Parliamentary questions

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Bobby Aylward

133. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for State-provided orthodontic care in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the number that have been categorised IOTN 5 as having a high level of need for orthodontic treatment but have been subjected to a waiting time of 24 months; the number of orthodontists assigned to tackling general waiting lists in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the number assigned to tackling the IOTN 5 waiting lists in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Bobby Aylward

211. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the three-month delay in sending the carer’s allowance application file of a person (details supplied) to the Social Welfare Appeals Office upon request in early November 2018; the average time it takes to forward carer's allowance application files from the date requested by the Social Welfare Appeals Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9905/19]

Local Authority Housing Rents

Bobby Aylward

216. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if social welfare payments received by a tenant in respect of a child can be assessed as income for differential rents by a local authority (details supplied); if a national framework exists which governs local authorities to ensure consistency in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9806/19]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Bobby Aylward

54. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to ensure better pay and working conditions for members of the Defence Forces; the further steps being taken to ensure appropriate supports are available to both current and former members of the Defence Forces that may be experiencing financial difficulties; if he has satisfied himself that recruitment methods are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9267/19]

Legislative Process

Bobby Aylward

48. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the commercial rates Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8458/19]

Beef Industry

Bobby Aylward

195. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the deadline by which beef suckler farmers must apply for the BEEP scheme beyond 22 February 2019 due to lack of awareness among farmers in respect of the scheme; the steps he has taken to ensure there is a sufficient level of awareness among beef suckler farmers regarding the deadline for receipt of applications for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8668/19]

National Carers' Strategy

Bobby Aylward

58. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she has taken to ensure that all family carers can avail of access to adequate support services for respite, individual support, training, networking, information and advocacy to ensure they do not lack training or confidence in their individual roles; the steps she has taken to deliver access to core support services for carers nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8087/19]

Livestock Issues

Bobby Aylward

477. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the possibility of increasing quality lairage capacity for calf exports in Cherbourg, France to satisfy increased demand in the market will be investigated; if he will direct his officials to engage with their relevant counterparts and partners at national and regional level in France to increase lairage capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8251/19]

Salmon Management Report

Bobby Aylward

531. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the exact conservation limits for the River Nore; the exact number of salmon which were estimated to have entered the river in 2018; the projected number of salmon to enter the river in 2019; the way in which the numbers are trending as a result of the extensive information used to determine the number of salmon entering the system, in terms of numbers improving or declining and the rate; the estimated future date for the reopening the river for snap net fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8337/19]

Salmon Management Report

Bobby Aylward

532. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the salmon stock levels on the rivers Barrow and Suir; the conservation limits of salmon on the rivers; the effect this information has on projecting stock levels on the rivers; the possible future date for the reopening the rivers for fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8338/19]

Salmon Management Report

Bobby Aylward

533. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the 2014 snap net salmon fishing licences for the rivers Nore and Suir remain valid; if holders of these licences have an entitlement to fish should the rivers reopen for fishing of this nature in the near future; the process for the application and issuing of licences for snap net salmon fishing on the rivers Nore and Suir should the rivers reopen for fishing in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8339/19]

Salmon Management Report

Bobby Aylward

534. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an independent review by independent marine economists will be commissioned to investigate the possibility of reopening of the rivers Nore and Suir for snap net salmon fishing and the potential for a heritage fisheries pilot scheme on the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8342/19]

Insurance Costs

Bobby Aylward

43. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the measures taken to meet and engage with insurance companies regarding excessive premiums being charged to consumers, particularly in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7359/19]

Student Support Schemes

Bobby Aylward

96. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential funding streams that assist young students of music to travel to the United States of America to engage in workshops and programmes in order to develop their talents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7302/19]

Primary Medical Certificates Applications

Bobby Aylward

143. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if a decision to deny a person (details supplied) a primary medical certificate will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7304/19]

Student Support Schemes

Bobby Aylward

233. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the potential funding streams that assist young students of music to travel to the United States of America to engage in workshops and programmes in order to develop their talents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7303/19]

Health Services Provision

Bobby Aylward

73. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve and enhance cardiac care services for those living in the south east; if he believes there is an equal provision of cardiac services in the region in comparison to the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5378/19]

Water Charges

Bobby Aylward

659. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce an incremental instalment payment plan to assist persons in paying the cost of water connection charges that would be considered excessive or are in excess of a predetermined threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5211/19]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Bobby Aylward

28. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the commencement of works on the ground under the national broadband plan; the measures contained within same to ensure rapid roll out of broadband services for rural areas, rural communities and regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3148/19]

School Transport Eligibility

Bobby Aylward

39. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the school transport system, in particular the system for the allocation of concessionary tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/19]