Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for all sittings
Page 69 of 91
Wed, 25 May 2016
written
Community Employment Schemes Operation
Thomas Pringle
45. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which community employment schemes can compete with Tús and the rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11841/16]
Wed, 25 May 2016
written
Ambulance Service Provision
Thomas Pringle
233. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the current lack of adequate emergency ambulance services in County Donegal, particularly in the Inishowen area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11927/16]
Wed, 25 May 2016
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Assisted Human Reproduction
Thomas Pringle
234. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason the establishment of the national donor-conceived person register has taken over a year to set up, leaving many parents and children currently in limbo as to their legal entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11928/16]
Tue, 24 May 2016
written
State Examinations
Thomas Pringle
189. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills why he has declined a reader to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11706/16]
Tue, 24 May 2016
written
Community Employment Schemes Supervisors
Thomas Pringle
361. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the issues surrounding pensions for community employment supervisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11871/16]
Tue, 24 May 2016
written
Transport Infrastructure Ireland Funding
Thomas Pringle
608. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to re-instate the N14 Letterkenny to Strabane road project as part of a balanced approach to transport infrastructure development inclusive of rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11855/16]
Tue, 24 May 2016
written
Transport Infrastructure Ireland Funding
Thomas Pringle
609. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the A5 Derry to Strabane road project, his views on the withdrawal of £50 million earmarked for the A5 but reallocated for work extending the M18 from Gort to Tuam and the M11 between Wicklow and Arklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11856/16]
Tue, 24 May 2016
written
Rail Network
Thomas Pringle
610. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the western rail corridor from Derry to Letterkenny, Sligo and Galway, thereby creating a Derry to Cork western rail corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11857/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
oral
School Admissions
Thomas Pringle
7. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is committed to the repeal of section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000, in order that a child or family cannot be discriminated against when accessing State-funded schools on the basis of their religious beliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10714/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Teachers' Remuneration
Thomas Pringle
18. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills how he will address pay inequality in the teaching profession for post 2011 new entrant teachers in view of increasing economic stability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10715/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Prisoner Transfers
Thomas Pringle
33. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if an application by a prisoner in the United Kingdom to complete a sentence in Ireland in order to be close to extended family requires that the person have a valid personal public service number in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11030/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
National Treasury Management Agency Reports
Thomas Pringle
57. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance when the 2015 annual report of the National Treasury Management Agency will be available; the process for the formal review of the strategy of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, scheduled to take place in 2016 in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the opportunities for Oireachtas Members and other stakeholders to feed into this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11078/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments
Thomas Pringle
58. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the legislative and other measures necessary to divest all remaining Ireland Strategic Investment Fund investments in the fossil fuel industry; the prohibition of any future investments in the fossil fuel industry in Ireland or internationally and the adoption of a 100% renewable energy investment policy for the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11079/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Programme for Government Priorities
Thomas Pringle
85. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plan to create a three-year strategy in the first 100 days of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Programme for Government Initiatives
Thomas Pringle
86. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will outline the programme for Government proposed action plan on education inclusion; how he will consult on the plan; the timeline for the completion of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11053/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Legislative Programme
Thomas Pringle
87. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the draft heads of the new admissions and excellence Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11054/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
School Patronage
Thomas Pringle
88. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his proposals for continued divestment given the commitment in the programme for Government for new approaches to speed up divestment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11055/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Passport Applications
Thomas Pringle
146. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the processing time for passport renewals; why it appears that the tracking is not updated regularly; if passports are processed within the ten working days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11073/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Medical Card Eligibility
Thomas Pringle
176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health why applicants who satisfy the criteria for a primary medical certificate, such as those with only one leg, are being refused in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11071/16]
Thu, 19 May 2016
written
Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments
Thomas Pringle
177. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delays in processing information sent to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service by applicants for medical cards and by public representatives that are leading to unacceptable delays in processing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11072/16]
Wed, 18 May 2016
oral
Social and Affordable Housing Funding
Thomas Pringle
9. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the status of his engagement with the Central Bank in relation to the Irish League of Credit Unions' social housing proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/16]
Wed, 18 May 2016
written
Credit Unions
Thomas Pringle
110. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will engage with the social housing funding proposal of the Irish League of Credit Unions as part of the solution to the housing shortage crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10777/16]
Wed, 18 May 2016
written
Mental Health Services
Thomas Pringle
143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his response to the successful piloted BeLonG To, the Health Service Executive's safe and supportive school initiative, which recently launched its successful findings of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/16]
Wed, 18 May 2016
written
Health Services Staff
Thomas Pringle
147. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the 36 posts sanctioned nationally to support the implementation of the type 2 diabetes cycle of care initiative as set out in the Health Service Executive 2016 service plan will be filled; to ensure the community-based senior dietician role allocated to County Donegal is filled; if he is aware that without this post being filled, general practitioners delivering the cycle of care initiative in County Donegal cannot refer high risk patients to a more specialised service such as dietetics that could help improve diabetes management in patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10731/16]
Wed, 18 May 2016
written
Disability Services Provision
Thomas Pringle
153. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to address disability services in rural areas and the effects cuts to personal assistance services have had on those living in very isolated areas as is the case for persons in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10778/16]
