Parliamentary questions

Commercial Rates

Michael Moynihan

88. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm whether 65% of ratepayers in County Limerick are to see a reduction in their rates at the expense of the other 35% who will see an increase; if the total rates budget will remain unchanged; if this increase will have any effect on nursing homes, crèches and wind farms; if it means there has been a change in Government policy as regards supporting these sectors; if a regulatory impact assessment has been carried out as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26833/15]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Michael Moynihan

166. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if salary increments are paid in section 39 agencies. [26774/15]

Health Services Funding

Michael Moynihan

167. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of additional costs being incurred by disability organisations which receive funding from the Health Service Executive; if there is any estimate of additional costs arising from Health Information and Quality Authority compliance, the changing need of service users, water charges, employers’ PRSI rate changes, VAT rate changes and changes to sick leave entitlements. [26775/15]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Michael Moynihan

181. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious issues arising in the recruitment and retention of nurses in the nursing home sector; if he has made any efforts to eliminate the delays in nurse registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26790/15]

HSE Funding

Michael Moynihan

481. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has provided funding for section 38 or section 39 agencies to address funding deficits in 2014; and the main causes of such agencies incurring deficits. [26340/15]

Disability Services Funding

Michael Moynihan

482. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the total value of value-for-money cuts incurred by disability organisations since 2010. [26341/15]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Michael Moynihan

483. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the additional costs of increments paid to section 38 agency employees since 2010. [26342/15]

Broadcasting Sector Regulation

Michael Moynihan

654. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of all media organisations that he or his predecessor met to discuss the media merger provisions of the Consumer Protection and Competition Act 2014 and his Department’s media merger guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25869/15]

Energy Resources

Michael Moynihan

655. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with a company (details supplied) regarding its sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25870/15]

Harbours and Piers Development

Michael Moynihan

656. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on Cork Harbour being proposed as an energy support hub for Irish based exploration and production activity, as well as for offshore wind generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25871/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

657. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form on a county basis, the total number of premises forecasted to be covered by the national broadband plan’s intervention; the total number of premises forecasted to be covered by commercial high-speed broadband services by the end of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25872/15]

Driver Licence Applications

Michael Moynihan

251. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is any discretion applicable in relation to the six-month rule for a person on a learner permit, before the person can sit a driving test, in the case where a person must leave the country for work purposes before the six-month waiting time would expire and urgently requires a full driving licence for employment purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25498/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

265. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the total number of premises targeted for delivery of high speed fibre Internet broadband for companies (details supplied); if his Department has held discussions on the estimated number of premises to be targeted for delivery of this broadband; if so, the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25418/15]

VAT Rate Application

Michael Moynihan

241. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance with value added tax of 23% currently payable on all broadcasting and electronic services provided to consumers of digital content, if he has examined allocating value added tax receipts accruing to the Exchequer to fund public broadcasting and digital content; if he has had discussions with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources concerning this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24768/15]

VAT Rate Application

Michael Moynihan

242. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the monthly breakdown of the value added tax receipts, on all broadcasting and electronic services provided to consumers of digital content, that accrued to the Exchequer in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24769/15]

Medical Card Administration

Michael Moynihan

407. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the enormous difficulties persons are still experiencing with the medical card application process, and in particular persons who have been diagnosed with cancer, and who are being treated appallingly by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, where persons who are undergoing treatment for cancer are left waiting for months without a medical card, and their serious medical condition is simply ignored by the service; if he will issue a directive to the Health Service Executive to treat persons who have been diagnosed with cancer with more urgency and compassion than they are currently doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24548/15]

Disability Services Funding

Michael Moynihan

471. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the Saint Joseph Foundation, Charleville, County Cork as soon as possible, to discuss its financial situation, in view of the huge importance of this service and its ongoing discussions with the Health Service Executive regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24946/15]

Media Mergers

Michael Moynihan

264. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he or his predecessor met a person (details supplied) concerning media mergers; if the meeting was requested by this person, or instigated by his Department; the issues discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24368/15]

Media Mergers

Michael Moynihan

265. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he or his predecessor met a person (details supplied) concerning media mergers; if the meeting was requested by this person, or instigated by his Department; the issues discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24369/15]

North-South Interconnector

Michael Moynihan

101. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Government’s position on locating the cables for the North-South interconnector underground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23246/15]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Michael Moynihan

104. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the latest update on the Government’s application to the Commission for State aid approval of the national broadband plan, since the last online departmental update was published on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22974/15]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Michael Moynihan

109. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an outline of the discussions he had with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on new planning guidelines for wind turbines; the scenarios examined for set-back distances between wind turbines and residential homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22976/15]

Media Mergers

Michael Moynihan

127. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the latest developments concerning media merger guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22977/15]

Hydraulic Fracturing

Michael Moynihan

131. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a preliminary update on research directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency; the position of the Government on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22973/15]

Inland Fisheries

Michael Moynihan

136. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeline for the inland fisheries (modernisation and consolidation) Bill; his views regarding the revoked eel fishing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22975/15]

