Parliamentary questions

Bank Branch Closures

Thomas Pringle

47. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the contingency plans in place to counteract the negative effects on rural communities brought on by the latest closures of banks (details supplied) in County Donegal and across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16246/17]

Banking Sector

Thomas Pringle

71. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposals set out by a group (details supplied) for an alternative banking model which would combine the existing services and capacities of credit unions and post offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16247/17]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Pringle

595. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if discussions have taken place and, if so, the details of same, with signatories to the 1964 London Fisheries Convention regarding the withdrawal of the UK from the convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16327/17]

Road Network

Thomas Pringle

65. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the recent delegation from Donegal County Council regarding Fintra and Tyrconnell bridges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14005/17]

Road Network

Thomas Pringle

69. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the realignment of the N14 road in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14006/17]

Tax Code

Thomas Pringle

117. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the existing social welfare payments which are exempt from income tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14376/17]

European Disability Strategy

Thomas Pringle

90. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on calls for the strengthening of the European Accessibility Act at European Parliament level to ensure the legislation protects the rights of those with disabilities to access goods and services across Europe, including here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13491/17]

State Visits

Thomas Pringle

139. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has the final figures of the precise costs to the State in facilitating Prince Charles's visit here in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13510/17]

Community Employment Schemes Administration

Thomas Pringle

504. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 325 of 7 March 2017 (details supplied) if, by the logic contained therein, the national average supervisor participation ratio will need to increase to 25:1 before a scheme is approved for an assistant supervisor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13227/17]

State Pensions

Thomas Pringle

545. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if the figure he gave to Dáil Éireann on 7 March 2017, estimating the cost of reverting to the State pension rate bands that existed prior to the changes introduced in 2012 of approximately €60 million if introduced in January 2018, included the increase in the State pension rate in 2017; and, if not, if he will provide an updated figure. [13773/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review

Thomas Pringle

944. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in implementing the recommendations contained in chapter five of the review of the nursing homes support scheme and, specifically, work done in implementing recommendations 7 to 9 that deal with additional charges imposed by private nursing homes on fair deal residents. [13772/17]

Rural Development Programme

Thomas Pringle

1045. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address calls from an organisation (details supplied) and its 6,000 members for representation on the EU monitoring committee for the rural development programme in order that the needs of small family farms will be heard and met through the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13414/17]

Food Exports to China

Thomas Pringle

6. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the urgent need to resolve the issue of China's ban on Irish live brown crab exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12197/17]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Pringle

46. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the scientific mistakes made by the European Commission in its allocation of mackerel TAC for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12196/17]

Mental Health Policy

Thomas Pringle

68. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the forthcoming review of the mental health policy, A Vision for Change; the timeframe for the development of a new national mental health policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12064/17]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Thomas Pringle

116. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to improve ambulance response times for rural areas such as County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12063/17]

Prisoner Transfers

Thomas Pringle

124. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the transfer of sentenced persons and transfer of execution of sentences Bill will come before Dáil Éireann to allow prisoners apply to complete their sentences here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12230/17]

Sports Funding

Thomas Pringle

285. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider making funding available outside the capital grant system for the development of athletics clubs across the country (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12232/17]

Educational Disadvantage

Thomas Pringle

227. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the exact scores on the Pobal HP index of deprivation that have excluded a school (details supplied) from inclusion in the 2017 DEIS programme; the relative index score that merits inclusion in DEIS; the way in which the POD and CSO small area of population statistics interact with the Pobal HP index of deprivation in determining the score that a school requires to be included in DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11592/17]

Educational Disadvantage

Thomas Pringle

228. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the exact scores on the Pobal HP index of deprivation that have excluded a school (details supplied) from inclusion in the 2017 DEIS programme; the relative index score that merits inclusion in DEIS; the way in which the POD and CSO small area of population statistics interact with the Pobal HP index of deprivation in determining the score that a school requires to be included in DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11593/17]

Educational Disadvantage

Thomas Pringle

229. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the exact scores on the Pobal HP index of deprivation that have excluded a school (details supplied) from inclusion in the 2017 DEIS programme; the relative index score that merits inclusion in DEIS; the way in which the POD and CSO small area of population statistics interact with the Pobal HP index of deprivation in determining the score that a school requires to be included in DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11594/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Thomas Pringle

230. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will award a grant under the summer works scheme to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11595/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Thomas Pringle

233. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will take into account recent concerns that have been raised in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if this will be considered in the context of its application to the summer works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11777/17]

Community Employment Schemes Administration

Thomas Pringle

325. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when community employment projects are being amalgamated; the reason assistant supervisors are not being approved to supervise larger projects; the reason little notice or consultation was carried out with sponsors and supervisors of schemes prior to changes made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11778/17]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Thomas Pringle

326. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to changes to job specification and terms and conditions for community employment supervisors due to larger numbers of participants per project; if his attention has been further drawn to the ongoing changes to the community employment manual yet no pay increases have been carried out to reflect this since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/17]

