Parliamentary questions

Local Authority Members' Remuneration

Mary Lou McDonald

958. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the date on which the final report of the independent review of the role and remuneration of elected members to local authorities will be published. [23318/19]

State Pensions Reform

Willie O'Dea

1. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the 2012 pension review; the number of persons who have had their pension entitlements reviewed to date; the number of persons awaiting a review; the number of persons issued with a high rate of pension; the number of persons whose pension has remained unchanged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22982/19]

Social Welfare Code Reform

John Brady

2. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider the establishment of a social welfare commission, as outlined in recently published legislation, as a way of tackling poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23104/19]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Willie O'Dea

3. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to changing the rules for carer's allowance to increase the hours a person is entitled to work from the current level of 15 hours to 18.5 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22983/19]

Social Welfare Appeals Waiting Times

John Brady

4. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time it takes for social welfare payments to be processed following an application granted on appeal when returned to the relevant section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23105/19]

Employment Rights

Willie Penrose

5. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to quantify and measure incidences of, and trends in, bogus self-employment; her plans to table new legislation to address the issue; if the proposed new legislation will be published in advance of the Dáil's summer recess; if her Department and other Departments and State agencies plan to bring forward specific proposals to address the problem of bogus self-employment in the construction sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22920/19]

Jobseeker's Payments

John Brady

8. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the duration of jobseeker's payments in line with the increase in pension to 67 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23002/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times

Thomas P. Broughan

9. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 14 May 2019, the reason the average number of weeks taken to award payments (details supplied) are between nine and 13; the measures she is taking to reduce the waiting times for the award of these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22787/19]

Local Employment Service

Willie O'Dea

11. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of plans for the local employment service, LES, including the tender process for the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22984/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Willie O'Dea

12. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her planned engagement with community employment, CE, supervisors; the proposals she plans to bring forward to address their entitlement to occupational pensions; if there is a timeline in place for the discussions to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22987/19]

Pension Provisions

John Curran

13. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the progress being made and the associated timeframe regarding the introduction of a total contribution pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23012/19]

Social Insurance Fund

Willie Penrose

14. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the status of the proposed expansion of the net eligibility for those self-employed persons who account for 14% of workers; her views on whether self-employed persons should contribute more in view of the differential between the 4% self-employed rate and the combined 14.95% for PAYE employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22916/19]

Child Poverty

Willie Penrose

15. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of children in poverty; the steps she is taking to tackle the problem; if she has held discussions with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to address the reported capacity problem within the childcare sector which is regarded as a key driver of childhood poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22917/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mary Lou McDonald

1. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagement with the US congressional delegation that visited Ireland. [21570/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the US Congressional delegation that visited Ireland recently. [21771/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, since Dáil Éireann adjourned for the Easter recess; and if so, if he discussed the Northern Ireland talks, Brexit or other matters. [20558/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Mary Lou McDonald

4. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when he last spoke to the British Prime Minister, Mrs. May. [21569/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Michael Moynihan

5. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report of the ongoing talks in Northern Ireland; and if he has discussed same with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. May. [21769/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent conversations with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. May, about Northern Ireland. [21772/19]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

7. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. May, about the talks on Northern Ireland recently. [22680/19]

European Council Meetings

Michael Moynihan

8. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the discussion at the informal EU Council meeting on building a greener, fairer and more inclusive future; and if he contributed to same. [20555/19]

European Council Meetings

Michael Moynihan

9. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if digital taxation was discussed at the informal EU Council meeting. [20557/19]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

10. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the discussions at the informal EU Council meeting in May 2019 on developing the EU economic base, in particular regarding fair and effective taxation, protecting the Single Market, deepening economic and monetary union and ensuring connectivity in addition to developing artificial intelligence; and if he contributed to these discussions. [20559/19]

European Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he attended bilaterals when he attended the informal EU Council meeting on 9 May 2019; and if so, the issues that were discussed. [20560/19]

European Council Meetings

Seán Haughey

12. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the informal European Council meeting in Sibiu, Romania; and the decisions taken on the future of Europe. [21513/19]

European Council Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

13. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent informal meeting of the European Council. [21571/19]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Howlin

14. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the informal European Council meeting in Sibiu, Romania on 9 May 2019. [21852/19]

National Broadband Plan

Dara Calleary

26. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of discussions he has had with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with regard to broadband provision in rural communities, including the role of his Department in the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23010/19]

