Parliamentary questions

Teaching Qualifications

Thomas Byrne

161. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason secondary teachers are required to complete a two-year master's degree to qualify rather than a higher diploma; and his views on whether this is leading to cost pressures on young graduates. [42202/17]

Teacher Data

Thomas Byrne

162. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted requirement in each of the next three years for new primary school teachers due only to demographic pressures. [42203/17]

Teacher Data

Thomas Byrne

163. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted requirement for new secondary school teachers in each of the next three years due only to demographic pressures. [42204/17]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Thomas Byrne

164. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted requirement in each of the next three years for new SNAs due only to demographic pressures. [42205/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

43. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the likely impact on homes in County Meath that are awaiting broadband connection in view of the recent withdrawal by a company (details supplied) from the national broadband plan procurement process. [41722/17]

Hospital Services

Thomas Byrne

333. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if funding for a further podiatrist in County Meath will be made available in budget 2018; and the reason for the sudden increase in the number of persons with diabetes hospitalised for foot ulceration treatment in County Meath. [41415/17]

Counselling Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

381. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for persons that have been approved for counselling under the counselling in primary care, CIPC, service in County Meath; and the number of persons on the waiting list in County Meath. [41530/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Thomas Byrne

382. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [41537/17]

Medicinal Products Availability

Thomas Byrne

385. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a drug will be available for a person (details supplied) who has been prescribed Nivolumab [41552/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

495. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeframe for broadband services to be available under the national broadband scheme at Gillstown, Garlow Cross, Navan, County Meath. [41407/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

500. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband services will be available under the national broadband scheme at a person's (details supplied) home. [41717/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

506. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the townlands in County Meath in which there will be State intervention under the national broadband plan. [41856/17]

Information and Communications Technology

Thomas Byrne

562. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to ongoing issues with the Tidy Towns website; and if his attention has been further drawn to the annoyance and confusion that this problem has caused Tidy Towns groups across the country in accessing adjudicators reports and the results for the 2017 competition. [41561/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

100. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) can expect to be connected to broadband that will meet the school community's needs. [41055/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

237. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a school (details supplied) can expect to be connected to broadband that will meet the school community's needs. [41054/17]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Thomas Byrne

105. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concept of streamlining; if there is such a concept in the provision and allocation of special needs assistants; and the meaning of same in terms of the provision of special needs assistants. [40894/17]

Home Help Service Data

Thomas Byrne

166. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been approved home help or a home support package but that are on a waiting list to receive either due to a lack of available staff in County Meath. [41003/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

454. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if broadband service will be available to all houses in the Clonlyon, Kilcock, County Meath area following upgrade works being carried out in the area. [40548/17]

Human Rights

Thomas Byrne

17. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent human rights violations of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar; and if Ireland will condemn these actions. [39832/17]

Immigrant Investor Programme Eligibility

Thomas Byrne

302. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if Irish family-owned businesses can involve an immigrant investor in the company; and the requirements for such a development. [39288/17]

Health Services Data

Thomas Byrne

383. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of services at a HSE day care facility (details supplied) over the past 12 months; the locations of the surrounding district from which patients attended; and the details of the various services provided at this centre. [39146/17]

Health Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

384. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason none of the services has been relocated to the new and under-occupied HSE primary care centre building on the Navan Road in Kells, County Meath, further to the end of services at a HSE day care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39147/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Byrne

462. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out in Beaumont Hospital. [39505/17]

Autism Support Services

Thomas Byrne

423. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the autistic unit will open for students in a school (details supplied). [38422/17]

Respite Care Services Availability

Thomas Byrne

752. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of short-term respite care available to persons in County Meath; and if there have been recent changes or planned changes to the way in which respite care is delivered in County Meath. [36782/17]

Respite Care Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

753. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons in County Meath have been instructed to find respite care in surrounding counties such as Cavan and Westmeath in view of the fact that the service has been discontinued in County Meath. [36783/17]

Aviation Policy

Thomas Byrne

1547. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider commissioning an aviation safety analysis regarding the consequences of locating a 320-acre solar farm between Dunboyne and Batterstown in County Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37517/17]

