Parliamentary questions

Parking Provision

Thomas Pringle

97. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the ongoing parking situation at a building (details supplied) in County Donegal will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43710/19]

Teagasc Administration

Thomas Pringle

458. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend and update the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988 to ensure that Teagasc has the necessary expertise and mandate to consider mitigation strategies from the agriculture and food sectors here in view of the recent UN IPCC special report on land and climate change 2019. [43416/19]

Teagasc Funding

Thomas Pringle

459. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the research budget of Teagasc that is dedicated to climate mitigation activities; and his views on the adequacy of resources available to his Department towards climate mitigation in view of the recent study by the CSO on environmentally damaging subsidies. [43417/19]

National Raised Bog Management Plan

Thomas Pringle

483. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dedicated resources and expertise in relation to paludiculture available within his Department or State agencies under his remit; his plans to implement the recommendation regarding paludiculture research in chapter 8 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action report; his views on the potential for paludiculture in the context of the new €5 million fund for wetlands restoration and rehabilitation as announced by Minister Bruton on 16 October 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43526/19]

Agrifood Sector

Thomas Pringle

484. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of the 400 stakeholders and delegates invited to attend the open policy debate on a strategy for the agrifood sector to 2030 arranged for 16 October 2019. [43528/19]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Thomas Pringle

491. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress towards meeting the renewable heat obligation of Ireland under EU directives for 2020; if Ireland is on course to meet the target; the budget for the support scheme for renewable heat in 2019 and 2020; the number of applications received under the scheme to date; the number of grants awarded for 2019; the number of applications by county; his plans to address the delays in approving up to 40 eligible projects in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42943/19]

Employment Rights

Thomas Pringle

148. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she is taking to ensure that all public bodies comply with S.I. No. 234/2019 - Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2019 introduced by her Department and previous orders; the steps that can be taken if they have not complied with same; if her Department carries out inspections to see if there is compliance by public sector employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42411/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Pringle

214. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building project (details supplied) which is due to commence in 2019; if this school is being prioritised due to the continued deterioration of the prefabs which make up the school structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Pringle

215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) which has been waiting for a new school build since 2006; if the school will be prioritised based on the increasing enrolment rate by 73% since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Pringle

217. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for a school (details supplied) will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41914/19]

School Management

Thomas Pringle

229. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department does not audit schools directly; the person or body that checks the accountants being paid by the schools; if major discrepancies in accounts that are continually ignored by schools are examined by his Department; the further reason schools cannot submit directly to the financial support services unit; if extra funding is being provided for schools to carry out accountancy work as required under circular 60/2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42171/19]

Defective Building Materials

Thomas Pringle

642. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of additional funding allocated from budget 2020 to the mica redress scheme; when the funding will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42167/19]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Thomas Pringle

89. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the outstanding number of posts awaiting decision by the national director for Donegal CHO amounting to over 100 posts remaining vacant will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40875/19]

HSE Staff Recruitment

Thomas Pringle

91. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if there is a recruitment embargo or freeze within the HSE and specifically for the north west CHO1 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40874/19]

JobPath Programme

Thomas Pringle

155. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the circumstances that allow a person an exemption of referral to JobPath if mental health grounds are included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41345/19]

Energy Policy

Thomas Pringle

385. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to conduct a full review of energy security here; if this will include a new energy White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40881/19]

International Protection

Thomas Pringle

9. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the interdepartmental taskforce that was in place during the drafting of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 is still functional; if not, if he will consider the recommendation of an organisation (details supplied) to re-establish this taskforce on a permanent basis to oversee the implementation of the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39979/19]

International Protection

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the promised independent inspectorate will be established further to the recent release of the national standards for accommodation offered to persons in the protection process; the make-up of the inspectorate; if it will be empowered to make unannounced inspections of accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39978/19]

JobPath Programme

Thomas Pringle

241. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who finishes a community employment scheme in June 2020 could be referred back to JobPath despite the fact that new referrals will cease at the end of 2019; if being on the scheme guarantees a person a year exemption from being referred to JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40091/19]

International Protection

Thomas Pringle

285. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in the international protection process that are housed in emergency accommodation; the number that are children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39799/19]

International Protection

Thomas Pringle

286. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of emergency accommodation centres in use to house persons in the international protection process; the location of these centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39800/19]

International Protection

Thomas Pringle

287. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vulnerability assessments that have been carried out to date on persons in the international protection process in line with obligations under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018; his views on reports that as of July 2019 no such formal assessments had been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39801/19]

Roads Maintenance Funding

Thomas Pringle

535. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding is available for the upgrading of roads specifically located along the Wild Atlantic Way; if he will consider upgrading a road (details supplied) in County Donegal due to its significant location along the Wild Atlantic Way in an effort to further develop tourism in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39832/19]

State Bodies Data

Thomas Pringle

633. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the fees and expenses paid to each member of the management board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in each of the years 2013 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39618/19]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Thomas Pringle

6. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the ruling of the Ombudsman regarding primary medical certificates (details supplied); the reason his Department has not made relevant amendments after the intervention of the Ombudsman; when he plans to bring the necessary legislative amendments to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38452/19]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Thomas Pringle

31. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the status of the divestment of public funding in the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund from fossil fuel companies since the enactment of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018; his plans as part of the climate action plan 2019 to encourage the private sector to divest from fossil fuel companies and offer investors fossil free alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38453/19]

