Parliamentary questions

Courts Service Data

Thomas P. Broughan

12. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the non-service of summons in relation to road traffic offences in view of the fact that Court Service figures in summer 2019 showed that 46% were not served between January 2017 and May 2019; the status of the working group which was set up in 2014 to monitor the serving of summons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39749/19]

Education and Training Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

86. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the objectives of the EXPLORE programme; the budget for the programme in 2019; the current number of participants supported by the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40313/19]

Education and Training Boards

Thomas P. Broughan

87. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the objectives of the skills to advance programme; the budget for the programme in 2019; the current number of participants supported by the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40314/19]

Education and Training Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

88. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the objectives of the skills for work programme; the budget for the programme in 2019; the current number of participants supported by the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40315/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas P. Broughan

89. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the introduction of a national access to apprenticeship programme as proposed by an organisation (details supplied) in its 2020 pre-budget submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40316/19]

Education and Training Boards Administration

Thomas P. Broughan

90. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the Code of Practice of the Governance of the Education and Training Boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40317/19]

Education and Training Boards

Thomas P. Broughan

91. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names of the five persons and their nominating bodies elected to the boards of each education and training board under section 30(11) of the Education and Training Board Act 2013 in tabular form. [40318/19]

Youth Justice Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

107. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the development of a youth justice strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40325/19]

Legal Services Regulation

Thomas P. Broughan

108. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Legal Services Regulatory Authority will commence its complaints process and start accepting complaints from the public and users of legal services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40326/19]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas P. Broughan

170. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when he plans to bring forward legislation to replace the Dentists Act 1985 and reform the regulation of the dental profession in view of concerns that the current legislation is deficient and failing to protect the patients of dental services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40324/19]

Energy Policy

Thomas P. Broughan

286. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll out of smart metering; the number of smart meters installed to date; the rights of householders and consumers with regard to the installation of smart meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40323/19]

Rural Transport Programme Data

Thomas P. Broughan

308. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated number of the 1.9 million passenger journeys in 2018 supported by the rural transport programme which were undertaken by young persons under 26 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40330/19]

Rural Transport Programme Data

Thomas P. Broughan

309. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policies and measures his Department is undertaking to support the increased use of rural transport services by young persons under 26 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40331/19]

Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation

Thomas P. Broughan

312. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action 35 of Realising Our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development to introduce a new single targeted youth funding scheme which will address a range of factors including rural isolation; the way in which the scheme will address isolation among young persons in rural areas; the funding dedicated in the scheme to addressing the needs of young persons in rural areas; when the scheme will be open for applications; the number of potential beneficiaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40327/19]

National Children's Strategy

Thomas P. Broughan

313. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of action 43 in Realising Our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development to support the participation of young persons in rural areas in decision making; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40328/19]

Youth Services Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

327. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address the lack of investment in youth work in budget 2020 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40309/19]

Youth Services Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

328. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while the budget of her Department has increased by €511 million between 2014 and 2019 only 2% of that additional funding has been allocated to support youth work; her plans to increase the proportion of departmental funding for youth work in budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40310/19]

Youth Services Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

329. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that while overall Government expenditure has increased by 12% since 2011 funding for youth work has only increased by 0.3%; her plans to increase investment in youth work in budget 2020 in order that voluntary youth organisations can meet the needs of a growing youth population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40311/19]

Youth Services Funding

Thomas P. Broughan

330. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received the submission from an organisation (details supplied) with respect to the youth service grant scheme which sets out that the allocation to the scheme is at 2005 levels not taking inflation into account; her plans to increase investment in the youth service grant scheme in budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40312/19]

Voluntary Sector

Thomas P. Broughan

335. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of a national volunteering policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40329/19]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Thomas P. Broughan

348. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to restore the full rate of the jobseeker’s allowance to young persons under 26 years of age in budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40319/19]

Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Thomas P. Broughan

349. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the 2020 funding allocation for the dedicated mortgage arrears service has been decided; if so, if this decision has been communicated to the Citizens Information Board and the eight regional Money Advice and Budgeting Service companies operating the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40320/19]

Election Management System

Thomas P. Broughan

362. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the modernisation of the electoral registration process which commenced in December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40321/19]

