Parliamentary questions

Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

Barry Cowen

250. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the next national survey of social housing waiting lists held by local authorities will be undertaken and when this will be published. [23536/16]

National Oversight and Audit Commission

Barry Cowen

251. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the next national survey of performance service indicators from all local authorities will be published; his views on whether it is good practice that no national audit of local authority service indicators has been published since 2013 or since the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, was set up to take over the service indicators initiative in local authorities from the LGMA, introduced by one of his predecessors in 2004; the way in which, in the absence of such national comparators on the service performance of all local authorities, his Department can make reliable decisions pertaining to aspects of local authority services; and if he will establish a national audit of local authority service indicators on a statutory basis. [23537/16]

National Oversight and Audit Commission

Barry Cowen

252. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the budget and number of staff of the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC). [23538/16]

Local Government Management Agency

Barry Cowen

253. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the budget and number of staff of the Local Government Management Association (LGMA). [23539/16]

Local Authority Services

Barry Cowen

254. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of children's playgrounds per 1,000 population directly provided by each local authority and the number of children's playgrounds per 1,000 population facilitated by each local authority; the funding provided to each local authority to provide playgrounds for each individual year from 2011 to 2016 inclusive. [23540/16]

Local Authority Staff Data

Barry Cowen

255. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of working days lost to sickness absence through certified leave and the percentage of working days lost to sickness absence through uncertified leave in 2015 for each local authority. [23541/16]

Waste Data

Barry Cowen

256. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of household waste collected which is sent to landfill as well as the tonnages of household waste collected which is sent to landfill, by each local authority in tabular form. [23542/16]

Local Authority Housing Data

Barry Cowen

257. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average time taken in weeks from the date of vacation of dwelling to the date when all necessary repairs are carried out which are deemed necessary to re-let the dwelling, in tabular form, by local authority. [23543/16]

Traveller Accommodation

Barry Cowen

258. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current total number of Traveller families accommodated as a percentage of the targets set in the local Traveller accommodation programme, by each local authority, in tabular form. [23544/16]

Building Regulations

Barry Cowen

259. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the difference in planning enforcement procedures and powers of local authorities under the new building control regulations compared with the pre-2014 regulations. [23545/16]

Motor Tax Yield

Barry Cowen

260. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount collected in motor tax receipts by each individual local authority in 2015 and in 2016. [23546/16]

Commercial Rates

Barry Cowen

261. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount collected in commercial rate receipts by each individual local authority in 2015 and in 2016. [23548/16]

Housing Data

Barry Cowen

210. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the latest figures produced by the Central Statistics Office for the first quarter of 2016 for planning permissions for apartments have declined by 20% compared to the same period in 2015; and the reason for such a large decline, given the fact that standards for multi-unit developments were changed in accordance with recommendations by his predecessor. [23216/16]

Construction Sector Strategy

Barry Cowen

211. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department or a body under its aegis provides any ongoing independent Government research into construction costs; and his views that implementing such an ongoing review should be a priority. [23217/16]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

212. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason, in the context of the large capital allocations available to local authorities under the Social Housing Strategy 2020, 2015 was the worst year on record for local authority own builds with only 75 new social housing units built by local authorities. [23218/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Barry Cowen

213. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department or a body under its aegis has estimates for the number of weeks it takes from the granting of planning permission to commencement on site for social housing units. [23219/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

214. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the final estimated unit cost for the rapid-build units in Poppintree in Ballymun; if on the basis of this project his Department will be recommending the roll-out of this model elsewhere; if a cost-benefit analysis has been or will be undertaken to compare rapid-build housing with other methods of housing delivery; and if he is aware of any other projects where such rapid-build unit projects are planned. [23220/16]

Building Regulations Amendments

Barry Cowen

215. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department or a body under its aegis undertook a regulatory impact assessment of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, SI 9, system changes before being introduced; if so, the results of this assessment; and if not, the reason this is the case. [23221/16]

Building Regulations

Barry Cowen

216. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been a review of the negative effects of Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, SI 9, on the multi-unit sector as there was for the once-off build sector; and if not, the reason this is the case. [23222/16]