Bord na Móna

Michael Moynihan

820. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the recent discussions with Bord na Móna on the temporary closure of two briquette factories in Counties Tipperary and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23168/15]

Broadband Service Speeds

Michael Moynihan

842. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form by county a breakdown of the current estimated spread and rate of high-speed broadband Internet access connectivity of households and businesses, of at least 30 Mbps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23731/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

843. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following the publication of the national high-speed coverage map for 2016, if he will provide a national high-speed coverage map representing the latest areas connected and not connected to high speed broadband Internet access connectivity, of at least 30 Mbps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23732/15]

Housing Grant Applications

Michael Moynihan

192. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grants available from his Department through the local authority for a person who has multiple mortgages and is up-to-date with repayments, and whose house is uninhabitable and in need of urgent repairs. [22637/15]

Household Benefits Scheme

Michael Moynihan

203. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total amount paid to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in respect of compensation for free television licences issued by her Department in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21648/15]

Disability Services Provision

Michael Moynihan

1052. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a house is uninhabitable and the owner is under 66 years of age, the schemes or grants that are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21610/15]

Television Licences Data

Michael Moynihan

1116. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total amount of money paid to Raidió Teilifís Éireann in respect of revenue from television licences in each year from 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21649/15]

Semi-State Bodies

Michael Moynihan

1149. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Department responsible for the financial oversight and corporate governance of Bord na Móna; the proposed changes that will be introduced to deal with a deficit in Bord na Móna’s general employees' superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22506/15]

Semi-State Bodies

Michael Moynihan

1150. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Department responsible for the financial oversight and corporate governance of Bord na Móna; the proposed changes in Bord na Móna’s general employees' superannuation scheme that will see a pension levy being imposed on former employees in receipt of their pension between the years 2011 to 2015, while a levy will remain in place on pension entitlements for the lifetime of the pensioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22507/15]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Michael Moynihan

389. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the 2013 single payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20122/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Michael Moynihan

679. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if a child may be deemed eligible for a medical card where the parent who receives the child benefit payment does not qualify under the medical card scheme but the other parent who lives separately holds a full medical card, in view of the fact that the child may incur medical costs when staying with the parent who currently holds a medical card and that parent may not be in a position to pay for the necessary medical care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20322/15]

Prescriptions Charges

Michael Moynihan

345. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the prescription charges for elderly persons, in view of the fact that they have increased from €0.50 to €2.50 under this Government, despite promises to the contrary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/15]

Fishing Industry

Michael Moynihan

523. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 447 of 28 April 2015, if funding has been allocated to any sector of the eel fishing community under any European Union directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19789/15]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments

Michael Moynihan

349. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the position regarding an outstanding payment under the rural environment protection scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18283/15]

Road Projects

Michael Moynihan

218. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed upgrading of the N20 route, Cork to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17910/15]

GLAS Administration

Michael Moynihan

210. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the adjustments that are being made to allow the many farmers with joint herd numbers, to complete their applications for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, which have been delayed due to the inability of his Department's software to accommodate same; the way such farmers are to be placed on the scheme's planners' schedules in the quickest possible time frame; the further steps that are required to enable this; the extension that will be made to the deadline for farmers whose applications have thereby been delayed through no fault of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17471/15]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the latest EirGrid proposals on the North-South interconnector, Grid West and Grid South; if he supports putting cables underground in all projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16436/15]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Michael Moynihan

4. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the latest update on the Government’s application to the Commission for state aid approval of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16437/15]

Renewable Energy Projects

Michael Moynihan

13. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the value for money of subsidies for wind energy on consumer energy bills; if these subsides will be continued, post 2017; the amount, on average, that wind subsidies contribute to consumer electricity bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16192/15]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Michael Moynihan

28. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps his Department is taking to meet the European Union target of 12% in renewable energy in the heat sector by 2020; the current percentage of renewable heat energy usage; the level of penalties the State faces at this level; the role biofuels can play to bridge the gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16191/15]

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Michael Moynihan

30. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the process followed for the recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's compliance committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16193/15]

Energy Prices

Michael Moynihan

32. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on discussions and steps being taken by member states at European Union level to ensure that electricity and gas suppliers pass on the reduction of global oil and gas prices to domestic consumers. [16195/15]

Television Licence Fee Collection

Michael Moynihan

193. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to address the situation where persons who own a caravan or mobile home for holidays require a separate television licence for same, even when they take a television from their own home to use during holidays; if this rule applies to tourists who use caravans or camper vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16034/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

641. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide background information surrounding pilot projects taking place nationally between Leader companies associated with next-generation access broadband coverage in partnership with a Chinese broadband company (details supplied); if any State or European Union funding has been allocated towards these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15574/15]

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

Michael Moynihan

679. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the process followed for the recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's compliance committee; if the positions were publicly advertised in the interests of openness and transparency; the criteria used for selecting the successful candidates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15544/15]