Parliamentary questions

Brexit Issues

Niamh Smyth

541. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the concerns of farmers regarding tariffs following the British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May's Brexit speech; his plans to meet with Ms Theresa May; the protocols being put in place to address the concerns of farmers, particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan and the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2897/17]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Pat Breen

542. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 6 December 2016, the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2898/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

543. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2901/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

544. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

545. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2949/17]

State Bodies

Clare Daly

547. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process that will be undertaken for the replacement of the CEO of the Irish National Stud, whose tenure commenced in 2010 and is presumably about to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2961/17]

Horse Racing Ireland

Clare Daly

548. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate an external independent audit of racecourse attendance in order to verify the claims being made by Horse Racing Ireland in that regard. [2962/17]

Horse Racing Ireland

Clare Daly

549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has satisfied himself with the independence of two appointees whom he recently nominated to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the fact that both persons had a connection with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/17]

Horse Racing Industry

Clare Daly

550. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process of regulation of drug testing in the horse racing industry; if he is satisfied with it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2969/17]

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Pat Breen

551. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2973/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

552. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3065/17]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Brendan Smith

553. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS payments due to be issued to persons in County Cavan before the end of 2016 which were not issued by the target date; the number of those payments that have issued in the interim; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3100/17]

Agriculture Schemes

Robert Troy

554. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the exact acreage of forestry and grassland that is on file with his Department for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3104/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

555. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/17]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

556. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the agriculture cashflow support loan scheme; if all aspects of this scheme are operational at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3153/17]

Fishing Industry

Paul Kehoe

557. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to encourage the fishing industry to use more environmentally sustainable products; the actions proposed to hold those accountable in the fishing industry regarding the waste generated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3170/17]

Aquaculture Licences

Pat the Cope Gallagher

558. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the terms of reference of the newly established aquaculture licensing review group; if the review will involve a round of public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3200/17]

Departmental Staff

Jim Daly

559. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason two staffing positions within his Department were not filled from the central transfer list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3210/17]

Food Waste

Róisín Shortall

560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated amount of food waste generated here, with a breakdown by sector; the steps he is taking to promote the reduction of such waste; and the targets and timelines he is working to. [2876/17]

Inland Fisheries

Seán Sherlock

561. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to reopen the trout hatchery at Mallow, County Cork. [3128/17]

EU Directives

Charlie McConalogue

562. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the European Commission has commenced enforcement proceedings against Ireland for not implementing Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the member states relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the failure to implement the directive is placing Irish industry at a disadvantage; when it will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2596/17]

National Broadband Plan

Seán Sherlock

563. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date on and year in which the national broadband plan will begin. [2665/17]

Energy Conservation

Brendan Griffin

564. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grants for window replacements will be introduced to compliment the energy saving grant aid already available to home owners from Sustainable Energy Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2799/17]

Natural Gas Grid

Robert Troy

565. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of a gas line extension to cater for Longford town. [2801/17]

Electricity Transmission Network

Willie Penrose

566. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in the context of situations whereby the Electricity Supply Board has access to farmers' lands to erect transmission poles thereon, he will take steps to ensure that if a pole is accidentally damaged thereon the farmer should not be levied with the cost of repairing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/17]

Rural Broadband Scheme

Dara Calleary

567. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the rural broadband scheme in Foxford, County Mayo. [2871/17]

Air Quality

Thomas P. Broughan

568. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current systems for monitoring NOx emissions from diesel fuelled vehicles in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford; the current levels of those emissions in each city; the international health standards which apply; if his Department or the Environmental Protection Agency made any submissions to the preparations for the Finance Bill 2016 on any move to equalise excise duty rates on petrol and diesel fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2877/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Robert Troy

569. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the name of the service provider tasked with delivering broadband in the Granard area of County Longford; if there are plans by this company to improve the service in this area and in particular the service provided to a business (details supplied); and if his Department will contact this business, as outlined in a previous parliamentary reply, in order to provide assistance in this regard. [2886/17]