Building Regulations Amendments

Barry Cowen

217. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the fact that costings by his Department in its review of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 were rejected by the professional stakeholder bodies including Engineers Ireland, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland as underestimating the amount of work involved and time taken and having unrealistic views of salaries in the sector; if his Department still maintains its costings made in its review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23223/16]

Rural Resettlement Scheme

Barry Cowen

221. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on plans to develop a rural resettlement programme; the timeframe for such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23294/16]

Waste Management

Barry Cowen

222. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on the level of information provided by private waste collection companies to residential customers regarding the new pay-by-weight scheme; the number of meetings his Department has held with the industry since the 1 July freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23295/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

327. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) and when the person will receive an appointment. [23131/16]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Barry Cowen

348. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount each local authority has recouped from his Department for capital funded social housing units, including new builds and acquisitions in 2015 and in 2016. [22349/16]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Barry Cowen

384. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding announced for capital funding housing units that has been recouped by each local authority in 2015 and 2016 to date; the number of units this funding has provided; and to provide a breakdown by each local authority area, [22797/16]

Emergency Accommodation Provision

Barry Cowen

385. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide figures on the amount allocated to each local authority to provide emergency homeless assistance in 2016; and to provide a breakdown on a local authority area basis. [22800/16]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Barry Cowen

386. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government whether the cap of €30,000 imposed on his Department for refurbishment of vacant local authority units has been lifted; the number of applications for funding for vacant social housing refurbishment that were received by his Department in 2015 and in 2016; which local authorities these were from and the number of units; and the number of applications for individual units which were refused. [22801/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

681. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person can expect an appointment. [22839/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

193. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person may expect an appointment. [21475/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

213. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [21601/16]

Homeless Persons Data

Barry Cowen

337. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households, the number of adults and the number of families with dependants that became newly homeless in 2015; and the number that have become newly homeless in 2016 on a county basis in tabular form. [21162/16]

Legal Costs

Barry Cowen

397. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department or agencies under its remit spent on legal and other fees fighting the case that the Waterford Glass workers were forced to take to the European Court of Justice to obtain justice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21045/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Barry Cowen

600. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case (details supplied), including when the person concerned will receive an appointment. [21217/16]

Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Eligibility

Barry Cowen

727. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide renewable energy feed-in tariffs to solar energy in 2016; what the tariff will be given Ireland's lower radiation levels which are about half of that experienced in southern Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21046/16]

Energy Policy

Barry Cowen

728. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason wind energy enjoys preference over other more non-intrusive technologies, such as solar, even though the ongoing public dislike and planning objections to wind energy would appear to be preventing the Government from achieving its 2020 renewable targets and will likely lead to large infraction fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21047/16]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Barry Cowen

729. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion of renewable energy that will come from wind, solar, marine, anaerobic digestion combined heat and power, biomass combined heat and power and biomass combustion in the Government's plan to achieve its 2020 renewable targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21048/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Barry Cowen

247. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person will receive an appointment. [20239/16]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Barry Cowen

75. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the indicative timeframe for when county revaluations for commercial rate purposes will be carried out for each county; when they will be completed by the Valuations Office; and her plans or proposals to expedite all county valuations in a shorter timeframe. [19516/16]

Proposed Legislation

Barry Cowen

235. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill into the Oireachtas; and the reason for the delays in legislating to give effect to the seventh amendment of the Constitution. [19070/16]

Local Authority Finances

Barry Cowen

248. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total debts of each local authority to date, in tabular form. [19449/16]

Local Authority Finances

Barry Cowen

249. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to identify and address unsustainable debt problems in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19450/16]

Hospital Appointments Delays

Barry Cowen

511. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire. [19317/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

516. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment. [19326/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

517. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment. [19327/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

518. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment. [19328/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

519. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment. [19329/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

522. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [19349/16]

Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme

Barry Cowen

621. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide renewable energy feed-in tariffs to solar energy in 2016; the likely tariff given Ireland’s lower radiation levels which are about half of those experienced in southern Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19453/16]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Barry Cowen

622. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reasons wind energy currently is given preference over other more non-intrusive technologies, such as solar, in Government renewable energy policy. [19454/16]

Renewable Energy Generation

Barry Cowen

623. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion of renewable energy that will come from energy sources (details supplied) in the Government’s plan to achieve its 2020 renewables target. [19455/16]

Social Welfare Benefits

Barry Cowen

15. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection to elaborate on plans to extend social protection benefits to local councillors who are currently not entitled to claim social protection benefits despite the fact that they pay pay related social insurance contributions. [18559/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Barry Cowen

118. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the agreement he reached with the waste collection companies on price freezes will also apply to new customers. [18946/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Barry Cowen

121. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has undertaken any contingency planning for the effects of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union; and the areas in which this contingency planning has been undertaken and the key proposals he has. [19027/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

156. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [18824/16]

Local Government Reform

Barry Cowen

1. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if and when he will re-establish town councils. [18786/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Barry Cowen

3. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the conditions attached to the tenant purchase scheme for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18787/16]

Urban Renewal Schemes

Barry Cowen

10. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his proposals for renewal of town centre sites; and if he is considering legislation to allow the utilisation of compulsory purchase orders for the purpose of town renewal. [18556/16]

Library Services

Barry Cowen

15. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his proposals for amalgamating local library services across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18557/16]

National Planning Framework

Barry Cowen

28. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the draft national planning strategy to replace the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/16]

Local Government Reform

Barry Cowen

41. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to re-establish town councils; and when he expects town councils to be re-established. [18558/16]

Waste Management

Barry Cowen

174. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department or a body under its aegis has monitored if waste collectors have weighed waste since July 2015 and provided this information to their customers; and if he will provide this data. [18060/16]

Waste Disposal

Barry Cowen

175. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide statistics and evidence to back the claim made on page three in the Minister's briefing on the introduction of pay-by-weight for household waste that in areas where pay-by-weight is already operating, householders have become more efficient in preventing and segregating their waste, leading to a reduction in the amount of waste collected and a reduction in costs. [18064/16]

Waste Disposal

Barry Cowen

177. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide a list of references and studies to corroborate the claim in the briefing on introduction of pay-by-weight for household waste that pay-by-weight drives higher household recycling levels of between 27% and 32% and higher diversion rates from landfill of between 28% and 35%, including the margin of error on these estimates. [18094/16]

Waste Disposal

Barry Cowen

178. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households that have regular waste collection services operating on a pay-by-weight, a flat rate, a pay per lift, or a tag basis, or on a combination of two or more of these, by local authority area, in tabular form. [18095/16]

Waste Management

Barry Cowen

179. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of households he estimates do not avail of an authorised waste collection service; if he ensures that local authorities investigate whether these households manage their waste in an environmentally acceptable manner in accordance with legislation and waste management plans; and if he can provide statistics on the level of monitoring by local authorities of these households' waste disposal practices. [18105/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Barry Cowen

180. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the interdepartmental working group recommended, on page 7 of A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, measures to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households was ever established and if so, its recommendations; and if he will make available its report. [18106/16]

Waste Management

Barry Cowen

181. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the last formal review of the household waste collection market was undertaken by his Department or a body under its aegis as well as by the Competition Authority; and to provide an outline of the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the review. [18107/16]

Waste Management Regulations

Barry Cowen

182. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of areas for which the separate collection of organics is currently not a required waste permit condition; and the number of households this affects. [18108/16]

Waste Disposal

Barry Cowen

183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department still stands over the credibility and reliability of its claim that 87% of households would receive a reduction in household waste bills under the proposed pay-by-weight system or whether it now questions this claim; how this figure was estimated; and if he believes this claim should have been put into the public domain. [18109/16]

Local Authority Boundaries Review

Barry Cowen

228. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of plans for local authority boundary changes in Athlone, Galway, Drogheda and Waterford. [18547/16]

Local Authority Boundaries Review

Barry Cowen

229. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on local authority arrangements in counties Cork and Galway; if he is still considering the amalgamation of local authorities in both counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18548/16]

