Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for all sittings
Page 44 of 65
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
School Management
Joan Burton
126. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reform the model of leadership in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24934/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Joan Burton
127. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide primary and post-primary average class size figures for Ireland and other EU member states; his plans to tackle large class size concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24935/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Commencement of Legislation
Joan Burton
128. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are remaining sections of the Teaching Council Act 2001 to be commenced; the timeframe for commencing such sections; and the number of fitness to teach complaints received and processed to date in 2017 since he commenced these provisions in July 2016. [24936/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Third Level Funding
Joan Burton
129. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with concerns regarding third level student support and funding challenges for third level institutions. [24937/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Teachers' Remuneration
Joan Burton
130. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether there is a pay disparity between teachers recruited before 1 January 2011 and those recruited thereafter; his further views on whether it is unacceptable to maintain such pay disparities; his plans to address pay equality issues beyond the steps already agreed in relation to restoration of a qualification allowance payment; the cost of restoring teachers recruited since 1 January 2011 to the previous pay scale; the elements which make up this cost; and the number of teachers affected. [24938/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Teachers' Remuneration
Joan Burton
131. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to issue a directive on implementing pay deductions for members of teacher unions that rejected working additional hours under the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Junior Cycle Reform
Joan Burton
132. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the roll-out of the junior cycle reform process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24940/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Skills Shortages
Joan Burton
133. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the areas (details supplied) that have been highlighted as having skills shortages by the skills and labour market research unit; the way in which he plans to tackle these skills shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24941/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Child Care Services Provision
Joan Burton
134. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the suggestions by an organisation (details supplied) that related capital investment will be necessary if the programme for Government commitment on having schools available for child care services can be successfully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24942/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Education Policy
Joan Burton
135. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to progress the three areas in the education sector that he has identified as his core priority areas of focus, including helping children with special needs, supporting schools and building a stronger bridge between education and the workplace; the reason he has prioritised these three areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24943/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
DEIS Scheme
Joan Burton
136. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage the review of the school support programme through the DEIS initiative is at; when this review will be completed and published; if he envisages changes to the funding or delivery model of the DEIS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24944/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
School Curriculum
Joan Burton
137. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide new courses in the leaving certificate such as coding, physical education and politics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24945/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
School Management
Joan Burton
138. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the moratorium on filling certain promoted posts in schools will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24946/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Teachers' Professional Development
Joan Burton
139. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department supports teacher continuous professional development at primary and post-primary levels; the investment involved and this figure as a percentage of education spending overall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24947/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Joan Burton
140. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated timeframe for and cost of the Government's programme commitment to reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in junior and senior infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24949/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
School Patronage
Joan Burton
141. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location of all schools under religious patronage which he expects to be divested in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24950/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Postgraduate Enrolments
Joan Burton
142. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the restoration of postgraduate grants and their necessity to open up access to postgraduate studies and to ensure that a steady stream of persons achieve a postgraduate qualification for societal good and to ensure attractiveness to foreign investors. [24951/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Teachers' Remuneration
Joan Burton
143. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for equating newly qualified teachers since 2011 and those who entered the workforce before; if he will report on discussions with a group (details supplied) on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24952/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Joan Burton
144. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access to special educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24953/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
School Funding
Joan Burton
145. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used by his Department for deciding on applications for capital funding junior, senior and post-primary schools. [24954/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
State Examinations Data
Joan Burton
146. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the reported failure rate at leaving certificate maths; his plans to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24955/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Student Retention Rates
Joan Burton
147. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the drop-out rate in third-level institute of technology courses; his plans to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24956/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Apprenticeship Programmes
Joan Burton
148. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of apprenticeships suitable for a number of employment vacancies such as chefs and in the hospitality sector generally in order to upskill young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24957/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Third Level Funding
Joan Burton
149. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has read a position paper (details supplied) on the funding of higher education regarding the effects a loan scheme would have on students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24958/17]
Wed, 24 May 2017
written
Teacher Data
Joan Burton
150. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of substitute teachers for primary schools and the serious difficulties this is causing for school principals and managers throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24959/17]
