Parliamentary questions

Private Rented Accommodation Price Controls

Thomas P. Broughan

581. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce fair rent regulations based for example on changes in the CPI in the January 2012 to December 2013 period in order to address the growing housing crisis where spiralling rental prices are pushing families and persons into emergency homeless services and onto the street. [4890/15]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Thomas P. Broughan

582. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will announce the regulations and start date for the proposed new tenant purchase programme. [4891/15]

Tribunals of Inquiry Expenditure

Billy Timmins

583. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the details of the 24 orders for reduced costs for persons on foot of findings of non-co-operation made as part of a separate process subsequent to the publication of the final report of the Mahon tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/15]

Proposed Legislation

Denis Naughten

584. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to protect the rights of residents in mobile home parks; if his attention has been drawn to such protections under the Caravans Act in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4921/15]

Local Authority Charges Application

Dessie Ellis

585. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the plans by Limerick council to place a charge on local authority tenants to cover the cost of the local property tax; if this policy is to be taken up by other councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4927/15]

Water Conservation Grant

Clare Daly

586. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if households which have not registered with Irish Water before 2 February 2015 will still be able to avail of the water conservation grant after that date. [4933/15]

Air Quality

Áine Collins

587. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on his Department's plans on implementing the decision of the Government to ban the sale of smoky coal by 2016 (details supplied). [4937/15]

Local Authority Housing Data

Dessie Ellis

588. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the large number of vacant local authority houses which have been lying idle in south Kildare Athy-Monasterevin area for upwards of six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4995/15]

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Tom Fleming

589. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to rescind the legislation of the former Minister, John Gormley, banning bedsits, as the Act in question has been a significant contributory factor to the current homeless crisis. [5022/15]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

Seán Fleming

590. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all bonus payments to chief executives of commercial semi-State agencies paid in each year from 2011 to 2014 under the remit of his Department; if bonuses were withheld by commercial semi-States during the period; the reasons for withholding of bonuses; the current policy regarding the payment of bonuses in the commercial semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5201/15]

Inland Fisheries Stocks

Michael Healy-Rae

591. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of sea trout and salmon recorded as being caught on the River Maine and Brown Flesk for the year from January to December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4442/15]

Energy Policy

Joe Higgins

592. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on the review of energy options for the State with the inclusion of nuclear power. [4383/15]

Renewable Energy Generation

Joe Higgins

593. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the Pathways to Power report January 2015 compiled by the WWF and international marine consultants DNV GL on a fully renewable energy system in Scotland by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4384/15]

Broadcasting Sector Regulation

Patrick O'Donovan

594. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a definition of public service broadcasting as it applies to the distribution of funds from the television licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4392/15]

Television Licence Fee Collection

Brian Walsh

595. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of persons currently employed in the role of television licence inspector in each county; and the total number of prosecutions for the non-payment of television licence fees in each county in 2014. [4435/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

596. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 2007 to 2010, the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4489/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

597. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 1997 to 2007, the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4505/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

598. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by his Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Tom Fleming

599. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for extending high quality broadband to an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4646/15]

North-South Interconnector

Sean Conlan

600. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason EirGrid has not consulted the communities affected by the North-South interconnector regarding specific underground route options. [4660/15]

North-South Interconnector

Sean Conlan

601. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will direct EirGrid to ensure that specific underground route options have been determined and that the communities of counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath have been consulted before EirGrid makes any fresh application to An Board Pleanála in respect of the North-South interconnector. [4661/15]

North-South Interconnector

Sean Conlan

602. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the expert panel in reaching their decision on 1 July 2014 were aware of the existence of the Tobin report which was published on his Department's website on 3 July 2014. [4662/15]

Alternative Energy Projects

Michael Moynihan

603. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has considered the use of anaerobic digestion technology as an energy source here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4774/15]

Commission for Energy Regulation

Thomas P. Broughan

604. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of recent strong criticism of the performance of the Commission for Energy Regulation in relation to CER’s failure to investigate retail electricity prices for consumers; his views on a fundamental reform of the governing legislation and operating structure of the Commission. [4893/15]

Energy Regulation

Thomas P. Broughan

605. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the role the Commission on Energy Regulation has in the regulation of oil, petrol and diesel prices in the Irish economy; and his views that the pricing of this crucial area of Ireland’s energy supply should be regulated in the interests of Irish households and small businesses. [4894/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

606. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress to date in the identification of areas within the constituency of Louth where commercial operators will not be providing broadband; the actions that will be taken by his Department to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4935/15]

