Parliamentary questions

Renewable Energy Generation

Michael Moynihan

12. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the average cost of energy production per megawatt hour of each source of energy used here; the current supports given to wind energy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40193/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Moynihan

17. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the review of Grid25; the amount that has been spent on the Grid25 project since its inception to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40197/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

32. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a time frame for the roll-out of broadband to all homes here; if he will provide an update on the Government’s plan to spend €500 million to build a fibre powered infrastructure here; if this plan has received state aid approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40195/14]

Energy Regulation

Michael Moynihan

33. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider amending the legislation concerning the energy regulator in order to ensure that part of his remit is the reduction of energy prices here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40194/14]

Sovereign Debt

Michael Moynihan

49. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the introduction of legislation in all EU member states to prevent vulture funds from claiming more than other lenders in the case of a sovereign debt crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40503/14]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Michael Moynihan

50. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the Central Bank of Ireland's code of conduct on mortgage arrears; if he will ensure that it is legally binding, procedurally fair to borrowers and that vulture funds currently unregulated here are covered by it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40504/14]

Grant Payments

Michael Moynihan

95. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39531/14]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Michael Moynihan

123. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the outstanding area aid payment for this year will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reasons they did not receive their area aid payment for past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39734/14]

EU Directives

Michael Moynihan

288. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if daily fines are applied if the country does not comply with EU regulations to conserve the hen harrier in special conservation areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38765/14]

Wind Energy Generation

Michael Moynihan

233. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the expected installed wind capacity here over then next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38507/14]

Installation Aid Scheme Eligibility

Michael Moynihan

229. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the significant difficulties being experienced by younger farmers who have missed out on the previous installation aid scheme and who will not qualify for the new scheme; his plans to introduce measures to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37693/14]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Michael Moynihan

248. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantaged areas payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason they have not received same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38115/14]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Michael Moynihan

465. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will commit to protecting the student maintenance grant at its current level in budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37881/14]

Third Level Funding

Michael Moynihan

466. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase further the student contribution charge in budget 2015; if she acknowledges the difficulty this charge causes already hard-pressed families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37882/14]

Third Level Funding

Michael Moynihan

467. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the €25 million in higher education funding that has been held back from the higher education budget in the past two years will be returned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37883/14]

School Staffing

Michael Moynihan

176. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being faced by small schools which could lose a teacher due to the school having a very small number of pupils short of the Department's guidelines for pupil-teacher ratio, in particular schools that may be short a few pupils for the deadline on 30 September 2014 but are expecting pupils to enrol after this date; if she will allow these schools some flexibility in these circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37451/14]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Michael Moynihan

438. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their agri-environment option scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33034/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Michael Moynihan

1379. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date of the proposed amalgamation of national schools in an area (details supplied) County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33960/14]

Wind Energy Generation

Michael Moynihan

1633. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects the commencement of negative pricing of wind energy exported over the east-west interconnector; if he will clarify whether there is any clause in the pricing arrangements made between the UK and Ireland that allows for negative pricing between Ireland and Northern Ireland, and between Ireland and the rest of the UK; the pricing arrangements that have been made between Ireland and the UK on wind energy exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33184/14]

Energy Prices

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the actions he will take to address the increasing cost of electricity for customers and businesses; if his attention has been drawn to the great concern amongst multinationals at the recent increase in the PSO levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31677/14]

Post Office Network

Michael Moynihan

4. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the actions he has taken to secure the future of our post office network; his position regarding the impact on local post offices of the use of electronic transfer for social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31678/14]

Sale of State Assets

Michael Moynihan

6. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to set out the final revenues raised by the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; the way the resources generated by the sale will be used by Government; the spend on consultants and other expertise during and on completion of the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31426/14]

Hydraulic Fracturing

Michael Moynihan

9. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the Environmental Protection Agency will complete its review of hydraulic fracturing; his position on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31427/14]

Ministerial Priorities

Michael Moynihan

10. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to outline his priorities for his Department for the coming 12 months and the key goals he is setting for the coming two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31425/14]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Michael Moynihan