Social Welfare Fraud

Thomas Pringle

14. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it will cost to review over 750,000 social welfare claims in 2019 as part of the new anti-fraud strategy; the estimated savings that will be made from the review; the timeline of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38798/19]

JobPath Programme

Thomas Pringle

37. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for the future of JobPath; if winding down the scheme is being considered in the near future in view of the fact that only 6% of participants have achieved work for over one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38797/19]

Health Services Funding

Thomas Pringle

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the provision of long-term sustainable funding for community health projects, including a foundation (details supplied) in County Donegal, in order that they are not under threat of closure every few months if funding and donations cannot fill the gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39023/19]

Disability Services Funding

Thomas Pringle

133. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated to a centre (details supplied) to allow it open from the current 40 to 52 weeks per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39032/19]

Road Improvement Schemes

Thomas Pringle

143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding is available for the upgrading of rural roads along the Wild Atlantic Way for the benefit of developing tourism in the area and increasing connections along the coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38911/19]

Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

Thomas Pringle

176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address the issue of the delay in implementation of the mica redress scheme in County Donegal; the number of personnel hired to date by Donegal County Council to facilitate the implementation process; the timeline of the implementation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39025/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Thomas Pringle

235. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the weighting percentages to be used as part of the upcoming HSE FreeStyle Libre group review decision making process that will be given to criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Thomas Pringle

236. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the reimbursement dataset will specifically cover only current HSE funded users of the FreeStyle Libre device; if not, if the Health Technology Assessment Group review will simply compare total blood glucose strip usage spend year on year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38929/19]

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Thomas Pringle

392. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has been provided calculations by Teagasc of the potential amount of land that is not under grass that might be available for conversion to tillage or agroforestry without the loss of soil carbon; the basis for claims by Teagasc scientists that conversion from grassland, beef and dairy to tillage crops would result in net increases of greenhouse gas emissions on a life cycle basis; and his views on the recommendation by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action for diversification measures to ensure that Ireland can become more food secure by growing more tillage crops. [38349/19]

EU Bodies

Thomas Pringle

132. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the level of Irish involvement in Eurojust; his assessment of the involvement; if the involvement will be continued or altered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37900/19]

Bail Law

Thomas Pringle

133. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has had contact with the Garda Commissioner on the objection of the State to bail in the case of persons (details supplied); his further plans to ensure that the relevant authorities examine the situation from a humanitarian position in view of their advanced years and the fact that the seizing of their passports has resulted in their being separated from their families for over six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/19]

Arms Trade

Thomas Pringle

91. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will join the 29 countries calling for a prohibition on fully autonomous weapons, including the ban in participating, supporting the development of and-or manufacturing or trading such lethal autonomous weapons also known as LAWS before a robotic arms race ensues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36975/19]

Disability Support Services

Thomas Pringle

328. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting a minimum of 300 therapy staff for children’s services over the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36985/19]

Transport Support Scheme

Thomas Pringle

329. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of establishing the transport support scheme to replace the mobility allowance; if this is due to take place as part of budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36987/19]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

508. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his emissions budget for methane and nitrous oxide for 2020 to 2030; the emission budget cumulatively for the same period; the specific emissions reduction measures he plans to implement; and the planned reduction amount of each in order to meet emissions reduction obligations under the EU Effort Sharing Regulation. [37594/19]

EU Regulations

Thomas Pringle

509. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the implications of the proposed EU regulation 2017/2403 for marine conservation and the preservation and sustainable management of fish stocks in Irish waters; the impact on proposed marine protection areas or Natura 2000 sites; the way in which he plans to manage additional vessels fishing in Irish waters to ensure that fish stocks are conserved and managed sustainably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37595/19]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

510. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he plans to take to ensure that Ireland is not a net emitter of GHGs once the LULUCF regulation takes effect; and the measures he plans to increase the level of reafforestation to ensure that soil carbon and sequestration from forestry is maintained. [37596/19]

Diplomatic Representation

Thomas Pringle

511. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the instructions given to agriculture and food attachés to embassies that have such officials in respect of climate change commitments in the agrifood sector; and the job descriptions of each. [37597/19]

Teagasc Activities

Thomas Pringle

512. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has requested Teagasc to develop a new MACC analysis for climate mitigation that includes scenarios with a smaller national herd as per the advice of the Climate Change Advisory Council in its 2019 Annual Review. [37598/19]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

Thomas Pringle

513. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop rewilding and peatland restoration projects on blanket bogland designated for agricultural purposes; his further plans in regard to a budget for such schemes under the revised CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37599/19]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Thomas Pringle

514. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to include a requirement that existing hedgerows are maintained and improved as part of dairy expansion projects that receive funding from his Department; and the information supplied to farmers regarding the importance of hedgerows via direct payments under pillar I of CAP. [37600/19]

Teagasc Funding

Thomas Pringle

515. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he plans to take to improve the accessibility and affordability of farm advisory services to farmers from Teagasc under the next CAP. [37601/19]

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Thomas Pringle

516. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has made calculations of the land that is not under grass that might be available for conversion to tillage or agroforestry without the loss of soil carbon. [37602/19]

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Thomas Pringle

517. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take in relation to the new advice from Teagasc that under no circumstances should peaty soils be drained; the way in which the information will be conveyed to farmers; and the measures that will be put in place to ensure that this advice is heeded. [37603/19]