National Monuments

Thomas Byrne

225. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will request the OPW to engage with a group (details supplied) that wishes to improve the tourism experience in its heritage town. [35111/17]

National Monuments

Thomas Byrne

226. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will request the OPW to provide a second key for an important tourist attraction (details supplied) to improve the local tourism experience. [35123/17]

Office of Public Works Projects

Thomas Byrne

227. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to proceed with the proposed playground at Oldbridge House, County Meath, for which planning permission was obtained some years ago. [35145/17]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Thomas Byrne

255. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools that are in temporary accommodation and for which a permanent site has not been fully acquired to date by his Department. [34941/17]

Schools Refurbishment

Thomas Byrne

264. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a small works project will commence in a school (details supplied); and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the works needed are to allow a child with special needs to attend the school. [35046/17]

School Accommodation

Thomas Byrne

285. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to large house building developments in Dunshaughlin, County Meath; and his plans to expand school provision in the area at both second level and primary level notwithstanding the provision that currently exists. [35303/17]

Legislative Programme

Thomas Byrne

433. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when all sections of the Children and Families Relationships Act 2015 will be commenced; and the timeframe for full commencement. [35852/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Thomas Byrne

689. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an operation. [35090/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Byrne

690. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the detail of the public waiting list for MRI scans in each applicable hospital in counties Louth, Meath and Dublin. [35092/17]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

705. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reason a payment under the cross-border directive has not been made to a person (details supplied). [35138/17]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Thomas Byrne

956. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when the assisted human reproduction Bill will be pursued. [35853/17]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Byrne

1262. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if broadband service will be available to all houses in the Bellinteer, Navan, County Meath, area following new exchange services in the area. [34955/17]

Swimming Pool Programme

Thomas Byrne

1349. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a grant programme open for swimming pools. [35297/17]

Swimming Pool Programme

Thomas Byrne

1350. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if applications have ever been made for a swimming pool in south County Meath; and when a decision will be made in respect thereof. [35298/17]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Thomas Byrne

1614. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when works on a category 2 pyrite house will be carried out in the case of a person (details supplied). [34918/17]

Research and Development Funding

Thomas Byrne

70. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether the lack of a multi-annual commitment to the PRTLI by her Department retards its ability to attract matching funding from private sector or EU sources. [34335/17]

Planning Issues

Thomas Byrne

299. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether amendments are required to the planning legislation to enable schools, in conjunction with local planning authorities, to introduce no fry zones or healthy eating zones in the vicinity of their schools; and his views on no fry zones around schools. [34326/17]

Schools Healthy Living Strategies

Thomas Byrne

300. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether food high in fat, sugar and salt should be removed from vending machines in schools; if his attention has been drawn to the percentage of schools that have vending machines in their schools; and his further views on whether schools are using these machines to make up for shortfalls in their budgets as a result of inadequate capitation grants. [34327/17]

Schools Healthy Living Strategies

Thomas Byrne

301. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place a national catering standard for secondary schools to provide healthy eating in school cafeterias. [34328/17]

Schools Health and Safety

Thomas Byrne

302. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is not acceptable that in 40% of schools there is no access to free drinking water; his further views on whether there should be access to free drinking water in all schools; and the estimated amount of investment required to ensure access to free drinking water in all schools. [34329/17]

Digital Strategy for Schools

Thomas Byrne

303. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's expenditure on ICT in schools in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [34330/17]

School Guidance Counsellors

Thomas Byrne

304. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of fully restoring the ex-quota guidance counsellor provision in budget 2018. [34331/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

305. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of its total allocation under the capital investment plan 2016 to 2021 his Department has spent to date; and the projects on which the capital investment has been made. [34332/17]

Institutes of Technology Funding

Thomas Byrne

306. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount of routine or steady State capital investment that is estimated to be required at each institute of technology from 2018 to 2021. [34333/17]

Third Level Institutions

Thomas Byrne

307. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated from his Department to the programme for research in third level institutions in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018; the estimated amount of matching funding from either private sector sources or other State or EU sources the funding has attracted since 2012 and specifically, in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. [34334/17]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Byrne

318. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level by one point in budget 2018. [34492/17]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Byrne

319. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing average class sizes to 23 at primary level in budget 2018. [34493/17]

School Patronage

Thomas Byrne

332. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of meetings he or his officials have had with senior members of the Catholic Church or Catholic patrons bodies in regard to school divestment or school admissions and enrolment since coming to office. [34624/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

355. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost of establishing a new autism spectrum disorder unit or special class in a mainstream post secondary school. [34875/17]

Schools Establishment

Thomas Byrne

356. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new multidenominational and-or non-denominational schools that have been established since 2012; the year they began taking in students; if they are in permanent or temporary accommodation; the patron of each; and if their buildings were transferred from another patron. [34876/17]

Multidenominational Schools

Thomas Byrne

357. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to undertake another parental demand survey to assess levels of demand in each area for multi- and non-denominational schools; the areas in which there was deemed to be a high parental demand for multi- and non-denominational schools in the last survey; the level of demand identified; and if this demand has been fulfilled or not. [34877/17]

School Patronage

Thomas Byrne

358. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether there is a potential conflict of interest in his new reconfiguration plan for patronage divestment (details supplied); the arrangements his Department has in place to mitigate the effects of conflicts of interest. [34878/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Thomas Byrne

359. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether his Department's policy of not allowing Educate Together schools to establish using temporary accommodation at an initial stage unless there is an expectation that a State-owned building will be available to move into in the area in the short term is unnecessary and is significantly delaying the roll-out of Educate Together schools across the country to areas of low patron diversity and high parental demand. [34879/17]

School Admissions

Thomas Byrne

360. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if under the new School Admissions Bill 2016 he will have powers to direct selected schools to operate an admissions policy which is positively discriminatory towards certain groups deemed to be excluded, such as children from traveller backgrounds or from homeless households; and if not, the reason he is of the view such a provision should not be inserted into the Bill. [34880/17]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

361. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost for reintroducing the modern languages in primary school programme in budget 2018 and for a national roll-out of the programme. [34882/17]

Student Grants Data

Thomas Byrne

362. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost for fully reintroducing the postgraduate grants; and the cost of reintroducing postgraduate grants for those eligible for grant rates part maintenance 75% and part maintenance 50%. [34883/17]

Student Grants Data

Thomas Byrne

363. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of postgraduates that have been provided financial assistance under the student grant scheme in each of the years since 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [34884/17]

Special Educational Needs Data

Thomas Byrne

364. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the ratio of special needs assistants, SNAs, to pupils in mainstream classes at primary level; and the ratio for SNAs to pupils in mainstream schools at post primary in each of the years 1998 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by county, in tabular form. [34885/17]

Special Educational Needs Data

Thomas Byrne

365. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the ratio of resource teachers and learning support teachers to pupils in mainstream classes at primary level; and the ratio for resource teachers and learning support teachers to pupils in mainstream schools at post primary in each of the years 1998 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by county and by Dublin post code, in tabular form. [34886/17]

Traveller Data

Thomas Byrne

1167. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide figures on school attendance and participation among Traveller children from 2016/2017 or the latest date available and for all years since 2000. [34511/17]

Traveller Education

Thomas Byrne

1168. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the approximate cost of re-introducing the visiting teachers service for Travellers in budget 2018. [34512/17]

School Attendance Data

Thomas Byrne

1169. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has undertaken studies of school attendance and participation among children living in homeless households; if so, if she will provide figures on school attendance and participation; if not, the reason therefore; and if she will establish such a study. [34513/17]

Development Contributions

Thomas Byrne

1331. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the provisions within national planning legislation to ensure developers of large residential developments have to contribute towards the development of new school place and school amenities that are required as the result of the new population in an area; and his views on whether there should be provision under Part V or section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to ensure a development contribution is made to local school facilities. [34830/17]

Planning Guidelines

Thomas Byrne

1332. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether amendments are required to planning legislation to enable schools in conjunction with local planning authorities to introduce no fry zones or healthy eating zones in the vicinity of their schools; and his further views on fry zones around schools. [34831/17]