Energy Prices

Bernard Durkan

607. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if an economic division exists in his Department; if so, the extent to which comparisons continue to be made between energy costs here and those in adjoining jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5004/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Gabrielle McFadden

608. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of areas in counties Longford and Westmeath that will require State intervention under the national broadband plan; if work has commenced in providing fibre broadband to these areas; the work that has been undertaken to date in these areas; when fibre broadband is scheduled to be operational in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5021/15]

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

Seán Fleming

609. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of all bonus payments made to chief executives of commercial semi-State agencies under the remit of his Department in each year from 2011 to 2014; if bonuses were withheld by commercial semi-States during the period; the reasons for withholding of bonuses; the current policy regarding the payment of bonuses in the commercial semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5200/15]

Roads Maintenance

Michael Healy-Rae

610. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4805/15]

National Car Test

Michael Healy-Rae

611. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the national car test cannot be facilitated at present in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4873/15]

Motor Insurance Coverage

Thomas P. Broughan

612. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the rising rates of car insurance premiums due to the increase in the number of road traffic collisions, fatalities and injury claims; and if he will report on the interventions that will be put in place to address the urgent road safety issue, which is having a knock-on effect on citizens through huge hikes in car insurance premiums. [4884/15]

Roadworthiness Testing

Brendan Griffin

613. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the owner of a vehicle (details supplied) has been asked to present for a DOE test only a few months after their previous test, as the vehicle was never off the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4929/15]

Aer Lingus Sale

Clare Daly

614. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views confirming that the current 25.1% State shareholding in Aer Lingus prevents the airline from disposing of any of the Heathrow slots without the Government's agreement; the way these slots will be protected in the context of the Government disposing of its 25.1% stake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4688/15]

Road Projects Status

Tom Fleming

615. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will retain and reallocate the funding for the N86 Tralee to Dingle road in County Kerry following the resolution of the current impasse on the vital continuation of improvements as Kerry County Council has justified the economic need for this development and is pursuing the process to ensure the further approval to construct this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4320/15]

Road Projects

Michael McGrath

616. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans for increasing the M7 to three lanes at Naas, County Kildare; his views that such an investment would improve the value of the National Asset Management Agency's site at Millennium Park, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/15]

Taxi Regulations

Timmy Dooley

617. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a report on the number of taxi licence holders who have returned the S15 form, which relates to the inheritance of a taxi licence in the event of the death of the licence holder, to the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4380/15]

Road Projects

Dominic Hannigan

618. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Roads Authority has received a traffic management plan from Meath County Council for Slane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4397/15]

Road Projects

Dominic Hannigan

619. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Roads Authority has submitted a report to him regarding the Slane bypass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4398/15]

Aviation Policy

Michael McGrath

620. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the finalisation of the national aviation policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4445/15]

Public Service Obligation Services

Michael McGrath

621. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost to the Exchequer of the PSO route between County Kerry and Dublin for 2012, 2013 and 2014. [4446/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

622. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 2007 to 2010 the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4501/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Patrick O'Donovan

623. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 1997 to 2007 the total photography costs relating to his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4517/15]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Patrick O'Donovan

624. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by his Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4551/15]

Rail Services Provision

Seán Kenny

625. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding Iarnród Éireann's plans to improve audio announcements on the DART; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4557/15]

Sports Capital Programme Data

Eric J. Byrne

626. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of all weather pitches that have received funding over the past five years from the sports capital grant programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4561/15]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Eric J. Byrne

627. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the points system used in deciding on sports capital grants schemes and the placing on the list of successful and unsuccessful applicants; the rationale behind this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4562/15]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Eric J. Byrne

628. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the frequency that the sports capital grant applicants are sanctioned for moneys that have been returned to his Department by groups who are unable to fulfil their obligations in carrying out their developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4563/15]

Traffic Management

John Deasy

629. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of heavy goods vehicle and non-heavy goods vehicle traffic in respect of each of the following toll roads for the years 2010-2014 inclusive: M50 barrier-free-toll, M1 Gormanston - Monasterboice, M3 Clonee - Kells, M4 Kilcock - Enfield - Kinnegad, M7 - M8 Portlaoise - Castletown-Portlaoise - Cullahill, N6 Galway - Ballinasloe, N8 Rathcormac - Fermoy bypass, Limerick Tunnel and East Link Bridge, Dublin Port Tunnel. [4603/15]

Rail Services Provision

Terence Flanagan

630. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the Irish Rail proposal to connect Dublin Airport to Cork and Galway by rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4736/15]