Parliamentary questions

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

13. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his trip to the United States of America as part of his St Patrick's Day visit. [13924/17]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Eamon Ryan

48. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from transport compared with current levels that is anticipated to result from the implementation of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 approved by his predecessor; and the way this increase in emissions in the region with the greatest potential for modal shift to active travel modes and public transport can be reconciled with the obligations to reduce emissions drastically and transition to a low carbon society in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, in line with international commitments in the Paris Agreement. [14246/17]

Greenways Development

Eamon Ryan

66. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made in the planning of a greenway pedestrian and cycling route between Athlone and Galway; and when he expects such a route to go to design and construction phase. [14245/17]

Northern Ireland

Eamon Ryan

9. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Theresa May at the EU summit held on 9 March 2017. [13923/17]

Electric Vehicles

Eamon Ryan

57. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the additional measures he has taken to increase the proportion of electric vehicles here; and the measures taken to expedite the roll-out of on street charging infrastructure. [13939/17]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Eamon Ryan

81. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the forecast level for renewable energy generation in the heat, transport and power sectors by 2020; and the additional measures he is introducing to prevent future fines for failure to comply with the EU Renewable Energy Directive. [13938/17]

Greenways Development

Eamon Ryan

684. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in discussions between Irish Rail, Fingal County Council and her Department on the provision of a pedestrian and cyclist route along the railway across the Broadmeadow Estuary (details supplied). [14171/17]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

1011. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Ireland will be represented at the global symposium on soil organic carbon being held in Rome under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, (details supplied). [14264/17]

Bioenergy Strategy

Eamon Ryan

1146. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the strategic environmental assessment of the draft national bioenergy plan, which was drafted in 2014 and has remained in draft form ever since, will be published and put to public consultation; the reason this information was not available before the recent consultation on a renewable heat incentive, which is one of the proposals in the draft plan; and the analysis which has been carried out of the sustainability of large-scale importation of biofuels and solid biomass, which seems to be envisaged by the draft plan. [14172/17]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

1147. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the roles he envisages in national climate policy for a number of provisions (details supplied); and his plans to redirect the resources currently being used to support peat-fired electricity to achieve a just transition for sustainable employment in the midlands. [14173/17]

Airport Development Projects

Eamon Ryan

1168. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has analysed the recent decision of the Austrian Federal Administrative Court in relation to a proposed third runway at Vienna airport (details supplied); and, if so, his views on the implications of this decision for the proposed third runway at Dublin Airport in view of the obligations ​in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and the Paris Agreement. [14174/17]

Airport Development Projects

Eamon Ryan

1240. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has analysed the recent decision of the Austrian Federal Administrative Court in relation to a proposed third runway at Vienna airport (details supplied); and if so, his views on the implications of this decision for the proposed third runway at Dublin Airport in view of the obligations ​in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 and the Paris Agreement. [14159/17]

EU Regulations

Eamon Ryan

1241. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to go ahead with his stated intention to transfer functions of noise regulation to the Irish Aviation Authority; and the reason he considers it acceptable to create a conflict of interest for the authority in view of the fact that it derives revenue from a levy on aviation and, consequently, has a financial interest in maximising the number of flights. [14160/17]

EU Regulations

Eamon Ryan

1242. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will implement the Maastricht recommendations on promoting effective public participation in decision-making in environmental matters prepared under the Aarhus Convention in any new regulatory regime for aviation noise. [14161/17]

EU Regulations

Eamon Ryan

1243. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the public consultation he will undertake in respect of his stated intention to transfer functions of aviation noise regulation to the Irish Aviation Authority; and if that consultation will explain the reason he considers it acceptable to create a conflict of interest for the Authority in view of the fact that it derives revenue from a levy on aviation and consequently has a financial interest in maximising the number of flights. [14162/17]

Cycling Policy

Eamon Ryan

1244. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress on implementation of the national cycle policy framework received from local authorities and other stakeholders in 2013 and 2015. [14163/17]

Cycling Policy

Eamon Ryan

1245. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress which has been made in considering a ban on the movement of HGVs on routes to schools and other specific routes with mixed traffic between 08:30 to 09:30 hours and 15:00 to 17:00 hours, in pursuance of policy 2.4 of the national cycle policy framework. [14164/17]

