Parliamentary questions

Illness Benefit Waiting Times

Thomas Pringle

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her handling of delays in the issuing of illness benefit payments; if these delays have been fully addressed; if not, when she envisages payment issues will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46624/18]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Pringle

230. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of negotiations on the issue of SNA training being funded by the State as opposed to by individual SNAs; if the recommendation for this change by the National Council for Special Education is being considered; if same will be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46712/18]

Proposed Legislation

Thomas Pringle

404. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the assisted human reproduction Bill will be introduced; if it will include a clause prohibiting donor tourism whereby a clinic based here facilitates couples attending clinics in other jurisdictions to access anonymous gametes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46949/18]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Thomas Pringle

513. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) cannot access community childcare subvention and community childcare subvention plus schemes; the steps that can be taken to alleviate the person's situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46537/18]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

92. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person or family household is required to be on a social welfare payment to qualify for the special rate of SUSI grants when their income does not exceed €23,500; his views on whether this restriction is penalising for families that are working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46091/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason all parental income is taken into account on the means assessment for social welfare applicants under 25 years of age; the reason a parent in receipt of a carer's allowance parental income is normally disregarded under all other schemes yet it is taken into account when a person under 25 years of age is still living with their parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46092/18]

Deportation Orders Data

Thomas Pringle

379. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who hold an outstanding deportation order for timeframes in months (details supplied). [44640/18]

Deportation Orders Data

Thomas Pringle

380. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time for an outstanding deportation order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44641/18]

Garda Recruitment

Thomas Pringle

408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to recruitment and retention issues within An Garda Síochána in County Donegal; the efforts carried out to date to ensure adequate numbers of gardaí are present in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45137/18]

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Thomas Pringle

409. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the low rates of driver drug tests in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45140/18]

Home Help Service

Thomas Pringle

609. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting approval for home help hours in the north west in each month in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45133/18]

Health Services Funding

Thomas Pringle

610. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount of extra funding allocated from budget 2019 to address the trolley crisis in Letterkenny University Hospital not taking into account funds allocated to cover the existing overspend in the health budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45134/18]

Ambulance Service Provision

Thomas Pringle

611. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his views on whether ambulance cover in County Donegal is sufficient for the needs of the county; the number of stations that exist; the criteria for deployment of ambulances at each station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45135/18]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Thomas Pringle

807. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a report (details supplied) recently published which outlines a policy trajectory in which Ireland could achieve a 70% renewable electricity share by 2030, which includes offshore wind and solar; his views on whether the wind energy guidelines are a potential barrier to the achievement of this goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45619/18]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Thomas Pringle

998. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding under the town and village renewal scheme awarded to projects in County Donegal in each year since its inception to date; the number of projects which applied for funding; the number of projects which were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45138/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

1026. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the payment for a child dependent on the illness benefit claim by a person (details supplied) will be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44786/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

1027. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive an illness benefit payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44787/18]

Illness Benefit Applications

Thomas Pringle

1065. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will be awarded an illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45083/18]

Illness Benefit Applications

Thomas Pringle

1068. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will be awarded illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45107/18]

Departmental Reports

Thomas Pringle

1070. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the report into seasonal workers in County Donegal will be published and made available in view of the fact that two budgets have passed since a commitment was made to examine barriers facing seasonal workers accessing social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45132/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

1078. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the reason for the delay in issuing a weekly illness benefit payment to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45209/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

1079. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the reason for the delay in issuing a weekly illness benefit payment to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45210/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

1085. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be able to reapply for illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45232/18]

Housing Data

Thomas Pringle

1175. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties in County Donegal secured under the buy and renew scheme which facilitates local authorities or approved housing bodies to purchase vacant properties for social housing use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45018/18]

Housing Issues

Thomas Pringle

1179. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his efforts to date in addressing the high council housing vacancy rate in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45136/18]

Housing Data

Thomas Pringle

1180. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications made to date under the buy and renew scheme in County Donegal; the number of successful applications to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45139/18]

