Parliamentary questions

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Thomas Pringle

213. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Buncrana and Luddan scheme, while included in the proposed measures for flood risk management County Donegal summary, is not in fact included in the first batch of schemes yet remains part of the ten year €1 billion programme of investment in flood relief measures; when the scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23265/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

420. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason the attention of the parents and members of a group (details supplied) was not drawn to the new standard operating procedures put in place as part of the assessment of needs process; if the group will be consulted to ensure the best interests of the child and families remain central to new processes being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/18]

CLÁR Programme

Thomas Pringle

581. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23112/18]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Thomas Pringle

588. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter (details supplied) will be addressed in relation to payments through post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23120/18]

JobPath Programme

Thomas Pringle

592. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason correspondence sent to her office has not yet been responded to; if the issue regarding the behaviour of JobPath towards a person (details supplied) will be responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23143/18]

Maternity Leave

Thomas Pringle

604. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the maternity policy in Intreo offices for jobseekers who are pregnant and after giving birth; if women are required to be available for work or actively seeking employment throughout the duration of pregnancy; the length of time of their maternity leave; if this is in line with the six months maternity leave, with another four months unpaid as an option, granted to women who are in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23358/18]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Thomas Pringle

21. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the business survey results (details supplied) carried out recently; her plans for greater diversified funding for small businesses in County Donegal and rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19108/18]

Regional Action Plan for Jobs

Thomas Pringle

23. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the progress to date with the Action Plan for Jobs for the north-west region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19109/18]

Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks

Thomas Pringle

198. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the report of the expert group on mica published in 2017; if he will respond to a group's (details supplied) invitation to launch the publication of recommendations Nos. 1 and 2 in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22737/18]

School Admissions

Thomas Pringle

41. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an amendment to the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 will be introduced to seek the removal of the baptism barrier; the way in which he plans to increase diversity of schooling here in view of the fact that the Catholic Church has handed over control of just 11 schools to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22438/18]

DEIS Administration

Thomas Pringle

50. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if DEIS funding will be reinstated for schools in County Donegal experiencing high levels of deprivation and for which families are forced to raise funds for essential maintenance in the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22439/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Pringle

53. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal with construction due to commence in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22440/18]

School Staff

Thomas Pringle

54. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the situation regarding a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be addressed in view of the fact that it is still without an administrative principal despite having seven teachers and eight SNAs on its staff and is only one of two schools in Ireland facing this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22436/18]

Third Level Costs

Thomas Pringle

85. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue regarding the introduction of income contingent loans for third level education; the issues regarding student debt and the resulting barriers to education for persons from disadvantaged backgrounds that will be taken into account, which is the case in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22437/18]

Education Policy

Thomas Pringle

224. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the continued practice of single-sex education here; his plans to end single-sex schooling to tackle gender inequality reinforced by gender segregation in primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/18]

Bus Éireann Staff

Thomas Pringle

490. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on Bus Éireann's recent recruitment plan for 200 extra staff with none allocated to County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22126/18]

Construction Contracts

Thomas Pringle

612. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns regarding housing construction in County Donegal in respect of PPP contracts which preclude local contractors from tendering for local public works and the knock-on effect this will have on the SME sector, which will also be precluded from working on future local projects; the reason he is focusing on the traditional procurement model which means only the top contractors in the country will be able to compete for public works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22555/18]

Wards of Court

Thomas Pringle

114. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the recommendation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality report on wards of court requesting a comprehensive and independent audit of the cases identified by a group (details supplied) will be implemented to ensure that optimum protection is afforded to all previous and current wards of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21890/18]

Insurance Costs

Thomas Pringle

64. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if an unsustainable situation facing an organisation (details supplied) in County Donegal and nationally which is facing a large increase in insurance costs with members unable to pay their renewals will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21645/18]

Integrated Ticketing

Thomas Pringle

184. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the use of the Leap card in County Donegal will be rolled out (details supplied); his views on whether it is fair that as a result of the reliance on Bus Éireann expressway routes that service users in the county do not have access to the same discount options as those that use the Leap card in cities and are therefore forced to pay full price for each trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21586/18]

Septic Tank Registration Scheme

Thomas Pringle

218. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to change the deadline of registration of septic tanks from 1 February 2013 to enable those that registered their existing septic tanks to avail of a grant for remedial works required after inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21530/18]

Health Services Funding

Thomas Pringle

333. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available for staffing in neurology services and in the context of the upcoming budget in line with the neurology and epilepsy models of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20799/18]

Tax Credits

Thomas Pringle

84. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if there is a specific tax credit available for international screen production companies that bring post-production and visual effects work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/18]

School Transport Data

Thomas Pringle

171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of each contract for school bus provision by the length of the journey, number of children and cost of the route by each of the school bus routes in counties Donegal, Cork, Galway and Mayo without identifying the bus operator in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20029/18]