Cycling Policy

Eamon Ryan

1246. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress which has been made in carrying out a study on bicycles, ferries and ports in pursuance of policy 8.9 of the national cycle policy framework. [14165/17]

Cycling Policy

Eamon Ryan

1247. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps which have been taken to encourage employers to provide cycling parking facilities at existing developments, in pursuance of policy 7.3 of the national cycle policy framework. [14166/17]

Cycling Policy

Eamon Ryan

1248. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the support which has been provided for introduction of emergency hotlines in all local authorities to enable the public to report potholes and inadequate reinstatement of roads, broken glass on the road and so on, in pursuance of policy 5.5 of the national cycle policy framework. [14167/17]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

3. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings with EU officials in Brussels on 2 March 2017. [11784/17]

Arts Funding

Eamon Ryan

34. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps taken and grants provided in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017 to address the shortage of affordable studio space, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11768/17]

Arts Funding

Eamon Ryan

50. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps taken and grants given to provide income for artists, in view of the recent findings from a study (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11764/17]

Tax Reliefs Application

Eamon Ryan

163. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered extending similar tax treatment to persons that are renting out rooms in a house they are living in through a company (details supplied), as distinct to renting out an entire home, to persons that rent out rooms for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11780/17]

Tax Yield

Eamon Ryan

164. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the total tax take from residential property landlords derived from their rental income; and the total value of the residential property rental market here. [11781/17]

Maternity Services

Eamon Ryan

596. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed move of the Rotunda Hospital to a site at Connolly Hospital, Dublin 15; the amount this will cost; if there is a timeline for the potential move in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11782/17]

Sports Facilities Provision

Eamon Ryan

793. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the provision of a velodrome at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown; if funding has been identified for this; if a timeframe is in place to deliver it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11843/17]

Budget Consultation Process

Eamon Ryan

4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role his Department has in the establishment of an Oireachtas budget office to support the Committee on Budgetary Oversight; the appropriate public service grade that should be head of such an office; and the reason for the delay in the hiring of necessary staff. [10846/17]

EU Funding

Eamon Ryan

143. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital projects that have secured funding from the European Investment Bank or the Juncker investment fund during the lifetime of the Government. [10847/17]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Eamon Ryan

92. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to terminate the Irish refugee protection programme once the September 2015 commitment to take 4,000 persons has been met. [9576/17]

Financial Services Sector

Eamon Ryan

224. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the outcome of the recent European Financial Forum in Dublin Castle; and the role his Department is taking in relation to the attraction of new financial service companies here. [4169/17]

Energy Policy

Eamon Ryan

750. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason fossil fuel heating systems are continuing to be promoted with grants of up to 50% by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland through their home and community energy efficiency grant programmes, Better Energy Homes and Better Energy Communities, while there is no additional support or incentive to install renewable heat or renewable electricity alternatives. [10352/17]

National Planning Framework

Eamon Ryan

21. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which he and his Department will ensure that the Departments of Health, Education and Skills, Transport, Tourism and Sport and Finance comply with and work within the national planning framework. [9024/17]

National Planning Framework

Eamon Ryan

73. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the role his Department will have in the roll out of the national planning framework. [8779/17]

Crime Prevention

Eamon Ryan

83. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any capital funding streams for the provision of new public CCTV systems; if there are any current funding streams to assist gardaí with the monitoring of such systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9174/17]

Israeli Settlements

Eamon Ryan

30. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will request the banning of trade from the EU with Israel in view of ongoing breaches of the Geneva Convention in the form of settlements which are illegal under international law. [8758/17]

Noise Pollution

Eamon Ryan

113. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has considered new regulatory measures to deal with domestically produced noise pollutions such as dogs barking constantly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9081/17]

Proposed Legislation

Eamon Ryan

209. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the importance of Ireland's hedgerow in the payments system under the Common Agricultural Policy, especially in view of Ireland's low level of forest coverage; his further views on the climate mitigation effects of Ireland's hedgerows and their importance in meeting Ireland's EU and Paris agreement targets; the way the proposed Heritage Bill 2016, with its provisions for increased hedgerow cutting and upland burning, might impact on these effects; and if he has discussed these aspects of the Bill with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. [9082/17]

Cycling Policy

Eamon Ryan

624. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department have produced any progress reports or implementation reports on the actions envisaged in the ​national cycle policy framework, and if so, if he will provide such reports. [8798/17]