15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his Department's position with regard to the viability of biomass energy as an energy resource which could be utilised on the Irish electricity grid; if Ireland is currently reaching its EU targets with regard to renewable energy; the further actions that will be taken to reach our EU targets in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31423/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Moynihan

85. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of her Department in relation to the application made to the forward planning section for a new 800-pupil Gaelcholáiste in Ballincollig, County Cork; if her attention has been drawn to the pressing need for this development in view of the demand for places over the coming years to cater for the students from the four Gaelscoileanna in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31871/14]

Oireachtas Proceedings

Michael Moynihan

441. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure the broadcasting of Dáil Éireann through the Oireachtas channel will include subtitles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31454/14]

Herd Numbers

Michael Moynihan

540. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the entitlements transfer from a person (details supplied) in County Cork to a third party will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31028/14]

Legislative Measures

Michael Moynihan

685. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if section 26 of the 1985 Nurses Act supersedes section 13(8) of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31465/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Michael Moynihan

236. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the progress of the proposed amalgamation of the national schools in Kanturk, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29132/14]

An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann

Michael Moynihan

672. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if Section 26 of the 1985 Nurses Act supersedes section 13(8) of the Act; if he has given approval for changes to quorum requirements for fitness to practice hearings by An Bord Altranais under section 26 of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29010/14]

Rural Transport Programme

Michael Moynihan

796. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff currently employed by the rural transport programme who will be made redundant due to the restructuring of the programme into the 18 transport co-ordination units; the redundancy package that is being offered to those staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29718/14]

Transfer of Entitlements Application

Michael Moynihan

162. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the transfer of entitlements will be completed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27634/14]

An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann

Michael Moynihan

196. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the Nurses Act 1985 gave An Bord Altranais the authority to change the quorum requirements for a fitness to practise hearing without prior approval from him. [27615/14]

Medical Card Reviews

Michael Moynihan

9. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health to detail the number of discretionary medical cards he will restore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27060/14]

Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times

Michael Moynihan

16. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the turnaround time for ambulances at accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27059/14]

Data Protection

Michael Moynihan

90. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the guidelines and protections her Department has issued to local authorities regarding data protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19942/14]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Michael Moynihan

312. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [27320/14]

Health Services Staff

Michael Moynihan

193. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons required for a quorum in respect of a fitness to practise hearing for Health Service Executive staff members; if this number can be altered under direction from him; the procedure involved in such an alteration; his function in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26478/14]

Bord Gáis Privatisation

Michael Moynihan

421. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy; the total revenue to be received by the State on the sale of the company; the total legal, consultancy and other costs associated with the sale of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25680/14]

Electricity Generation

Michael Moynihan

422. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the percentage of energy supplied by resource within the State currently; the energy producing capacity by power station within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25681/14]

Medical Card Applications

Michael Moynihan

637. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork [25372/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on broadband provision; the cost of broadband here as compared to in other member states of the European Union; the progress made in providing broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24807/14]

Energy Prices

Michael Moynihan

4. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is concerned at the continual rise in energy prices; the total revenue paid by EirGrid to wind energy providers in 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24808/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Moynihan

7. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the review of EirGrid's Grid25 project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24724/14]

Inland Fisheries

Michael Moynihan

13. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify his Department's position with regard to the possible introduction of rod licences here; if he is considering any changes to the regulatory regime of the inland fishers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24723/14]

EU Directives

Michael Moynihan

15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the EU regulations, directives and decisions Ireland is currently in breach of which are the responsibility of his Department; if there are any financial implications to these breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24725/14]

Renewable Energy Exports

Michael Moynihan

29. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has made any further contact with his British counterpart with regard to the export of energy from Ireland to the UK; if he is considering supporting an interconnector between Ireland and France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24722/14]

Exploration Licences

Michael Moynihan

34. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he plans to update the fiscal and licensing regime of Ireland’s oil and gas industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24721/14]

Leader Programme Administration

Michael Moynihan

145. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the existing Leader groups which have operated successfully as local action groups for the past 23 years, will be supported to draw up their community based local strategic plans for Leader submit them to the Department for approval, and be allowed implement and administer the delivery of all aspects of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25020/14]