Wed, 18 May 2016
written
Broadband Service Provision
Thomas Pringle
212. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources how he will prioritise the roll-out of broadband to rural areas and prevent further delays in the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10779/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Missing Persons
Thomas Pringle
12. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to engage further on the issues surrounding the case of the disappearance of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10010/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Human Rights
Thomas Pringle
43. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the proceedings from the United Nations universal periodic review of Ireland's human rights record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10134/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Constitutional Convention Recommendations
Thomas Pringle
69. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the status of the reports of the Constitutional Convention from the Thirty-First Dáil Éireann and if he will bring them before the new Dáil, the new constitutional convention or the relevant Oireachtas committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10405/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Services for People with Disabilities
Thomas Pringle
95. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her efforts in conjunction with other Departments and State agencies in implementing the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; if she will resource the strategy to enable its full implementation; if she will use the €10 million European Social Fund for the programme for employment inclusion and learning to develop programmes with cross-departmental potential; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9548/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Legislative Programme
Thomas Pringle
162. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to advance the sexual offences Bill as a matter of urgency following the recent decision in France to introduce sex buyer laws and similar moves underway in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10695/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Legislative Programme
Thomas Pringle
163. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to immediately resume the sexual offences Bill given attempts by organised crime to traffic men, women and children in the refugee crisis for sexual exploitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10696/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Human Trafficking
Thomas Pringle
164. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the second national action plan to combat human trafficking, which was promised four years ago and which currently exists in draft stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10697/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Human Trafficking
Thomas Pringle
165. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to immediately appoint an independent national rapporteur on human trafficking to bring Ireland into line with other European states and to ensure robust measures are in place to combat this crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10698/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Insurance Costs
Thomas Pringle
171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to deal with the prohibitively high increases in insurance premiums for small businesses and individual drivers; if the increases in premiums demanded impact on the viability of businesses or the ability of persons to stay in employment and are a threat to the stability of the economy and, in turn, to the ability of the insurance industry to remain viable; to assist persons who cannot afford the increases being demanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9419/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Tax Exemptions
Thomas Pringle
212. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the cost of introducing an exemption from property tax for those on incomes below €14,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10352/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Property Tax
Thomas Pringle
213. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance the cost of abolishing the 4% interest rate for those who choose to defer payment of the property tax under the current system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10353/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Religious Discrimination
Thomas Pringle
309. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure the requirement that faith formation in State funded schools is confined to a distinct period of time, not permeated throughout the school day and taught after core school hours so that parents can choose if their children receive religious instruction in a particular religion; to avoid the community national school model of schools which segregate children during the school day and fail to treat children of all beliefs and none with equal respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10301/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
School Patronage
Thomas Pringle
310. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to diversify patronage arrangements in order that it is easier for schools to change patrons while continuing to increase the number of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10302/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Religious Discrimination
Thomas Pringle
311. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to promote faith formation to the end or start of the school day to allow families to opt in as opposed to forcing families to opt out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10303/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Religious Discrimination
Thomas Pringle
312. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to develop and issue clear guidelines in order that children of any faith and none who wish to opt out of a patron’s religious instruction have the right and opportunity to do so in all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Wind Energy Guidelines
Thomas Pringle
348. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will publish the revision of the 2006 Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government wind development guidelines, given that it is two years on hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10039/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Constitutional Convention Recommendations
Thomas Pringle
406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will promote the right to housing as part of the economic, social and cultural rights approach to the long-term solution of homelessness and to the overall housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10305/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Disability Support Services
Thomas Pringle
467. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection why he will cease funding the walk disability project in July 2016 which is currently supporting 170 young persons with disabilities who are in receipt of disability allowance and who do not qualify for employment activation supports or are deemed not job ready by employability services; to reconsider his position and advise on how these persons will remain supported when the project closes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9476/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Youth Guarantee
Thomas Pringle
482. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection why young persons on a disability payment from his Department are excluded from the Youth Guarantee and why Ireland is the only country in Europe to exclude persons with disabilities from the Youth Guarantee and other mainstream activation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9549/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Thomas Pringle
545. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the State pension by €5 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10337/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Thomas Pringle
546. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €2.50 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10338/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Household Benefits Scheme
Thomas Pringle
547. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the telephone allowance to €9.50 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10339/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Household Benefits Scheme
Thomas Pringle
548. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the telephone allowance to its original value of €22.50 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10340/16]
Tue, 17 May 2016
written
Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Thomas Pringle
549. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of fully restoring the Christmas bonus to recipients of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10341/16]