Building Regulations

Thomas Pringle

1181. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will publish the criteria which homeowners in County Donegal affected by mica must meet in order to access the redress scheme; the amount of funding that will be provided to facilitate the redress scheme; if those that did not come forward during the consultation process will still be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45141/18]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Thomas Pringle

1205. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will publish the wind energy planning guidelines; the reason for such a delay; his plans to introduce more onshore wind turbines in the absence of such guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45618/18]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Thomas Pringle

280. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 17 October 2018, if he will provide all correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44168/18]

Budget 2019

Thomas Pringle

243. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific provisions within budget 2019 which will phase out the lower salaries of post-2011 teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43174/18]

Teachers' Remuneration

Thomas Pringle

244. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers in County Donegal on a lower salary as a result of the 2011 reduction in incomes; when the two tier salary system for teachers in primary and secondary education schools will cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43175/18]

Capitation Grants

Thomas Pringle

245. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason budget 2019 did not prioritise the restoration of the capitation grant in view of the fact that austerity measures reduced the grant by €30; the way in which schools are expected to make up for the continued shortfall in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43176/18]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Pringle

247. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are updates from the meeting held recently in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43193/18]

Illness Benefit Waiting Times

Thomas Pringle

625. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is an issue with the dedicated phone lines for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to access illness benefit sections in view of the fact that they are not contactable at the moment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43314/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Thomas Pringle

626. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) received a reduced rate of illness benefit; the reason they received no payment the following week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43315/18]

Illness Benefit Applications

Thomas Pringle

627. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to illness benefit in view of the fact they are required to have an emergency operation and they are unable to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43316/18]

Illness Benefit Waiting Times

Thomas Pringle

628. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a number of regular recipients of illness benefit are not receiving weekly payments; the measures being taken to address the payment disruptions in view of the fact that delayed payments cause distress for persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43317/18]

Repair and Leasing Scheme

Thomas Pringle

675. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties which have applied for the repair and leasing scheme; the number of properties accepted into the scheme in County Donegal since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43194/18]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Thomas Pringle

176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the process that is used to inform persons who have been referred for further examination by the CervicalCheck scheme of the results of the tests; the reason they would have to wait for up to three months for those results; the number of persons who have had further examination and have been given further tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42673/18]

Energy Conservation

Thomas Pringle

190. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the roadmap for the retrofitting of the public and private housing stock to comply with the housing and heating portion of Ireland's EU renewable energy directive targets for 2020 and 2030. [42711/18]

National Mitigation Plan Implementation

Thomas Pringle

195. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the committees, working groups and related co-ordination bodies that are involved in the implementation of the national mitigation plan 2017, the climate elements of the NDP and the development of the draft national climate and energy plan; the details and minutes of all of these meetings since the adoption of the 2017 NMP; and the way in which these committees report to the Houses of the Oireachtas and its committees. [42709/18]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Thomas Pringle

196. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide all correspondence with the Minister for Finance from his Department relating to the proposed and then scrapped increase in the carbon tax as part of budget 2019. [42710/18]

Departmental Reports

Thomas Pringle

207. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will publish and provide copies of all PLUTO 2040 reports that have been completed to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment; the process and guidelines under which these projects will be assessed for their climate impacts; and the way in which they will be funded. [42708/18]

Inland Fisheries Data

Thomas Pringle

177. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of rivers in State or private ownership in County Donegal; if in State ownership, when they were taken into ownership in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41548/18]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Pringle

5. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the tendering process for the national broadband plan; if he is satisfied with the process to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41465/18]

Harbours and Piers Funding

Thomas Pringle

563. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of funding granted for an upgrade of Magheroarty Pier, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41009/18]

Local Authority Funding

Thomas Pringle

564. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount allocated to Donegal County Council to carry out works to the Bunbeg Bridge, Gweedore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41010/18]

Consular Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

151. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to open a new consulate general office in Faro, Portugal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39668/18]

Garda Transport Data

Thomas Pringle

273. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of 1400 cc and 1500 cc motorcycles within the Garda fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39670/18]

Social Insurance Data

Thomas Pringle

595. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost if class A employers rate of 8.6% was reduced to 8% for persons earning less then €376 weekly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39669/18]