Parliamentary questions

Hospital Overcrowding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1204. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the number of times the full capacity protocol was exercised at Letterkenny University Hospital between 1 January 2017 and 31 August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38340/17]

Local Improvement Scheme Administration

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1739. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeframe for implementing the newly announced local improvement scheme, LIS; the timeframe for grant approvals; the date for works completion by the local authority; the national budget for the LIS programme for 2017; the ratio mechanism for dividing the budget by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38339/17]

Zero-hour Contracts

Pat the Cope Gallagher

219. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to further restore Donegal Castle in Donegal town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36115/17]

Garda Stations

Pat the Cope Gallagher

562. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the reopening of the closed Garda stations in Donegal in view of the Government’s decision to reopen a Garda station in south County Dublin recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36122/17]

Leader Programmes Funding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

606. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of Leader funds allocated and spent in County Donegal in each of the years 2009 to 2016 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36116/17]

Hospital Staff Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1002. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the number of staff vacancies in Donegal hospitals either university or community (details supplied); the details of medical staff across all departmental headings, nursing staff, auxiliary nursing staff, nursing aid, general hospital maintenance and cleaning staff and other grades; the details of the change in staff numbers in all hospitals named in each of the years from December 2008 to December 2016; his plans for restoring staffing numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36107/17]

Hospital Beds Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1004. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for St Joseph’s hospital, Stranorlar; his further plans for keeping all 78 short and long-term stay beds which are based in wards (details supplied) in the hospital; the timeframe for staff restoration in order to facilitate this commitment at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36109/17]

Hospital Beds Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1005. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans to retain the long-term bed capacity at Lifford community hospital; his further plans to bring the hospital up to the required standards to ensure its future survival; the delivery of such proposals; the stage at which those plans are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36110/17]

Hospital Beds Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1006. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for retaining all long-term bed capacity at Ramelton community hospital; his further plans for the long-term future of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36111/17]

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1007. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on mental health within County Donegal in each of the years 2008 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36112/17]

Health Services Provision

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1008. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for restoring the cardiac rehabilitation programme to the previous centres of Dungloe and Ballyliffen which operated until 2010 but that have been suspended since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36113/17]

Hospital Services

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1009. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health his plans for retaining the Woodville specialist dementia care unit at St Joseph’s hospital Stranorlar, County Donegal; his further plans for restoring staff numbers at the unit and improvements for the specialist dementia unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36124/17]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1046. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in appointing nurses who have retired but are now willing to return to the profession; the reason nurses such as these early retirees are not actively encouraged back into the workforce, especially in cases in which there is a skills shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36254/17]

Mobile Telephony Services

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1305. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made on the provision of better mobile signals within County Donegal since the Government's recent strategy report on same; his further plans to encourage mobile phone operators to increase their service availability in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36123/17]

Road Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1331. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with either the Northern Ireland authorities and or the UK government regarding the progression of the A5 and N2 cross-Border motorway project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36120/17]

Brexit Issues

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1396. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for fast-tracking infrastructural projects within the Border counties in advance of the conclusion of Brexit talks; the priorities for Donegal infrastructural projects in the agreed capital plan by the Government; the potential that such projects have for alleviating the impact of the Brexit negotiations conclusions; his views on whether advance planning at this critical stage is prudent rather than waiting for talks to conclude before implementing a strategy to meet the infrastructural needs of the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36114/17]

Roads Maintenance

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1397. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Fintra bridge project on the R263 in southwest Donegal; if he will report on the engineering staff intra engagement with the local authority and his departmental engineering staff on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36121/17]

Tourism Project Funding

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1398. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for developing marine tourism in County Donegal; the way in which such plans could easily supplement the success of the Wild Atlantic Way; his strategy to maximise the marine tourism potential for coastal counties; the timeframe for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36125/17]

Tourism Promotion

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1399. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for developing tourism on offshore islands and especially in County Donegal; his strategy to increase visitor numbers to the islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36126/17]

Water Charges Refunds

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1612. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for refunding water charges to those that have paid same; the timeframe for same; the procedures he plans to use for the refunding of same; the way in which previous Irish Water customers that made the respective payments will be identified and repaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36118/17]