Medicinal Products Availability

Thomas Pringle

477. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a company (details supplied) for the FreeStyle Libre to be considered by the HSE for inclusion on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11242/17]

Naturalisation Certificates

Thomas Pringle

80. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to waiving or reducing the certification fee for EU nationals who are long-term residents here who wish to apply for naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10523/17]

Legislative Measures

Thomas Pringle

243. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the automatic medical card scheme for children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/17]

Asylum Applications

Thomas Pringle

167. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the International Protection Office has issued a 60-page application form to be returned within 20 days to residents in direct provision centres which does not allow them time to get advice on the completion of the form that will have a direct bearing on the success or not of an asylum application; if she will ensure that each applicant will have adequate legal advice prior to completing the form and allow enough time for applicants to take advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10394/17]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Thomas Pringle

377. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the settlement size should the non-rural houses rate apply to the social housing capital investment-unit cost ceilings circular for the incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10073/17]

Disability Allowance

Thomas Pringle

427. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the other allowances a person in receipt of disability allowance, living alone allowance and fuel allowance may be entitled to; if he will address this in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10049/17]

Labour Activation Projects

Thomas Pringle

446. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who are participants on community employment and Tús schemes who are being selected for JobPath programmes are being told they have to attend even though they are participating in a labour activation programme already; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10395/17]

Labour Activation Projects

Thomas Pringle

447. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that jobseekers' participation on JobPath is restricting the ability of community employment and Tús schemes to recruit participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10396/17]

Labour Activation Projects

Thomas Pringle

448. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount Seetec and Turas Nua have been paid in 2016; the number of persons they have placed in jobs; if any of these placements include community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10397/17]

Community Welfare Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the location of drop-in community welfare clinics in County Donegal; if consideration will be given to opening a clinic in the Bunbeg and Derrybeg area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10398/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Thomas Pringle

66. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of funding each county will receive for the buy and renewal initiative and the repair and leasing initiative as part of the recently announced action plan for rural development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4166/17]

Middle East Issues

Thomas Pringle

33. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when Ireland will officially recognise the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8699/17]

Immigration Data

Thomas Pringle

73. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total, and by nationality, refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State in 2016. [8850/17]

Immigration Data

Thomas Pringle

74. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total and by nationality refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State from Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Iran and Eritrea in 2016. [8851/17]

Immigration Data

Thomas Pringle

75. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total, and by port of entry, denied entry at Dublin, Rosslare and Dún Laoghaire ports and Cork, Shannon and Dublin Airports in 2016. [8852/17]

Immigration Data

Thomas Pringle

76. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total, and by nationality, refused leave to land here that were subsequently allowed to enter as asylum seekers in 2016. [8853/17]

Immigration Policy

Thomas Pringle

77. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will be opening the dedicated facility to accommodate persons who have been detained for immigration related matters at Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8854/17]

Immigration Controls

Thomas Pringle

78. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the civilianisation of front-line immigration control procedures at Dublin Airport; the number of civilianised Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, staff versus Garda National Immigration Bureau staff; the clerical grade of the civilianised staff; her future plans for civilianisation at other ports of entry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8855/17]

Social Welfare Benefits

Thomas Pringle

39. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the review being carried out on the effects that cuts to relevant social protection payments have had on seasonal workers in counties such as Donegal; when the review is likely to be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8478/17]

State Pensions

Thomas Pringle

58. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if the cost of backdating the homemaker’s scheme to encompass periods before 1994 has been estimated by his Department at €290 million; the basis for the increased figure in view of the fact that the cost was previously estimated in the 2007 Green Paper on Pensions to be approximately €150 million to €160 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8445/17]

Junior Cycle Reform

Thomas Pringle

233. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the concerns raised by a school (details supplied), the students of which are having difficulties completing the assessment task worth 10% of their junior certificate English due to outstanding issues between his Department and the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8660/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Pringle

234. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish a detailed outline of the new assessment framework now used to determine if a school qualifies for DEIS supports; if he will specify the differences between the previous and current assessment frameworks used to determine a school's qualification for DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/17]

Sports Capital Programme Data

Thomas Pringle

596. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of grant aid allocated by way of sports capital and RAPID programme funding towards the provision of the sports facilities in a school (details supplied); the conditions attached to the grant aid; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school authorities now propose to close down the entire gym and use the area as classrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8060/17]

Military Honours

Thomas Pringle

656. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will instruct the military authorities to convene a military medals board to review the entitlement of the 155 men of A Company of the 35th Infantry Battalion, that served with the UN in 1961, to a medal for their service during the Jadotville siege; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8129/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Pringle

261. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address the persistent lack of progress in the provision of broadband to a location (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, to date, two companies have cited lack of broadband provision as the primary reason the site was not chosen as the location for their business; the action he will take to prevent further decline in companies locating to Inishowen by targeting any prohibitive costs involved in rolling out broadband to specific sites in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/17]