Parliamentary questions

Broadband Services Provision

Brendan Smith

145. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proposals, if any, there are to upgrade broadband connectivity in an area (details supplied) where a number of small businesses need better telecommunications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34078/13]

Wind Energy Generation

Clare Daly

146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will conduct an inquiry into the granting of planning permissions for wind farms in north Wexford in terms of the appropriateness of the decisions and allegations that some who made the decisions benefited from same; and if he will outline the other remedies open to residents who have concerns. [34084/13]

Wind Energy Generation

Clare Daly

147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to any concerns regarding the operation of wind farms in County Wexford; and the action he will take in relation to same. [34085/13]

Offshore Exploration

Andrew Doyle

148. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he and his Department intend to review the Petroleum and Other Minerals Act 1960; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34088/13]

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the cuts in the housing adaptation grant from €79 million in 2011 to €35 million in 2013, the way this scheme can better meet the needs of older persons, persons with disabilities and their carers; the measures that will be taken to ensure needs are still taken care of and no one is negatively affected by these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33973/13]

National Spatial Strategy

Barry Cowen

150. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timescale for the development and implementation of a new national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33940/13]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Brian Stanley

151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount his Department spent on private consultants in 2012; and the amount expected to be spent in 2013. [33967/13]

Event Licences

Andrew Doyle

152. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of event licences that have been issued by local authorities in 2012 for events that were for a duration of longer than two weeks; the type of events they were; the location at which they were held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33974/13]

Event Licences

Andrew Doyle

153. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legislation under which local authorities may issue event licences; if he will detail the current legislation; the length of time a particular event may be held continuously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33975/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Applications

Michael P. Kitt

154. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals he has to deal with the increased number of applicants for housing; the work of housing organisations and the National Asset Management Agency in housing regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34021/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Michael McGrath

155. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a foreshore licence application (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34044/13]

Local Authority Staff Numbers

Patrick Nulty

156. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of dog wardens employed by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34052/13]

Leader Programmes Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that €39 million in Leader funding was handed back this year, the action he is taking to ensure that this situation will not be allowed to recur this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34068/13]

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Andrew Doyle

158. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests received in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 from a local authority (details supplied) in County Wicklow seeking sanction to fill positions at the local authority; the outcome of each of these requests; the nature of each of the positions; the term of the contract in each case where the filling of the position was sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34083/13]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bernard Durkan

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which EU target reductions are being met here in each of the past five years to date; the areas in respect of which further improvement is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34103/13]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bernard Durkan

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which carbon emissions arising from bituminous fuel has stabilised in the course of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34104/13]

Energy Conservation

Bernard Durkan

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which it is expected to conserve energy by way of home or commercial building insulation; the degree to which improvements have taken place in this regard over the last four years; his expectations for the future in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34105/13]

Local Authority Housing Application Numbers

Bernard Durkan

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of families currently registered on local authority housing lists; the extent to which rent support in lieu of rehousing continues to remain a budgetary matter; the extent to which, in the short to medium term, the local authority house building programme is likely to feature as a means of reducing this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34106/13]

Local Authority Housing Application Numbers

Bernard Durkan

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, by each local authority, the number of housing applicants for local authority housing currently registered; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34107/13]

Housing Management Companies

Bernard Durkan

164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of housing associations nationwide that have benefitted from the capital allowance housing scheme; the number of such bodies that have malfunctioned or have failed to meet their statutory obligations or the company legislation; the procedure to restore such housing schemes to local authority management in the short and medium term; the nature of legislation required, if any, to effect such transfer in view of the fact that the entirety of the cost was borne by the Exchequer in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34108/13]