Housing Provision

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1666. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the arrangements that exist for families who do not qualify for local authority housing due to exceeding income levels as per his Department's circular on same, but also do not qualify for reasonable mortgage approval due to low income levels for the purposes of purchasing a home of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36117/17]

Commercial Rates

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1667. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for the commercial rates Bill; his strategy for assisting and helping struggling businesses in rural locations which to date find commercial rates an onerous burden on their businesses; the way in which he proposes to deal with the regional imbalances in commercial activities between the more thriving east coast and the slower and less recovering west coast; the way in which the proposed commercial rates Bill will deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36119/17]

Scéim na mBóithre Pobail

Pat the Cope Gallagher

467. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sí maoiniú éigeandála a sholáthar le cóiriú a dhéanamh ar bhóithre portaigh sna bailte fearainn seo a leanas, Srath na Bruaí, Slíothán, Mám an tSean Tí agus Loch na nGrianán i nGaoth Dobhair, a ndearna tuilte damáiste dóibh le gairid, á chur i gcuntas go bhfuil corradh le 100 teaghlach nach bhfuil ar a gcumas móin a thabhairt abhaile de bharr staid na mbóithre; cad iad na pleananna atá aici le feabhas a chur ar na bóithre i mBaile na Finne a ndearnadh damáiste dóibh sna tuilte le gairid; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34296/17]

Garda Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

67. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in County Donegal as of 30 June 2017; and the number of new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014. [32865/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

238. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding approving a new school building for a school (details supplied) since he last met with school management and teaching staff on the matter; the timeframe for the project delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31526/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

239. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding approving a new school building for a school (details supplied) since he last met the school authorities, management and staff on the matter; the timeframe for the project delivery in view of the fact that the new building is urgently required for the school due to school numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31527/17]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Pat the Cope Gallagher

240. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding approving the school extension and improvement plan for a school (details supplied) since he last met teaching staff and school management; the timeframe for delivering this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31528/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Pat the Cope Gallagher

246. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the timeframe for approval of the required additional accommodation; the timeframe for delivery of the extension. [30208/17]

CLÁR Programme

Pat the Cope Gallagher

332. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason an application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied) was unsuccessful under measure one, support for school and community safety measures; if her attention has been drawn to the safety concerns parents and teachers have regarding daily traffic volumes at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30180/17]

CLÁR Programme

Pat the Cope Gallagher

333. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason an application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied) was unsuccessful under measure one, support for school and community safety measures; if her attention has been drawn to the safety concerns parents and teachers have regarding the school and daily traffic volumes due to the restrictive nature of approach roads to and from the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30181/17]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Pat the Cope Gallagher

584. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the considerable time delays in approving domiciliary care allowance applications; her plans to improve the timeframe for processing applications in view of 18-week delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30122/17]

Scéimeanna Rannach

Pat the Cope Gallagher

991. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sí míniú maidir le cén fáth nár ceadaíodh aon airgead i gClár Caipitil na nOileán d’oileáin i nDún na nGall; an dtabharfaidh sí míniú maidir le cén fáth, i ndiaidh cuairt le gairid ón Aire Stáit ar na hoileáin atá i gceist, agus na ndearbhuithe a tugadh, nach raibh na hoileáin san áireamh sa chlár maoinithe; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [29019/17]

Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga

Pat the Cope Gallagher

992. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sí cuntas ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga, go háirithe maidir leis na poist bhreise a cheadaigh an tAire ach nár líonadh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [29020/17]

Scéim na mBóithre Áise

Pat the Cope Gallagher

993. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta sí cur síos ar na pleananna atá aici Scéim na mBóithre Áise a chur ar bun an athuair do bhóithre nach bóithre contae iad, bóithre áise a fhad le tithe agus feirmeacha i gceantar na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [29021/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1891. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the budget that he allocated for Fintra bridge on the R263 in southwest Donegal; the timetable for the start of construction; the completion date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29011/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Pat the Cope Gallagher

1892. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for funding Tir Chonaill street bridge in Donegal town as sanctioned by his Department; the construction period for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29012/17]