School Patronage

Eamon Ryan

133. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills ,further to Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 12 July 2016, to outline the status of the process discussed; his views on the issue of the lack of school places in the Dublin 6 area, with particular reference to non-denominational schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7492/17]

Planning Issues

Eamon Ryan

164. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has reviewed the exempted development provisions to ensure that hard landscaping or off-street car parking would be exempted only when complying with sustainable drainage principles, as outlined in the ​2009 planning system and flood risk management guidelines (details supplied). [7769/17]

National Drugs Strategy

Eamon Ryan

235. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to drug checking services (details supplied); the amendments to existing legislation that would be necessary to enable a pilot of such a service; and his position on the matter. [7699/17]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Eamon Ryan

46. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which her Department is working with the Departments of Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Education and Skills and Health to ensure that concerted adequate provision is made for refugee minors in all aspects of State responsibility on entry into Ireland, in view of the complexity of the integration process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7044/17]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Eamon Ryan

71. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the integration and mental health services being made available for refugee children upon entering Ireland; the number of child refugees that her Department is anticipating in 2017; and the capacity that her Department has for the provision of such services. [7043/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, environment and climate action will take place. [4168/17]

Smarter Transport

Eamon Ryan

41. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason his Department's combined spend on the smarter travel sustainable transport measures-grants and the regional cities programmes decreased by 21% in 2016 and is projected to be reduced by 18% in 2017 (details supplied) in view of the fact that these programmes constitute a large portion of his Department's spend on walking and cycling infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6093/17]

Garda Vetting

Eamon Ryan

94. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to streamline Garda vetting procedures and to allow for simplified procedures for persons transferring between different types of work that require Garda vetting yet do not allow for their Garda vetting approval to transfer between different jobs or responsibilities; the number of Gardaí and public servants involved in Garda vetting; and the amount spent on vetting in the past year for which figures are available. [6251/17]

Student Data

Eamon Ryan

132. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students over 18 years of age and under 21 years of age who were in full-time secondary education in the past year for which figures are available. [6250/17]

National Oversight and Audit Commission

Eamon Ryan

165. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that the performance indicators in local authorities, as compiled by the National Oversight and Audit Commission in regard to the measure concerning transport, only measures the quality of road surface and amount of road grants and does not measure any metric relating to sustainable transport and travel, such as funding or mode share for walking, cycling or public transport; and if he plans to make any changes to the indicators measured. [6252/17]

National Oversight and Audit Commission

Eamon Ryan

166. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that the performance indicators in local authorities, as compiled by the National Oversight and Audit Commission concerning the related measure, do not examine the issue of carbon emissions; and if he plans to make any changes to the indicators measured. [6253/17]

Planning Issues

Eamon Ryan

167. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if consideration will be given to allowing members of the public to make observations on subsequent planning applications on the same site in a five-year period without paying the €20 fee, where the member of the public has previously made an observation, given that the cost of commenting on repeat applications can be significant to the public. [6255/17]

Office of Public Works Properties

Eamon Ryan

187. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of car parking spaces that are controlled by the Office of Public Works in Dublin's inner city; the Department or other body which leases them; the number of spaces available for free use; the locations of same; and the number rented and the price paid to the State for same. [6249/17]

Referendum Data

Eamon Ryan

188. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full cost to the State of holding the referenda on the 34th and 35th amendments to the Constitution in 2015. [6254/17]

Renewable Energy Incentives

Eamon Ryan

254. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in addition to advertising scholarships for students undertaking taught MSc degrees commencing in the academic year 2017-2018 on topics of direct relevance to the development of Ireland’s petroleum resources, he will consider offering similar scholarships in the field of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6247/17]

Road Safety Strategy

Eamon Ryan

263. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to altering the rules of the road to reflect the advice (details supplied) provided to drivers in the Netherlands. [6248/17]

Wildlife Protection

Eamon Ryan

46. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for awarding the ObSERVE programme; the way in which its aim of surveying cetaceans such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises and sea birds offshore aligns with the programme's aim of supporting the sustainable development of the oil and gas industry; and the basis on which this programme was awarded a nomination for the Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards 2016. [5791/17]