Wind Energy Generation

Thomas Pringle

570. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the rationale used to determine each of the 12 exclusions listed at 4.3.1 of the report on wind turbine noise modelling commissioned by his Department through the SEAI and published in draft format in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2889/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

571. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department at 1 Jan 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2904/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Dara Calleary

572. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2920/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Seán Sherlock

573. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress Eir has made on meeting commercial milestones specifically in relation to commitments to the blue areas of the national broadband plan map. [3123/17]

Communications Market Regulation

Seán Sherlock

574. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has been communicated to by Eir on whether it is endeavouring to have the universal service obligations softened particularly in respect to the true cost of phone line installation at a nominal cost. [3124/17]

Bord na Móna

Fiona O'Loughlin

575. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of his discussion with Bord na Móna with regard to its new acquisition in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3159/17]

Bord na Móna

Fiona O'Loughlin

576. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he sought any assurances from Bord na Móna with reference to job security for workers in its Kilberry plant, Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3160/17]

Bord na Móna

Fiona O'Loughlin

577. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the assurances he will provide that the existing jobs in the Bord na Móna Kilberry Plant, Athy, County Kildare will not be impacted by the new acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3161/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

578. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the plans and initiatives being put in place to measure and monitor air emissions and pollutants as required under a forthcoming EU directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3175/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

579. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of any additional funding being provided to the Environmental Protection Agency to enable it to measure and monitor air emissions and pollutants in order to ensure Ireland meets commitments set out in the revised Gothenburg protocol which a new directive (details supplied) incorporates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3176/17]

Air Quality

Róisín Shortall

580. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will request a baseline air quality study to be carried out in Dublin city before the Poolbeg incinerator is fully operational in view of the fact the initial study was completed in 2005 and therefore may not be an accurate baseline measure for future air quality monitoring; if the operators of the incinerator will be required to use the initial baseline measurement when measuring emissions as set out in the EPA licence for the operation of the incinerator in the event that an up to date study is not completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3177/17]

National Digital Strategy

Róisín Shortall

581. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the operation of the e-benefit programme; the total funding provided each year since 2008 by county; the sum allocated to each group per year; the new selection criteria for the 2017 digital skills for citizens grant scheme; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications by county in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3195/17]

Road Projects

Jonathan O'Brien

582. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be made available to Cork City Council in 2017 to construct a pedestrian crossing and associated traffic calming measures at a location (details supplied); and if so, the timeframe for same. [2592/17]

Bus Éireann Staff

Jonathan O'Brien

583. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of senior anagement and executives of Bus Éireann that received severance packages from the company in each of the years 2008 to 2016; the total cost to Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2647/17]

Coast Guard Services

Martin Ferris

584. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will enact statutory instrument legislation in order that the Irish Coast Guard can become a stand-alone primary response agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2720/17]

Dublin Bus Fleet

Catherine Murphy

585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of the Dublin Bus fleet now accessible by wheelchair users; the planned timeline to have 100% accessibility; the funding set aside for this; the routes that currently do not have 100% accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2583/17]

Sports Facilities Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

586. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress report on a boxing centre (details supplied). [2593/17]

Tourism Project Funding

Brendan Griffin

587. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide support to a project (details supplied). [2626/17]

Departmental Contracts

Robert Troy

588. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 25 October 2016, the details of the discussions and the clear position his Department has taken with regard to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/17]

Taxi Licences Renewals

James Lawless

589. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to difficulties taxi drivers are experiencing in renewing their licences in certain circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2651/17]

Sport and Recreational Development

Noel Rock

590. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will legislate to make it mandatory for all sports clubs to have a code of conduct for youth coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2661/17]

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Robert Troy

591. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the potential investment projects his Department put forward to the Department of Finance task force report for the European Fund for Strategic Investment. [2675/17]