Immigration Controls

Thomas Pringle

190. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Syrian, Eritrean, Afghan, Iraqi, Iranian, Libyan and Somalian origin refused leave to land at points of entry here in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19700/18]

Immigration Controls

Thomas Pringle

191. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Syrian, Eritrean, Afghan, Iraqi, Iranian, Libyan and Somalian origin refused leave to land at points of entry here to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19701/18]

Asylum Applications Data

Thomas Pringle

192. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who are in the asylum process for more than three, five and seven years, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19702/18]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

444. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 2125 of 20 June 2017, the outcome of her examination of the decision of the Social Welfare Appeals Office; if the right to full social welfare payments while residing in direct provision will be granted to all nationalities with a refugee declaration, a subsidiary protection declaration or permission to remain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19699/18]

CLÁR Programme

Thomas Pringle

19. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for the anomalies regarding CLÁR funding in 2017 which saw only three successful projects under measures 1 to 3 in County Donegal; the reason funding under measure 4 is within the discretion of his Department and not directly under the local authority; if a scoring matrix will be used in the processing of applications for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19156/18]

Hospitals Funding

Thomas Pringle

217. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if funding has been allocated for essential upgrade works at Falcarragh Community Hospital, County Donegal; if so, when this funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18582/18]

Salmon Hardship Scheme

Thomas Pringle

338. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the introduction of a comprehensive licence for salmon fishing will be supported for traditional salmon fishermen who have waited 11 years for an initiative addressing the impact of the ban on salmon fishing on their livelihoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18586/18]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

417. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when her Department's report into barriers facing seasonal workers accessing social welfare payments in County Donegal will be published and made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18714/18]

Brexit Negotiations

Thomas Pringle

11. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Irish fisheries will be included in negotiations in the lead-up to Brexit; the progress made to date to defend Ireland's position in respect of fisheries in the lead-up to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18263/18]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Pringle

31. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the consultation paper to review the options for more restricted access to large fishing vessels trawling specifically within Ireland’s six mile nautical zone will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18262/18]

Television Licences Data

Thomas Pringle

202. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of television licences sold through post offices in each of the years 2014 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18347/18]

Television Licences Data

Thomas Pringle

203. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the statistics on the way in which television licence holders paid for their licence by each of the options available to them in each of the years 2014 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18348/18]

Middle East Issues

Thomas Pringle

83. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if increased assistance will be provided to humanitarian agencies in Gaza following the high number of Palestinians shot and injured during the six-week great march of return which began on 30 March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18250/18]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Thomas Pringle

173. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes that will be carried out to an Scrúdú le haghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge for entry into primary school teaching; when these changes will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/18]

Local Improvement Scheme Administration

Thomas Pringle

550. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has changed its practice in which it no longer funds private or non-council roads on islands unless the council agrees to take over the future maintenance of those private roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17668/18]

Thatching Grants Applications

Thomas Pringle

349. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a decision will be made on an application for a thatching grant by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17340/18]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Thomas Pringle

24. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to address issues facing small businesses in County Donegal including concerns regarding the retreat of rural services and the lack of Government supports for small businesses outside the remit of Enterprise Ireland and the IDA and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16256/18]

School Staff

Thomas Pringle

88. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to appoint an administrative principal to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16892/18]

School Transport

Thomas Pringle

432. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the value of individual contracts for school buses (details supplied) in each county; if there are large differences from county to county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16280/18]

Health Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

858. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that new medicines are available to persons with MS in a timely manner; the efforts he has carried out to date to ensure new medicines are available in a timely manner to those that need them most; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15784/18]

Coillte Teoranta Activities

Thomas Pringle

1052. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the numbers of Coillte farm partnerships in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15263/18]

Fisheries Protection

Thomas Pringle

1057. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the consultation process as part of the consultation paper to review the options for more restricted access for large fishing vessels trawling inside Ireland’s six-nautical-mile zone is expected to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15322/18]

Fisheries Protection

Thomas Pringle

1068. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the consultation on fishing inside the 12 mile limit is likely to commence; the time limit for submissions; when the results will be known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15434/18]

Fodder Crisis

Thomas Pringle

1077. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on recommendations by an association (details supplied) to address the growing number of farmers experiencing fodder shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15787/18]

Television Licence Fee Collection

Thomas Pringle

1202. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, under the current section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, a statutory body can be appointed at his discretion as the collection agent of the television licence fee and continue to have the full powers of enforcement as currently utilised by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16797/18]

Departmental Offices

Thomas Pringle

1204. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) - who has been waiting for more than two months - will receive a certificate of competency from the marine office and the reason for the delay in the marine office in his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the consequences this has on persons who cannot apply for work until they receive it from the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15309/18]