Energy Policy

Eamon Ryan

80. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason his Department is offering MSc scholarship opportunities in petroleum-related courses in view of the fact his Department's statement of strategy declares one of its objectives is to pursue and achieve transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy, underpinned by a secure and competitive energy supply, in the period to 2050 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5792/17]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Eamon Ryan

100. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is still planning to reach the target of 4,000 refugees taken under the Irish refugee protection programme by September 2017. [5490/17]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Eamon Ryan

101. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if adequate temporary accommodation has been sourced to facilitate the remainder of the 4,000 refugee target before September 2017. [5491/17]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Eamon Ryan

103. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when and the way in which post-September 2017 targets will be set at an Irish level and at the European level with regard to the refugee protection programme. [5527/17]

Local Elections

Eamon Ryan

283. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to initiate a new boundary commission for local election wards; the proposed terms of reference; if it will consider increasing or decreasing the total number of seats in each local authority; if it will consider reducing the geographic size of wards; if it will consider reducing the number of seats per ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5961/17]

Banking Sector

Eamon Ryan

365. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received a submission from an organisation (details supplied) requesting that her Department establish a working group to investigate the establishment of a local public banking network here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5489/17]

HIV-AIDS Programmes

Eamon Ryan

390. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to the Topical Issue debate of 7 December 2016, if he will provide the timeline mentioned in the debate. [5526/17]

Bioenergy Strategy

Eamon Ryan

562. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the draft bioenergy plan and the strategic environmental assessment of the plan will be put to public consultation; and the reason for the delay in this process. [5464/17]

Communications Market Regulation

Eamon Ryan

563. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether, in view of the volume of complaints to ComReg regarding the activities of PRS providers, the regulatory framework governing telephone companies debiting the accounts of consumers for services of such third-party PRS providers is adequate; his further views on whether there should not be an opt-out provision for consumers from such premium rate services in the regulatory framework; and his views on whether in the regulatory framework, there ought not to be an obligation on telephone companies similar to credit card companies for the improper debiting of customer accounts on behalf of PRS providers. [5465/17]

Aquaculture Licence Applications

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the planned increase in size and number of oyster farms in County Donegal; if an environmental impact assessment has been carried out; the local consultation that has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5066/17]

Fisheries Protection

Eamon Ryan

275. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the action he will take to mitigate harm caused by supertrawlers on fishing communities in view of a recent documentary (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5067/17]

Public Procurement Contracts

Eamon Ryan

4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to implement sustainability clauses within the public procurement process in order to incentivise companies engaged in public contracts to act in as sustainable and environmentally friendly manner as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/17]

UN Conferences

Eamon Ryan

88. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his Department attended or were represented at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development commonly referred to as Habitat III that took place in Quito, Ecuador from 17 to 21 October 2016 (details supplied). [3540/17]

Planning Issues

Eamon Ryan

89. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the terms of reference of the committee appointed to carry out the root and branch review of the planning system proposed in the programme for Government; the details of the membership of the committee and their qualifications to carry out this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3541/17]

Election Monitoring Missions

Eamon Ryan

112. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the election observation roster; if he plans to open it up for a public call for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3542/17]

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses

Eamon Ryan

114. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress his Department has made on social benefit clauses; and the timeframe for inclusion into the public tendering process. [3626/17]

Military Aircraft Landings

Eamon Ryan

202. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an aircraft (details supplied) operating on behalf of the US military was permitted to fly from Shannon Airport to Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey and then back on 30 December 2016; if he will confirm that the plane cargo carried no weapons or munitions related to drone strikes or nuclear weapons; the steps that were taken to confirm if it did or did not carry such cargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3539/17]

Human Rights

Eamon Ryan

65. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the contact he has had with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt, and the Egyptian government in regard to a person (details supplied). [38633/16]

State Aid Investigations

Eamon Ryan

70. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on a tax case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1722/17]

Tax Code

Eamon Ryan

72. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a recent documentary on vulture funds (details supplied); and his plans to address the issues raised. [1721/17]

Planning Issues

Eamon Ryan

214. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the powers vested in him pursuant under section 9(7)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 have ever been exercised by him or his predecessors; and if so, the details of its usage. [40941/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

13. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the outcomes of his recent visit to Silicon Valley and meeting with a person (details supplied). [39828/16]