National Indemnity Scheme for Landowners

Martin Kenny

27. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the national indemnity scheme that he announced to indemnify private landowners in areas not covered by the approved trails in respect of the use of their lands for recreational purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22753/19]

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding

John Curran

28. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the level of funding being made available under the social inclusion and community activation plan, SICAP, will be reviewed in view of the fact it has been at the same level since 2016 and is anticipated to remain at this level until 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23011/19]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Michael Collins

29. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if County Cork, in particular west Cork, will receive a fair share of funding in the next round of rural regeneration and development funding in view of the fact that in the second round of rural regeneration and development funding announcements, west Cork was passed over and received no funding for community-type projects even though projects were ready to go or shovel-ready. [22899/19]

Regional Development Funding

Dara Calleary

33. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the EU funding supports available for regional development. [22887/19]

EU Programmes

John Curran

34. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding drawn down by his Department under the European Social Fund's Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning, PEIL, 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22737/19]

LEADER Programmes Data

Dara Calleary

35. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent to date under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme by project and administration costs, respectively; the amount expended to date on project costs by each local action group, LAG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22890/19]

Climate Change Policy

Willie Penrose

36. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role of his Department in tackling climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22798/19]

Men's Sheds

Tony McLoughlin

37. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to allocate funding in 2019 to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22729/19]

Local and Community Development Programme

Catherine Connolly

38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 8 November 2018, when the review of local community development committees due in quarter 2 of 2018 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22877/19]

Rural Development Policy

Peter Burke

39. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the feedback he received from stakeholders during his recent roadshow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22727/19]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Dara Calleary

40. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications made under the rural regeneration and development fund to date per category; the number of applications granted funding per category; the funding approved for the scheme in 2019; the number and value of payments made to date for approved projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22891/19]

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Joe Carey

46. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural regeneration development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22725/19]

Childcare Services

Anne Rabbitte

1. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the considerable capacity issues that exist within the childcare sector here, particularly with regard to the care of babies and toddlers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22403/19]

Domestic Violence

Denise Mitchell

2. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is taking to ensure safe oversight of child access in situations in which a parent has been accused of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22337/19]

Children in Care

Anne Rabbitte

3. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to address the concerns raised in relation to staffing and other standards at private residential care homes used by Tusla. [22404/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Gino Kenny

4. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to address the issue of crèches turning away babies and toddlers in favour of preschool children that are seen as more lucrative; if the extra €50 million will be provided to cover the gap in the new childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22682/19]

Child and Family Agency Reports

Catherine Connolly

5. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 25 of 28 March 2019, when the report of the review panel which commenced on 16 May 2016 in respect of the care of three children in a foster home in County Galway will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22338/19]

Childcare Services Staff

Robert Troy

6. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues regarding remuneration and conditions within the childcare sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22689/19]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation

Niamh Smyth

8. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21810/19]

Illegal Adoptions

Catherine Connolly

10. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 4 April 2019, the status of the final report on illegal birth registrations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22253/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to deal with the accelerating crisis in relation to childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22690/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Aindrias Moynihan

13. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to expand the availability of ECCE places in Cork city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22686/19]

Homeless Persons Data

Gino Kenny

14. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the rise in the number of children and young persons experiencing homelessness in 2018; her further views on whether the 12.5% rise in the figure for homeless minors indicates that radical action needs to be taken to prevent the trauma and profound negative impact that homelessness has on young lives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22693/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Bobby Aylward

15. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of engagement between her Department and the community-managed not-for-profit childcare service providers with specific reference to negotiations for funding agreements and funding rules in the context of recent compliance audits by Pobal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21739/19]

School Completion Programme

Denise Mitchell

17. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the progress of the school completion programme; her views on whether there are an adequate number of education welfare officers in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22202/19]

Childcare Services Provision

Aindrias Moynihan

33. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if parts of Cork city and county with rapidly growing populations will be prioritised for funding for the creation of new ECCE places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22687/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael Moynihan

1. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, last met. [16722/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Eamon Ryan

2. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, last met; and when it will next meet. [16738/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

3. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [18733/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

4. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, last met. [19962/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, last met. [20547/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

6. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee D, infrastructure, last met; and when it will next meet. [21731/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

7. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee F, national security, last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [17458/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

8. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee F, national security, last met. [17714/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joan Burton

9. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee F, national security, last met; and when it will next meet. [21732/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

10. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee F, national security, last met. [21781/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael Moynihan

11. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on Cabinet committee F, national security,; and when it last met. [22087/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mary Lou McDonald

12. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee A on the economy last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [18734/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael Moynihan

13. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if rural issues are allocated to Cabinet committee A on the economy; and when it last met. [20553/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy will next meet. [21770/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

15. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee A on the economy last met. [21782/19]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Brendan Howlin

16. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee A on the economy last met. [21850/19]

Mechanically Propelled Vehicles

Robert Troy

38. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of efforts to legislatively provide for the use of e-scooters here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22270/19]

Public Transport

Imelda Munster

39. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of progress of the public transport stakeholders' forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22052/19]

Bus Services

Robert Troy

40. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the BusConnects redesign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22271/19]

Rail Services Provision

Robert Troy

42. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to increase rail capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22272/19]

Driver Licences

Robert Troy

43. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress with regard to allowing asylum seekers to apply for driver licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21995/19]

Road Projects Status

Pearse Doherty

44. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made to finalise preferred routes with respect to the TEN-T priority routes improvement project in County Donegal; and when the preferred routes design option will come before the local authority for approval. [21721/19]

Road Safety

Thomas P. Broughan

46. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce speeding and aggressive driving on roads and streets here and to legislate for home zones or slow zones in residential estates and built-up areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21728/19]

Park and Ride Facilities

Catherine Connolly

47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when park and ride facilities will be rolled out in Galway; the status of the work programme for the implementation of the Galway transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22095/19]

Transport Policy

Éamon Ó Cuív

48. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy priorities for the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22062/19]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Shane Cassells

49. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the point at which the large-scale sport infrastructure fund will be announced; and if an indicative list of preferential projects has been agreed to date between his Department and the major sporting authorities as to which should receive funding. [22097/19]

Rail Services Provision

Robert Troy

50. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the MetroLink project with particular regard to the cost of the revised route. [21998/19]

Freedom of Information Data

Joan Burton

1. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach to set down the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department to date in 2019; and the number of requests fully and partially refused, respectively. [16349/19]

Freedom of Information Data

Mary Lou McDonald

2. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach to set down the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in 2018; and the number of requests granted, partially granted and refused. [17456/19]

Freedom of Information Data

Brendan Howlin

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach to set down the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in 2018 and to date in 2019. [21784/19]

Church-State Relations

Eamon Ryan

4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach his plans for a new covenant between church and State. [16388/19]

Church-State Relations

Mary Lou McDonald

5. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach his plans for a new covenant between church and State. [18732/19]

Church-State Relations

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach his plans for a new relationship between church and State. [20546/19]

Church-State Relations

Brendan Howlin

7. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans for a new covenant between church and State. [21783/19]

National Digital Strategy Implementation

Mary Lou McDonald

8. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the status of the national digital strategy being led by his Department. [16454/19]

National Digital Strategy Implementation

Brendan Howlin

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the status of the national digital strategy being led by his Department. [16482/19]

National Digital Strategy Implementation

Joan Burton

10. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the status of the national digital strategy being led by his Department. [21730/19]

National Broadband Plan

Timmy Dooley

48. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the role of companies (details supplied) in the national broadband plan; the contractual and financial powers of the State with regard to these companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22060/19]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will seek a full cost-benefit analysis of all State owned alternative models to deliver the national broadband plan. [21700/19]

Climate Change Policy

Timmy Dooley

50. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position with regard to the declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency; the actions he will take in view of this decision; the status of the response to the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22061/19]

Air Pollution

Peter Fitzpatrick

51. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is putting in place to combat air pollution (details supplied); and the measures he is taking to reduce domestic solid fuel burning. [21787/19]

National Broadband Plan

Catherine Murphy

52. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of cost-benefit analyses undertaken before the decision was made to grant preferred bidder status to a consortium regarding the national broadband plan; if the analyses will be published; if the initial investment in the plan by the preferred bidder will be released in one block or in tranches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21733/19]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Timmy Dooley

53. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the contract for the national broadband plan will be signed. [21777/19]

Online Safety

Tom Neville

54. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of the action plan for online safety; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21484/19]

National Broadband Plan Administration

Timmy Dooley

56. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost-benefit analyses conducted by his Department or on behalf of his Department with regard to each alternative option considered for the national broadband plan; the cost of each of the options considered; the state aid considerations and the meetings and-or communications with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on these options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21776/19]

Post Office Network

Brian Stanley

57. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views regarding the relocation of post offices from town centres to the outer fringes of towns and thereby accelerating the doughnut effect of towns. [21705/19]