Parliamentary questions

Economic Competitiveness

Frank O'Rourke

795. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures the Government and its agencies have in place to ensure the benefits of cheaper imports from the United Kingdom in view of the weaker sterling are passed onto Irish businesses and consumers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20694/16]

Economic Competitiveness

Frank O'Rourke

807. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the policies she and the agencies within her remit are pursuing to protect the interests of businesses exporting to the United Kingdom, in particular in the food sector, given the result of the British referendum to exit the European Union and the depreciation of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21300/16]

Corporate Governance

Frank O'Rourke

105. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place, in view of the emphasis his Department has on new corporate governance guidelines for agencies under his remit, to ensure persons deemed to be debtors are not actively engaged in the management of such agencies while such debts are not discharged; the procedures in place to notify his Department of any such debtors who are members of boards under his aegis; if debtors are currently on boards under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20215/16]

Work Placement Programmes

Frank O'Rourke

52. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider the possibility of introducing more flexibility to the Tús work placement initiative scheme, including considering extending the period of time a person can avail of the scheme on case-by-case basis, with particular consideration given to a person's age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18689/16]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Frank O'Rourke

111. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills how he will treat non-union members with regards to the announced pay cuts and withholding of payments and increments from Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland members, who are now outside of the Lansdowne Road Agreement, LRA; if he will consider non-union teachers as having accepted or rejected the LRA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18005/16]

Work Placement Programmes

Frank O'Rourke

294. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a further list of the 50 applicants under the Tús work placement initiative in Celbridge, Leixlip and Maynooth in County Kildare, in addition to the list provided five weeks ago, so as to allow the supervisors to fill the vacancies for the host community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Frank O'Rourke

442. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when he will reinstate the home care package which his Department suspended in February 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18427/16]

TAMS Payments

Frank O'Rourke

475. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue the outstanding payments under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme to farmers who have completed approved works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18173/16]

TAMS Eligibility

Frank O'Rourke

476. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase the limit on the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme grant for piggeries and poultry farms from the current ceiling of €80,000 to an increased ceiling of €300,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18174/16]

Road Traffic Legislation

Frank O'Rourke

531. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 has been enacted and if not, why not. [18503/16]

Credit Union Restructuring

Frank O'Rourke

34. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider deploying some of the unused funds allocated to the Credit Union Restructuring Board, ReBo, to support the development and growth of the sector, in line with commitments entered into on the formation of the Government, in particular in relation to supporting the information technology infrastructure and new product offerings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17532/16]

Central Bank of Ireland Staff

Frank O'Rourke

53. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of significant vacancies in the Central Bank enforcement division, including at very senior roles; the manner in which these vacancies are impacting on the delivery of the Central Bank’s mandate; the manner in which he can assist in addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17533/16]

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Frank O'Rourke

38. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with the regional spread of organised site visits by IDA Ireland in 2015 and in 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15815/16]

State Examinations Exemptions

Frank O'Rourke

97. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students sitting the leaving certificate for the first time in 2016 who are exempt from the examination fee due to their parents or guardians being in possession of a medical card; the number of these students who are 18 years of age and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16280/16]

Diabetes Strategy

Frank O'Rourke

169. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will fill, on schedule, the three posts comprising a mixture of community-based diabetes nurse specialists, senior dietitians and senior podiatrists, which were sanctioned to support the diabetes community in west Dublin and County Kildare as part of the 2016 Health Service Executive's plan, which sanctioned 36 posts nationally to support the implementation of the type 2 diabetes cycle of care initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16252/16]

Medical Card Applications

Frank O'Rourke

171. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when he will process an application by a person (details supplied) under the medical card scheme; the outcome of the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16259/16]

Work Placement Programmes

Frank O'Rourke

333. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider extending the placement period on Tús – work placement initiative from 12 to 18 or 24 months for those who wish to continue beyond the set 12-month period; the cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16020/16]

National Play and Recreation Policies

Frank O'Rourke

253. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for details of funding available, to be administered via local authorities, from the capital grant funding scheme 2016; for details of any additional funding she may be considering making available to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young persons, in particular in the Kildare North area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15259/16]

Child Benefit Data

Frank O'Rourke

320. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending child benefit to the estimated 37,300 pupils who are due to sit the leaving certificate for the first time in 2016 and are aged 18 to 20 years of age, as revealed in information received through a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 346 of 31 May 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14683/16]