Vacant Sites Levy

Barry Cowen

230. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the new vacant site levy that will take effect in 2018, if only owners of properties that have been vacant a year from January 2018 will be liable to pay the tax or if owners of properties that have been vacant a year prior to January 2018 will also be liable to pay the levy in 2018. [18549/16]

Vacant Sites Levy

Barry Cowen

231. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in view of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness report, he will agree to amend the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 to ensure the levy will also apply to public bodies such as the Office of Public Works and local authorities. [18550/16]

Vacant Sites Levy

Barry Cowen

232. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the rate of the vacant site levy is high enough to act as a disincentive to land hoarding in view of evidence given to the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness. [18551/16]

Vacant Sites Levy

Barry Cowen

233. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the new vacant site levy, how the market valuation of the land will be determined and by what body; if local authorities or another body will undertake any global site valuations at regular intervals; and if there will be any link with site valuation for commercial rates purposes. [18552/16]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

234. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide a list of all analysis or reports undertaken by his Department or a body under its aegis since 2012 which have sought to audit construction costs in the residential and commercial construction industry, including the name of the report with a short description of the nature of the analysis undertaken and whether the report has been published. [18553/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

433. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment. [18344/16]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Barry Cowen

229. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for speech and language therapy within the HSE in Nenagh. [17557/16]

Equality Issues

Barry Cowen

72. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is illegal under the Equality Act 2015 or other legislation for private emergency accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts or hotels, to specifically deny accommodation to persons on the grounds that they are homeless; or on the basis that they are paying via emergency homeless assistance payments from local authorities. [16678/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

428. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [17184/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

429. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [17185/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

430. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [17186/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

418. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [15504/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

419. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [15505/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

420. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [15506/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

427. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person will receive an appointment. [15567/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

428. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) including when the person will receive an appointment. [15568/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

442. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [15731/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

443. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [15732/16]

Water Services

Barry Cowen

258. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government which Department will have responsibility for water services under the new structures. [14433/16]

Departmental Functions

Barry Cowen

588. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources which Department will have responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency under the new structures. [14432/16]

Home Help Service

Barry Cowen

75. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the huge demand for home help and home care packages and that there are waiting lists developing for these services; how many home care packages and home help hours it is intended to introduce under the new programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13788/16]

Building Regulations

Barry Cowen

186. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 24 May 2016, which cited the figure of €3,800 as the average cost for securing assigned certifier services for the construction of a multi-unit dwelling, if this is the estimated cost for the statutory certifier fees only and not an estimate of the additional average construction costs for a multi-unit dwelling that are incurred since March 2014 under BC(A)R SI.9. [14083/16]

Building Regulations

Barry Cowen

187. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his estimate for all additional average unit construction costs for a multi-unit dwelling that were incurred since March 2014 under BC(A)R SI.9, including estimates for BC(A)R additional contractor and specification costs, BC(A)R Part L (fRsi/Wufi) certification costs, BC(A)R acoustic testing for Part E costs, multi-unit BC(A)R phasing costs, and Part V costs. [14084/16]

Traveller Accommodation

Barry Cowen

390. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how much funding allocated to local authorities in 2014 and 2015 for Traveller housing was not recouped and sent back to his the Department. [13200/16]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

246. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment with the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin 2. [11959/16]

Building Regulations

Barry Cowen

29. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the additional regulatory costs of construction that have been imposed since the introduction of the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; how he will reduce the regulatory costs of building new single-unit and multi-unit housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11809/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

32. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to speed up the construction and acquisition of new housing units to meet the delivery of social housing targets under the social housing strategy; and his views on the relatively low level of approvals for new social housing projects that his Department has made since January 2015. [11810/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

34. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for building 1,000 new modular homes; the value for money, business case analyses and delivery feasibility studies on the provision of these social homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11568/16]

Building Regulations

Barry Cowen

58. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the additional regulatory costs of construction that have been imposed since the introduction of the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014; how he will reduce these costs for new single-unit and multi-unit housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11569/16]