for an airport taxi licence; and if this information will be provided to the person. [11906/16]

School Guidance Counsellors

James Lawless

151. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of guidance counsellors employed in secondary schools in each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date; when he will reverse the cuts imposed in budget 2012; the action his Department has taken as a result of the concerns raised recently by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors about the 2015 Central Applications Office statistics, according to which 8.1% of students made no choices compared to 1.3% in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11343/16]

Local Authority Funding

James Lawless

112. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding available to Kildare County Council for the social housing fund to enable them to build and-or buy houses; the extent to which this funding has been drawn down by Kildare County Council; when the first units are expected to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10804/16]

Disability Support Services Funding

James Lawless

158. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in relation to longer term residential care funding. [10801/16]

Forestry Grants

James Lawless

195. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the situation that the Irish Farmers Association Irish Hardy Nurserystock Association was not eligible to apply for grants awarded to forestry and hedgerow associations funded by his Department for associations which grow ash trees; to review this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10732/16]

Motor Insurance

James Lawless

167. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of insurance companies which do not provide commercial car insurance quotes due to a person residing outside of the State for two or more consecutive years, and that certain insurance companies (details supplied) do not accept no claims bonus certificates from other European Union member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10395/16]

School Accommodation Provision

James Lawless

299. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received an application for an extension from a school (details supplied) and the timeframe for awarding the funds. [10169/16]

School Transport Data

James Lawless

318. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondary school pupils who avail of the school transport scheme in County Kildare and the cost of providing this in each of the years 2011 to 2015, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10459/16]