Electoral Commission Establishment

Thomas P. Broughan

363. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the establishment of an electoral commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40322/19]

Road Safety Authority Campaigns

Thomas P. Broughan

49. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the Road Safety Authority, RSA, should upscale its road safety campaigns, especially in the case of speeding and aggressive driving practices, in view of the tragic and disappointing road traffic casualty figures to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39754/19]

Traffic Management

Thomas P. Broughan

58. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on congestion charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39689/19]

Light Rail Projects

Thomas P. Broughan

60. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date with Metrolink; his views on whether the planning and construction of this vital infrastructure for Fingal and Dublin city will be expedited over the next three or four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39753/19]

Road Safety

Thomas P. Broughan

85. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the improvements of the Road Safety Authority for the processing of court information on drivers disqualified in court; the average length of time for the national vehicle drivers’ file to be updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39751/19]

Public Transport Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

95. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on steadily increasing the State subsidy to public transport with the aim of providing free public transport to promote the decarbonisation of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39752/19]

Defence Forces Personnel

Thomas P. Broughan

101. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amendments made to a document (details supplied); the dates the amendments were made; the changes made; if these amendments were initiated by the military or officials in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40021/19]

Defence Forces Personnel

Thomas P. Broughan

102. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if changes were requested by the military to a document (details supplied); if so, the dates the changes were made; the actions taken by his officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40022/19]

Defence Forces Reserve

Thomas P. Broughan

103. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Reserve Defence Forces officers commissioned after 1 October 2005 that have been promoted; the ranks to which each has been promoted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40023/19]

Defence Forces Reserve

Thomas P. Broughan

104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number, appointments, functions and ranks held by Reserve Defence Forces personnel gazetted to specialist reserve staff; if the decision per 8.5.3 in the White Paper has been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40024/19]

Garda Equipment

Thomas P. Broughan

139. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the tender for the handheld devices for the roads policing unit will be published; the timeframe for the procurement of the necessary handheld devices; the reason there has been a delay thus far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40025/19]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Thomas P. Broughan

158. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will reduce the threshold age for accessing CervicalCheck from 25 to 21 years of age; if his officials are examining the possible positive impacts of extending the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40020/19]

Public Transport

Thomas P. Broughan

211. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to improve rail travel for commuters in particular regarding busy rush hour peak times and sufficient carriages and timetabling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40017/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Thomas P. Broughan

80. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on Exchequer expenditure requirements in order to implement the all-of-Government climate action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39369/19]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Thomas P. Broughan

81. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which his Department is addressing expenditure overruns in relation to the national broadband plan and the national children’s hospital in 2019 and over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39368/19]

Fiscal Policy

Thomas P. Broughan

85. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the overall trend in Government net policy spending since Quarter 1 2015 down to Quarter 3 2019; the way in which he expects this trend to evolve in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39367/19]

Departmental Budgets

Thomas P. Broughan

91. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position with regard to supplementary estimates which may be necessary in several Departments for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38317/19]

Military Aircraft

Thomas P. Broughan

120. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding the replacement of aircraft (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39570/19]

Prisoner Data

Thomas P. Broughan

264. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of pregnant women that have been cared for in prison in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39524/19]

Prisoner Data

Thomas P. Broughan

265. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of babies born to pregnant women in prison in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39525/19]

Prisoner Data

Thomas P. Broughan

266. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of ante-natal education care classes the prison service provides to pregnant women that may be in prison during their pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39526/19]

Prisoner Data

Thomas P. Broughan

267. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time babies remain in the care of their mothers in prison; the number of babies by ages currently with their mothers in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39527/19]

Road Traffic Offences Data

Thomas P. Broughan

270. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of PSV licences revoked in 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39571/19]

Crime Data

Thomas P. Broughan

271. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of detections of financial crime in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019 by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39572/19]

Penalty Points System Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

282. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the non-surrender of driver licences and the lack of prosecutions of those taken to court for this offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39759/19]

IDA Ireland Data

Thomas P. Broughan

304. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA Ireland facilities constructed in Dublin in each of the past three years to date; the cost of each facility; the number occupied; the number vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39574/19]

Brexit Preparations

Thomas P. Broughan

523. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the preparations of his Department for Brexit; the steps he will take to prevent gridlock in the vicinity of key ports and airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39760/19]