Crime Prevention

Thomas Byrne

47. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of proposals to install cameras on motorways to help fight against crime. [32674/17]

Garda Resources

Thomas Byrne

91. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has satisfied himself that sufficient resources are available to meet the needs of the policing of County Meath. [32673/17]

Teacher Recruitment

Thomas Byrne

178. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the legal status of diocesan panels in respect of teacher employment; if reviews of same have taken place; and his plans for reform. [33535/17]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Byrne

179. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children whose parents have been forced to decline an early intervention class due to the distance from home involved. [33536/17]

Garda Districts

Thomas Byrne

247. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to each district in the Meath Garda Division. [33534/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Thomas Byrne

265. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [33137/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Thomas Byrne

271. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a psychological and needs assessment will be carried out on a person (details supplied). [33151/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

362. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband services will be available under the national broadband scheme at Sarsfieldstown, Julianstown, County Meath. [33177/17]

Waste Management Regulations

Thomas Byrne

376. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the waste which can lawfully be disposed of in a black bin, a green bin and a brown bin, respectively. [33531/17]

Waste Management Regulations

Thomas Byrne

377. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the regulation in place to allow a waste company impose a fine for waste incorrectly placed in the wrong coloured bin. [33532/17]

Road Tolls

Thomas Byrne

401. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for a discount on the toll for multiple or frequent commuter toll use on the M3; and if motorway tolls can be incorporated into the Leap card system. [33533/17]

Heritage Sites

Thomas Byrne

176. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to upgrade the site of Athcarne Castle (details supplied); and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the site is very unsafe and is currently in a state of untidiness and dilapidation. [32749/17]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

213. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been changes in the criteria for accessing a scribe for the leaving certificate examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32214/17]

Wildlife Control

Thomas Byrne

350. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action which can be taken in respect of crows in locations in which they have become a serious and unusual nuisance to human habitation. [32733/17]

Dental Services

Thomas Byrne

540. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for dental surgery for a person (details supplied) in the Mater hospital. [33074/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Thomas Byrne

826. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of an application by Meath County Council for 25 housing units in Dunshaughlin, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32669/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Thomas Byrne

827. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason certain applications for social housing funding by Meath County Council were not successful in the recent allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32670/17]

European Court of Human Rights Judgments

Thomas Byrne

1. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will discuss the execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgement in a case (details supplied); and if he will address concerns that the planned redress for survivors of child sexual abuse that took place in national schools is mean spirited and against the spirit of this judgment. [31910/17]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Thomas Byrne

3. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will discuss the new delegation of ministerial responsibility within his Department to the Ministers of State; and the way in which it is proposed that this will work. [31911/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

5. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will discuss the lack of notice given to schools of SNA allocations for the coming year; and if he will address concerns that SNAs do not know whether they will be in employment in 2018 in view of the fact that the 2016 to 2017 school year has now ended. [31912/17]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Byrne

13. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio across the school system. [31748/17]

School Admissions

Thomas Byrne

28. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the work which needs to be carried out before he is ready to finalise a legislative proposal regarding the role of religion in school admissions. [31747/17]

DEIS Administration

Thomas Byrne

36. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm his commitment to keeping so-called legacy posts in place in DEIS schools in the most disadvantaged areas. [31745/17]

Teachers' Remuneration

Thomas Byrne

38. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on reducing the pay scale equality gap affecting recently qualified teachers. [31744/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Thomas Byrne

41. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase provision of second level education in the eastern part of County Meath, in particular, the Duleek area. [31746/17]

Medical Card Applications

Thomas Byrne

148. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application by persons (details supplied). [31828/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Thomas Byrne

122. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied) [31815/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Thomas Byrne

81. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to avoid a hard border as a result of Brexit which would create an obstacle to ease of travel and business to Northern Ireland. [30567/17]

National Training Fund

Thomas Byrne

145. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 369 of 20 June 2017, if it is possible to vary the rate employers pay in the national training levy to the proposed employer contribution mechanism according to the assumed benefit they derive from higher education training or alternatively to varying contributions by sector whereby employers in more high skilled sectors pay a higher contribution, which was not addressed in the original response. [30873/17]