Jobseeker's Benefit

Pat the Cope Gallagher

2115. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to honour the commitment given by her predecessor concerning the review of part-time and seasonal workers' entitlements to social protection payments in view of the delay in issuing the report which was due in March or April 2017 but has yet to be published; when same will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29065/17]

Heritage Projects

Pat the Cope Gallagher

193. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for carrying out improvement works at a site (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the cemetery is closed to the public due to concerns of debris and subsiding wall stead; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact an application was made for heritage grant funding but was unsuccessful and that therefore no funding opportunity currently exists for repairs other than from her Department directly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26114/17]

Garda Vetting Legislation

Pat the Cope Gallagher

136. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce a single Garda vetting card to be issued to each person for a set period of time rather than the current situation whereby a person has to apply for Garda vetting on each occasion they change employment, voluntary work or placement; the reason such a universal vetting card is not available in place of the current system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26016/17]

Garda Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

137. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda that are operational and on full-time duty on a weekly basis in the Donegal division; the number of Garda working in a full-time capacity now compared to those working in a full-time capacity in 2011, 2014 and 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26017/17]

Garda Resources

Pat the Cope Gallagher

138. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for improving the Garda station in Donegal town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26018/17]

Garda Resources

Pat the Cope Gallagher

139. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to restore the Glenties district Garda station to its previous status; her further plans to restore Garda numbers in west Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26019/17]

Garda Resources

Pat the Cope Gallagher

140. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars currently available in the Donegal division; the way in which current Garda car numbers compare with those in 2011 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26020/17]

Scéim na mBóithre Áise

Pat the Cope Gallagher

382. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na pleananna atá aici maidir le scéim deontas bóithre straitéiseacha a chur ar bun sa Ghaeltacht chun slí rochtana a chur ar fáil ar fud na Gaeltachta agus ar fud na tíre, os rud é go bhféadfaí maoiniú a fháil dá leithéid de scéim ag féachaint don mhéid airgid atá faoina cúram agus nár caitheadh sna buiséid éagsúla; an dtabharfaidh sí eolas i dtaobh cén uair a d'fhéadfaí a leithéid de scéim a chur ar bun, agus an mbeadh sí sásta gur plean ilbhliantúil a chuirfí ar bun chun déileáil leis an easpa tograí bonneagair i gceantair Ghaeltachta ó cuireadh an scéim ar fionraí sa bhliain 2010; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [25979/17]

Scéim na mBóithre Áise

Pat the Cope Gallagher

383. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na pleananna atá aici maidir le scéim bóithre áise a chur ar bun in athuair chun freastal ar thithe agus bóithre feirme i gceantair Ghaeltachta ar fud na tíre; an aithníonn sí an phráinn mhór atá le scéim den sórt seo chun dul i ngleic leis an gcaoi a bhfuil cúrsaí ag dul chun donais i gceantair tuaithe ó thaobh ísliú caighdeán bóithre sa Ghaeltacht mar go bhfuil na mílte cónaitheoirí neamhábalta an costas a sheasamh maidir leis na bóithre seo a chóiriú chomh fada lena dtithe cónaithe; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [25980/17]

Brexit Issues

Pat the Cope Gallagher

518. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that fisheries are a top priority in the Brexit talks and to further ensure that Irish fisheries interests are fully protected; his plans to link fisheries negotiations with the trade talks during the Brexit negotiations, thus ensuring that fisheries are central to the eventual negotiated outcome of the talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25591/17]

Harbours and Piers

Pat the Cope Gallagher

553. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to construct a seawall at Machaire Rabhartaigh Harbour, County Donegal (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to a consultant’s report from 2015 that made a number of recommendations to solve the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26037/17]

Harbours and Piers

Pat the Cope Gallagher

554. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet with a delegation from County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26038/17]

National Lottery Funding Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

178. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the funding that was provided to community and voluntary groups from his Department's national lottery discretionary fund in each of the years 2008 to 2016 in tabular form; the allocation to be provided in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25117/17]

Prescriptions Charges

Pat the Cope Gallagher

197. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the total income received from prescription charges in 2016 from persons under 65 years of age and persons over 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22535/17]