Education and Training Boards Data

Eamon Ryan

99. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons that participated in english for speakers of other languages classes in each of the 16 education and training boards, ETBs, nationally, for each of the years, 2014 and 2015; and if the number of EU and non-EU citizens that participated in each ETB area for each year will be outlined. [40337/16]

European Defence Action Plan

Eamon Ryan

32. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the implications for Irish defence policy of the recent announcement of a European defence action plan. [40172/16]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Eamon Ryan

596. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the requirement which his Department is placing on environmental organisations to register as charities will not in any way restrict their abilities to advocate for the policy changes needed to end biodiversity loss, stop climate change and protect human health and the environment. [40183/16]

Naval Service Vessels

Eamon Ryan

672. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the proposed programme for the purchase of new naval vessels; and the role it is expected that they will undertake. [40173/16]

Tax Code

Eamon Ryan

75. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the reason cohabiting partners cannot be jointly assessed as cohabitants for tax purposes in the same way a married couple would be in view of the fact that they are assessed jointly for social protection entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39306/16]

Consumer Protection

Eamon Ryan

238. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied that the regulatory framework that ComReg oversees is adequate to protect the consumer. [39307/16]

Commission for Communications Regulation Remit

Eamon Ryan

239. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide further powers to ComReg to allow the regulator to bring civil as well as criminal cases where necessary. [39309/16]

Transport Policy

Eamon Ryan

58. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to reduce emissions from the transport sector and to meet the official Government targets for 2020 set out in Smarter Travel in view of the EPA's projection that transport emissions will increase by 16% by 2020 to a share of 29% of total emissions and the fact that none of the targets set for 2020 by the Government's Smarter Travel - A Sustainable Transport Future Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020 are going to be met. [38832/16]

Transport Policy

Eamon Ryan

71. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will revise the greater Dublin area transport strategy adopted by his predecessor which plans for an increase in emissions in the greater Dublin area up to 2035 and the transport elements of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021 adopted by the last Government, which apportions nearly 60% of transport spending to the road network with barely 1% for active travel modes, to bring them into compliance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (details supplied). [38833/16]

Rail Network

Eamon Ryan

270. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentages of DART services that have run on time in the last quarter; if the trend is towards increasing or decreasing punctuality over the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39100/16]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Eamon Ryan

4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, environment and climate action will take place. [38634/16]

Sustainable Development Strategy

Eamon Ryan

48. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there were upwards of 400 persons at the sustainability gathering in Dublin Castle recently, all demanding government action on policy for sustainability; and his plans to fast-track policy to support clean energy and sustainable business. [37399/16]

Electric Vehicles

Eamon Ryan

53. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to encourage the development of the electric vehicle fleet and electric vehicle charge points here. [38630/16]

Environmental Policy

Eamon Ryan

212. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has written to the European Commission to notify it that the Government plans to introduce legislation to ban microbeads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38865/16]

Food Wise 2025 Strategy

Eamon Ryan

19. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the Food Wise 2025 strategy addresses climate change and sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37724/16]

Organic Farming Scheme Eligibility

Eamon Ryan

23. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department has made the decision since 2015 not to fund new entrants into the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37723/16]

Social Enterprise Sector

Eamon Ryan

40. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason that in a recent report (details supplied) on countries with the best conditions for social enterprise Ireland ranks 43rd out of the 44 countries surveyed; and the initiatives she plans to implement to improve these conditions. [33012/16]

NAMA Assets Sale

Eamon Ryan

60. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress that has been made in regard to the purchase of 5,000 acres from NAMA in the Glenasmole valley; if an agreement has been reached; and the terms of the purchase. [37398/16]

Heritage Sites

Eamon Ryan

476. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures she will take to ensure that Westport House and its contents remain open to the public; the discussions that have taken place with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to consider acquiring the estate and its contents for the benefit of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37477/16]

National Drugs Strategy

Eamon Ryan

632. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures that apply to specifically address the issue of recreational drug users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37749/16]

Medical Products Supply

Eamon Ryan

633. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the provision of prefilled naloxone injections as a means of making provision to save the lives of persons suffering from an opiate drug overdose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37750/16]

Rail Services

Eamon Ryan

745. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, following the opening of the Luas cross city as far as Broombridge station, the Irish rail timetable will be amended to allow the Sligo train stop at Broombridge to create inter-connectivity between the two routes, particularly for the morning service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37748/16]