Parliamentary questions

Aquaculture Regulation

Clare Daly

428. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will accord Inland Fisheries Ireland a formal role in his Department's sea lice control system in view of the damage to wild salmon stocks from sea lice infestation on salmon farms. [40387/17]

Aquaculture Regulation

Clare Daly

429. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if hydrogen peroxide has been used in the treatment of farmed fish for sea lice control purposes here; and if those fish have been put into the market as organic. [40388/17]

Flood Relief Schemes

Pearse Doherty

430. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider allowing for retrospective payments to be made to persons under the flood damage relief measure in respect of applications submitted by farmers that incurred financial losses and damage to property as a result of a major episode of flooding throughout the Finn Valley region of County Donegal in late 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40422/17]

Land Reclassification

Michael Healy-Rae

431. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide proper compensation for designated land in relation to which restrictions impact on farm income and development potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40429/17]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

432. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that there are no delays in payments in 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40431/17]

GLAS Issues

Michael Healy-Rae

433. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether flexibility in the operation of GLAS commonage plans is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40433/17]

Sheep Welfare Scheme

Michael Healy-Rae

434. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide an increase in the sheep welfare payment in view of the fact it is of vital importance to ensure the viability of sheep farmers' incomes into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40434/17]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

435. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is of vital importance there is an increase in ANC payments in mountain grazing areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40435/17]

GLAS Payments

Michael Fitzmaurice

436. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers awaiting payment under the GLAS scheme for 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40466/17]

GLAS Data

Michael Fitzmaurice

437. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that is outstanding and due to farmers under the GLAS scheme for 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40467/17]

Farm Household Incomes

Charlie McConalogue

438. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on introducing a proposal by an organisation (details supplied); if he has discussed the proposal with the Minister for Finance. [40470/17]

International Agreements

Charlie McConalogue

439. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the latest Mercosur talks at EU level; the steps he is taking to protect beef farmers by ensuring that beef does not form part of a potential Mercosur deal; the bilateral meetings that he has had with his European counterparts to ensure that beef farmers are not penalised; if he will ensure that beef does not form part of the final deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40471/17]

TAMS Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

440. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the signalled difficulties being experienced by poultry farmers regarding TAMS II grant approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40609/17]

Fisheries Protection

Joe Carey

441. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made by the Marine Institute on adding sprat to the species covered under the European maritime and fisheries fund marine biodiversity scheme in 2017; when he expects to definitively resolve the issue of pair trawling this species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40644/17]

Aquaculture Licence Applications

Pearse Doherty

442. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision is likely to be made in respect of an application (details supplied) for an aquaculture licence in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40666/17]

GLAS Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

443. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40683/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Clare Daly

444. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if nine houses at Woodpark, Ballyboughal, have been left out of the broadband roll-out scheme; and his plans to include them in the scheme to provide access to high speed broadband. [40159/17]

Postal Services Provision

Maurice Quinlivan

445. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to protect the future of post offices nationwide. [40190/17]

Renewable Energy Projects

Catherine Martin

446. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 1034 of 13 July 2017, if there is a policy on the emissions of greenhouse gases from development sites on peatlands, including degraded peatlands, to which planning authorities should have regard when assessing proposals for renewable energy or other developments. [40238/17]

National Mitigation Plan

Michael McGrath

447. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the projections his Department has made in relation to possible fines Ireland will face for not achieving the 2020 emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40300/17]

Postal Services Provision

John Brassil

448. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures that are being put in place to secure the future of the post office network here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40329/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

449. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fibre to the premises, FTTP, connections in County Monaghan; the number of new connections that have been made in each of the past four quarters; the average connection cost; the eircodes connected; his plans for FTTP connections in the next four quarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40337/17]

Renewable Energy Generation

Bríd Smith

450. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the direct investment made by the State and public or semi-State bodies via grants or other forms that is directed to solar or wind energy projects for each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [40367/17]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Bríd Smith

451. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current or planned incentives available for solar or wind energy projects. [40368/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Robert Troy

452. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of plans for broadband implementation at Kenagh, County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40403/17]

Waste Disposal Charges

Róisín Shortall

453. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given by his Department to the incentive that a for-profit waste collection system creates in that there is no financial gain for waste companies to encourage recycling or waste reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40427/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

454. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if broadband service will be available to all houses in the Clonlyon, Kilcock, County Meath area following upgrade works being carried out in the area. [40548/17]

Waste Management

John Curran

455. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has established the pricing watchdog monitoring unit to oversee new pricing structures being introduced by waste management companies; if so, the members of this unit; the numbers of times the unit has met; the findings of this unit to date; the progress being made in establishing a regulator for the waste management industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40660/17]

Waste Disposal Charges

Seán Crowe

456. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for exemptions for those with medical conditions that require the use of incontinence pads in view of the difficulties those people are now experiencing following the changes being introduced by refuse companies and the pay by weight policy. [40755/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Remit

Richard Boyd Barrett

457. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which the EU funding criteria attached to motorway infrastructure in respect of the planting of linear native woodlands for buffering alongside new motorways has been applied; the reason there appears to be a completely ad hoc approach to the existing motorway planting; if there are management plans for the existing woodlands as part of an overarching long term management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40374/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Remit

Richard Boyd Barrett

458. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans in place to finish off the native tree planting creating native linear woodlands on land that is readily available in view of the fact that motorway planting does not appear to be co-ordinated or consistent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40375/17]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Robert Troy

459. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a sports capital grant will be awarded to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40148/17]

Rail Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

460. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce the required 24 hours notice that passengers with a disability must give to travel on an Irish Rail service; if so, the amount of time the notice will be reduced to; the timeframe for these changes to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40158/17]

Electric Vehicles

Catherine Martin

461. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are taxation incentives to encourage companies to get their employees to use electric vehicles as company cars as opposed to petrol or diesel vehicles; if not, if incentives are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40214/17]

Rail Network Expansion

Catherine Martin

462. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has calculated indicative costings for the DART expansion project along lines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40218/17]

Rail Services

Catherine Martin

463. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all procurement of new diesel powered rail rolling stock will be hybrid in line with the vision for the long term electrification of rail services and the policy on reducing urban air pollution. [40239/17]

Rail Services

Catherine Martin

464. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all procurement of new rail rolling stock will provide for increased space for carriage of bicycles in line with the policy as set out in the national cycle policy framework. [40240/17]

Swimming Pool Programme Administration

Catherine Martin

465. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to open the local authority swimming pool programme for new applications in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40241/17]

Road Traffic Offences

Catherine Murphy

466. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which he plans to enforce the Road Traffic Act 2016 that gives effect to an agreement with the UK on mutual recognition of driver disqualifications which was signed in October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40283/17]

Penalty Points System

Catherine Murphy

467. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for North-South harmonisation in relation to penalty points in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40284/17]

Sport Ireland

Niall Collins

468. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if assistance will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40326/17]

Traffic Calming Measures

Michael Healy-Rae

469. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding traffic calming lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40334/17]

Greenways Funding

Darragh O'Brien

470. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is in receipt of an application for funding for the Fingal Coastal Way from Fingal County Council and specifically for the Broadmeadow Way section between Malahide and Donabate; if he will grant the funding required for this coastal greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40336/17]

Bus Services

John Lahart

471. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the stage Transport Infrastructure Ireland's consideration of the provisions of a turning roundabout at a location (details supplied) is at to facilitate the provision of a bus route extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40499/17]

Light Rail Projects

John Lahart

472. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to connect the green and red Luas lines on the south of the city; the research which has been carried out on this in the past; if he will recommence the investigation into such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40506/17]

Public Transport Fares

Mick Barry

473. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost in 2018 if all Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Luas fares were halved. [40514/17]

Road Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

474. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to include the Ballybofey-Stranorlar bypass on the N15 in the new ten year capital plan; the timeframe for delivery of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40598/17]

Road Projects Status

Pat the Cope Gallagher

475. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to include the upgrading of the N14 Lifford to Letterkenny road as part of the new ten-year capital plan; the timeframe for its delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40599/17]

Fire Safety

Eoin Ó Broin

476. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to undertake a comprehensive fire safety audit of all high risk buildings, including sports campuses, clubhouses, leisure centres, swimming pools and stadia, that are under the remit of his Department. [40603/17]

