Parliamentary questions

Land Development Agency

Willie Penrose

250. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if, in the context of recent plans to include Columb Barracks, Mullingar as part of the Land Development Agency proposals, he will take steps to ensure that various community and voluntary groups and organisations which have been located within the barracks for the past two years are facilitated and accommodated within plans drawn up for the barracks and that they retain their facilities therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48467/18]

Commemorative Events

Willie Penrose

24. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to convene a committee of historians and others to advise on the forthcoming commemorations in respect of the War of Independence, the anniversary of the First Dáil, the Democratic Programme, the Civil War and the foundation of the State; if she has reached agreements on the significant State commemorations to be held to commemorate these events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47416/18]

Traveller Community

Willie Penrose

173. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the status of the national Traveller health action plan; if a planning advisory body for Traveller health to drive delivery will be established; if the national Traveller health action plan will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47233/18]

Burial Grounds

Willie Penrose

266. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a burial site (details supplied) of historical importance can be accessed by members of the public for historical review in view of the fact that it is apparently landlocked and is situated on private land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47439/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Willie Penrose

74. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who have been impacted on by delays in the payment of illness benefit; her plans to address the matter; the number delayed; and the number of persons who have received supplementary welfare payments as a result of delays. [46896/18]

Pensions Reform

Willie Penrose

75. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans for legislative changes in pension law; when amendments will be tabled to the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017; the reason for the delay of more than a year; and when the Bill will be progressed. [46879/18]

Legislative Process

Willie Penrose

80. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when it is planned to introduce the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 in Seanad Éireann; and the amendments she plans to make to the Bill. [46881/18]

Parental Leave Expenditure

Willie Penrose

99. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date in 2019 from which parental leave will be paid under the budget forecasts; the number of persons expected to apply in 2019 and 2020; the full-year cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46883/18]

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Willie Penrose

102. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to establish a community advisory forum for community employment schemes; and her further plans to increase the payments that support these schemes and the participants. [46880/18]

Employment Rights

Willie Penrose

104. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of cases received and then investigated following the publicity campaign on false self-employment; if she is satisfied with the outcome to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46882/18]

Gambling Sector

Willie Penrose

189. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if, in the context of the recent increase in budget 2019 raising the betting tax from 1% to 2%, he will consider the alternative proposal that will achieve greater action in the Exchequer by levying the tax payable upon gross profit retail increased online and 25% commissions, rather than the current proposal which is levied upon total turnover, and which as continuation could perpetuate a loss of in excess of 3,000 jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47089/18]

School Enrolments

Willie Penrose

244. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria applicable to schools admissions following the enactment of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 with particular emphasis on family and sibling connections to schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47088/18]

Inland Fisheries

Willie Penrose

481. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in the context of his recent announcement concerning the eel fisherpersons support scheme and in particular in respect of the criteria outlined therein, it is the intention of the scheme to exclude fishermen who were fishing during the appropriate period and had prepared audited accounts for taxation return purposes; the criteria that are applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47184/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

Willie Penrose

582. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) will receive the correct and appropriate rate of illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47185/18]

Planning Guidelines

Willie Penrose

620. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he will take to issue the appropriate order to make the necessary adjustments to the national planning framework in the context of commitments given to an organisation (details supplied) at a meeting on 4 October 2018; and if he will further instruct the regional assemblies to amend their RSES to comply with these adjustments and changes. [46739/18]

Illness Benefit Costs

Willie Penrose

278. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason persons in receipt of illness benefit must pay a €10 charge to their general practitioner to have a medical certificate completed in order to claim their illness benefit; if the matter will be reviewed in circumstances in which they are medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46406/18]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Willie Penrose

554. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the additional resources being provided to CAMHS in order to enable young persons with mental health problems to be assessed; if additional psychologists will be recruited to ensure young persons can secure immediate and vital assessments and to enable timely access to appropriate treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44889/18]

Credit Union Regulation

Willie Penrose

6. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance to outline the work his Department has carried out in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government with regard to the establishment of a special purpose vehicle for credit unions to invest funds in social housing projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43969/18]

Community Banking

Willie Penrose

60. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if the rebuttal published by an organisation (details supplied) has been examined in respect of the conclusions of the public banking investigation; the detailed refutation of the conclusions drawn by his Department in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40658/18]

Community Banking

Willie Penrose

85. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if he has examined the rebuttal published by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the conclusions of the public banking investigation; the detailed refutation of the conclusions drawn by his Department's officials; if he will be raising the points raised by the organisation in its submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38418/18]