Tue, 23 May 2017
oral
Cabinet Committee Meetings
Joan Burton
1. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, environment and climate action will take place. [23019/17]
Tue, 23 May 2017
oral
Brexit Issues
Joan Burton
7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on Brexit has met since June 2016. [23018/17]
Tue, 23 May 2017
oral
National Economic and Social Council
Joan Burton
12. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the National Economic and Social Council and the work programme under way. [24016/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
oral
Revenue Commissioners Enforcement Activity
Joan Burton
5. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the number of bank account holders involved regarding the Revenue Commissioners' recent request for undeclared income offshore prior to 4 May 2017; the amount of income the Revenue Commissioners has received in respect of their request for undeclared offshore income; the number of settlements agreed; the number of cases outstanding; the amount of revenue in tax, interest and penalties the Revenue Commissioners anticipate will be generated by the exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23734/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Sale of State Assets
Joan Burton
63. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance when he expects the partial sale of a bank (details supplied) to be realised; if he will use the funds generated from the sale towards essential capital investment in the event of a shortage of capital investment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23595/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Tracker Mortgages Examination
Joan Burton
64. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank's order to lending banks to return affected customers to an appropriate tracker rate of interest has been undertaken; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that banks are free to come up with their own offers of compensation and that many banks are not offering customers effective redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23596/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Brexit Issues
Joan Burton
65. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to provide financial support to companies and SMEs that may be adversely effected by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23597/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Banking Sector Regulation
Joan Burton
66. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to ensure that mortgage holders, tenants and SMEs that have loans or credit from non-bank lenders or vulture funds are fully protected; if he will consider extending the provisions of the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2015 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments
Joan Burton
67. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding which has been made available through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund for social and affordable housing provision; if he is satisfied with the current rates of interest being charged to borrowers through the fund; if he will review the operation of the mechanisms through which credit is accessed from the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23599/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Brexit Issues
Joan Burton
68. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the preparations and contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23600/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Banking Sector
Joan Burton
69. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs regarding the investigation of the establishment of a local public bank network as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
European Investment Bank Loans
Joan Burton
70. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions his Department has had with the European Investment Bank, EIB, and other Government Departments to establish an off balance sheet special purpose vehicle to draw down funding from the EIB to facilitate large scale mixed social and private residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23602/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Credit Unions
Joan Burton
71. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the EUROSTAT investigation into the establishment by the Government of a bond to finance social housing investment suitable for credit unions to invest their surplus funds in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23603/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Brexit Issues
Joan Burton
72. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the steps the Revenue Commissioners have taken to identify possible customs posts on the Border; the locations that have been examined for these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base Negotiations
Joan Burton
73. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with his ECOFIN colleagues in view of the recent developments in respect of the common consolidated tax base; the steps he will take to protect tax sovereignty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23605/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Credit Union Restructuring
Joan Burton
74. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the establishment of the credit union advisory committee; when the first meeting of the implementation group will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23606/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Credit Union Services
Joan Burton
75. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the progress his Department has made with the Central Bank on the request by a number of credit unions to expand their debit card and mortgage services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23607/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Tax Yield
Joan Burton
76. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the yield from the special domicile levy on high net worth persons; the number of persons subject to the levy; the number of non-residents paying the levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Tax Data
Joan Burton
77. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the estimated loss of income to the Exchequer in respect of bogus self-employment which forces low-income workers to register as self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23619/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Stability and Growth Pact
Joan Burton
78. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he has made progress in the reform of EU fiscal rules in view of allowing capital investment and the ongoing review of the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23620/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Exchequer Returns
Joan Burton
79. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the reason for taxes which his Department has identified as being behind profile in view of the failure of the recent Exchequer returns to meet profile as set out in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23621/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Help-To-Buy Scheme Data
Joan Burton
80. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications for the help-to-buy scheme; the amount it has cost to date; the value of homes acquired through the scheme below €200,000, €250,000, €300,000, €350,000, €400,000 and €450.000 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23622/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Departmental Reports
Joan Burton
174. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection when his Department will publish its report into bogus self-employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23901/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Rail Services Provision
Joan Burton
283. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to secure funding for the expansion of DART services to west Dublin, in particular the electrification of the section of the Dublin to Sligo line as far as Maynooth. [23900/17]
Thu, 18 May 2017
written
Rail Services Provision
Joan Burton
297. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the electrification of the Maynooth line to facilitate DART services to west Dublin and north Kildare. [23899/17]