Fire Safety

Eoin Ó Broin

477. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to undertake a comprehensive fire safety audit of all high risk buildings, including train stations, bus stations and airports, that fall under the remit of his Department. [40604/17]

Bus Services

Róisín Shortall

478. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the planned bus rapid transit, BRT, scheme for Dublin’s north side; when it is expected works will commence on providing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40643/17]

Aviation Industry Regulations

Clare Daly

479. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the agreed outcomes of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation’s, ICAO, committee on aviation environmental protection steering group meeting, which took place the week of 11 September 2017 in Montreal, Canada; if Ireland has adopted a position in regard to the possible re-introduction of civil supersonic aircraft; and if Ireland will insist on strict noise and CO2 standards before permitting a reintroduction of such aircraft. [40664/17]

School Discipline

Imelda Munster

480. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of second level student suspensions nationally during the academic year 2016-17. [40697/17]

School Discipline

Imelda Munster

481. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of second level student expulsions nationally during the academic year 2016-17. [40698/17]

School Discipline

Imelda Munster

482. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of second level student suspensions in County Louth during the academic year 2016-17. [40700/17]

School Discipline

Imelda Munster

483. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of second level student expulsions in County Louth during the academic year 2016-17. [40701/17]

School Discipline

Imelda Munster

484. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of second level student suspensions in a school (details supplied) during the academic year 2016-17. [40703/17]

School Discipline

Imelda Munster

485. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of second level student expulsions in a school (details supplied) during the academic year 2016-17. [40704/17]

Child and Family Agency Services

John McGuinness

486. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if approval will be given to an independent mechanism by which members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann can register the complaints or concerns received from persons relative to Tusla; if such a mechanism or process will be empowered to issue an acknowledgement of correspondence received in this regard; if her attention has been drawn to the mounting criticism and complaints from foster care families and others relative to processing of concerns and complaints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40179/17]

Child Care Costs

Catherine Martin

487. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will implement a system whereby all child care providers in receipt of the new more affordable child care system will be required to place a cap on fees that they charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40219/17]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Jan O'Sullivan

488. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some parents are choosing to keep their children in the community child care subvention scheme even though they qualify for ECCE in view of the fact that it is more advantageous from a parent's perspective; her plans to address the loss of grant support under ECCE that results to the childcare service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40309/17]

Child Care Costs

Seán Haughey

489. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that child care providers are increasing their fees following the introduction of the new child care support scheme; the steps she is taking to prevent this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40351/17]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Thomas P. Broughan

490. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the posts of second secretary and deputy secretary will be filled within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40632/17]

Child Care Services

Alan Farrell

491. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports available in terms of child care in circumstances in which a child is three years of age but not yet able to enter the ECCE scheme; the action she plans to take to ensure adequate supports are provided to families in this position until their child can enter the ECCE scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40663/17]

Proposed Legislation

Catherine Martin

492. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to bring forward legislation on improving the ability of walkers to access private land for recreational walking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40217/17]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

John McGuinness

493. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when village schemes will be announced. [40348/17]

National Way Marked Ways

Michael Healy-Rae

494. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an increase to 80 in the number of walks in the walks scheme and an increase in the allocation to €4 million which is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40432/17]

CLÁR Programme

Robert Troy

495. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if CLÁR funding will be granted to a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40145/17]

Social Insurance Yield

Paul Murphy

496. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated increase in revenue that would result from an increase in the existing two bands of PRSI by 2%, discounting employer's PRSI paid from the public purse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40571/17]

Social Insurance Yield

Paul Murphy

497. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated increase in revenue that would result from an increase in the current 8.5% rate of employer's PRSI to 10.5%, an increase of the 10.75% rate to 12.75% and the introduction of a new band for employers hiring employees on more than €100,000 of 19.75%; the further estimated increase in net revenue from this change, discounting employer's PRSI paid from the public purse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40572/17]

Social Insurance Fund

Pearse Doherty

498. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund is due to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40138/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40173/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Bernard Durkan

500. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if carer's allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40189/17]

Departmental Contracts

Jan O'Sullivan

501. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the identities of the security companies contracted by her Department and its agencies to provide security services; if all such companies are in compliance with the new employment regulation order rate for the security industry which has been in force since 1 June 2017; the steps her Department has taken to ensure compliance with the new legal hourly rate of pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40275/17]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Michael Healy-Rae

502. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40297/17]

JobPath Programme

Jan O'Sullivan

503. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who has been transferred to an organisation (details supplied) can transfer back to the Department placement system in order to pursue a training course relevant to their job prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40310/17]

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

John Brady

504. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if families who are homeowners or are renting private accommodation, are affected by the recent flooding in County Donegal and are availing of support from the humanitarian assistance scheme are entitled to the same financial support and compensation as families renting in local authority owned accommodation; and if not, the reason therefor. [40330/17]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Bernard Durkan

505. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in respect of a carer's allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40341/17]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Thomas P. Broughan

506. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to recruit additional staff to deal with appeals for guardians payments in view of the fact that the current average processing time is approximately 18 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40389/17]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Willie O'Dea

507. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made to date in her Department on consolidating all means testing under a single national body in order that persons will only apply once for services or entitlements across all Government agencies, as committed to in the programme for partnership Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40395/17]

Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

Pearse Doherty

508. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will consider allowing for retrospective payments to be made to persons under the humanitarian assistance scheme in respect of applications submitted by flood victims resident in the Finn Valley region of County Donegal who had properties damaged during a major episode of flooding in the area in late 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40421/17]

Pensions Reform

Róisín Shortall

509. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 25 May 2017, her plans for the development of an auto-enrolment pension system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40423/17]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Róisín Shortall

510. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her Department's work to improve the security of investment for those contributing to defined benefit pension funds; her plans to legislate in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40424/17]

State Pensions

Róisín Shortall

511. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on increasing the age at which a person will become eligible to claim a State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40425/17]

Pensions Reform

Róisín Shortall

512. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the action plan for the reform of pensions as mooted by her predecessor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40426/17]

Public Services Card

Michael McGrath

513. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason it is necessary to require a person who has been adopted and who does not hold a valid passport or driving licence to provide a copy of the adoption certificate when applying for a public services card; if her attention has been drawn to the upset that this can cause to persons who may have been adopted many decades previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40441/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

John Lahart

514. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for carer's allowance; and when the person can expect a decision. [40497/17]

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Eligibility

Mick Barry

515. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated net cost in 2018 if the eligible age for the State pension was reduced from 66 to 65 years of age, taking into account the savings that would be made on jobseeker's allowance or benefit. [40513/17]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Bernard Durkan

516. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility for back to education allowance in the case of a person (details suppled); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40554/17]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Noel Grealish

517. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of community employment scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors employed by sponsor companies operating community employment schemes on behalf of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40579/17]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Noel Grealish

518. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons employed on community employment schemes as of 20 September 2017; the cost to her Department for each of these persons; the estimated cost of welfare payments to these persons if they were still in receipt of their qualifying social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40580/17]

Bereavement Grant

Pat the Cope Gallagher

519. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for reintroducing the bereavement grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40597/17]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

520. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in respect of a carer's allowance application submitted by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in making a decision on this application, in view of the fact that the application has been lodged since May 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40618/17]

Social Welfare Overpayments

Bernard Durkan

521. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1805 of 11 September 2017, if she will clarify that the overpayment occurred as a result of departmental error and, consequently, a person (details supplied) should not be penalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40640/17]

Motor Tax

Richard Boyd Barrett

522. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a person is liable for a full month's car tax if he or she purchases a car part way through the month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40169/17]

Irish Water Funding

Catherine Murphy

523. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of subvention to Irish Water in 2017; the estimated subvention for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40311/17]

Local Authority Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

524. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the savings made to the Exchequer each year following the amalgamation of Tipperary north and Tipperary south county councils in 2014, taking into account the abolition of local town councils in the county; the way in which this equates to investment and the provision of funds to Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40557/17]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Bernard Durkan

525. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which his Department can offer further latitude for immediate expenditure by the various local authorities on measures to address the housing crisis by way of direct build; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40742/17]

Local Authority Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

526. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding allocated to local authorities for the mobility scheme for council tenants in 2017 in tabular form; his plans to increase funding in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40151/17]

Local Authority Funding

Charlie McConalogue

527. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to reintroduce the improvement works loan scheme in lieu of rehousing; the timeframe for the scheme to start; the amount of funding that will be provided for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/17]