Community Employment Schemes Data

Frank O'Rourke

324. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending community employment schemes to 18 months and two years in duration respectively; his views on providing greater flexibility to schemes to extend the current duration of schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14736/16]

Patient Transfers

Frank O'Rourke

38. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of difficulties with the Health Service Executive patient transfer scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13760/16]

Patient Transfers

Frank O'Rourke

88. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided for the Health Service Executive patient transfer scheme in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13761/16]

Statutory Instruments

Frank O'Rourke

209. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the legislation governing the making of pay-parking by-laws by local authorities; the statutory instrument stating that modifications by local authority executives to by-laws must entail a full review; if he will change this statutory instrument to make the changing of these by-laws by local authorities more flexible. [13846/16]

Programme for Government

Frank O'Rourke

38. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to publish a costing of items in the programme for Government as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13038/16]

State Examinations Data

Frank O'Rourke

346. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students aged 18-20 who sat the leaving certificate for the first time in 2015; the number expected to sit the leaving certificate for the first time in 2016 in the same age category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13569/16]

Derelict Sites

Frank O'Rourke

370. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the remedies available to local authorities or other State agencies to ensure that property owners of derelict or inhabited buildings in need of repair, both from a structural and an aesthetic perspective, have them restored to an acceptable standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12791/16]

Work Placement Programmes

Frank O'Rourke

444. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the duration of the Tús schemes, which are currently 12 months, and extend them up to 18 to 24 months, to give consistency and continuity for the community groups and the persons placed on these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12789/16]

Child Benefit Data

Frank O'Rourke

518. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if data are available on the number of students aged 18 to 20 in full-time second level education who are not eligible for child benefit; the cost of extending child benefit to students aged 18 to 20 in full-time second level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13567/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Frank O'Rourke

553. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the flood relief scheme for the Morrell River, County Kildare, will be brought to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12790/16]

Patient Transport Expenditure

Frank O'Rourke

675. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to review the recent cuts to the hospital patient transport scheme and reverse these cuts to assist patients on social protection payments who are suffering from different illnesses and cannot afford to pay the taxi cost as a result of being unable to access public transport due to their condition to attend hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12788/16]

Foreign Direct Investment

Frank O'Rourke

893. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of persons employed in foreign direct investment companies here in the years 2005, 2010 and 2015; the policies the Government and its agencies are pursuing to maintain and strengthen the links that these companies have here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12787/16]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Frank O'Rourke

32. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the age criteria under the child benefit scheme and link this payment to children who are still in full-time education which in some cases can be children over 17 years of age up to 19 years of age; in the case of third level education, if he will link this payment to students who qualify on means for the Student Universal Support Ireland grants up to 22 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11807/16]

Exceptional Needs Payment Appeals

Frank O'Rourke

62. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to change the process of reviewing payments under the exceptional needs payment, even though they are not a primary payment, to the same appeal process as other social protection payments, where it goes to an appeal and an oral hearing can be provided, given that some serious cases are being refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11808/16]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Frank O'Rourke

44. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to expand the tenant purchase scheme to other buyers, given that it is restricted to local authority tenants with an income in excess of €15,000 per year, which excludes other potential participants; to include the purchase of apartments under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11597/16]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Frank O'Rourke

247. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills to request the Teaching Council to review its proposal to abolish regulation 3, which gives full recognition to Montessori teachers to teach all age groups in special schools, special classes and resource classes, given that Montessori educators have always been involved in special education here and have specific training in special education as part of their basic teacher training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Frank O'Rourke

364. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units to be built in 2016, by county and city borough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9387/16]

Emergency Accommodation Data

Frank O'Rourke

365. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the emergency accommodation beds available for persons experiencing homelessness, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9388/16]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Eligibility

Frank O'Rourke

437. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the caps under the rent supplement scheme and the housing assistance payment scheme, given the increasing cost of rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9389/16]

Mental Health Services Funding

Frank O'Rourke

640. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when he will allocate the €12 million ring-fenced funding for mental health services, given that it is not being spent as the additional staff it was to fund will not be hired on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9392/16]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Frank O'Rourke

1086. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to review the timeline of the roll-out of the national broadband plan and to review the planning and procedural issues in order to speed up the delivery of this vital service to the rural economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9390/16]

Rail Network

Frank O'Rourke

1135. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will complete the construction rail project to open the Phoenix Park tunnel; the benefits of this investment for those commuters using the County Kildare routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10109/16]

Tourism Policy

Frank O'Rourke

1136. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the policies he is pursuing to ensure that counties such as County Kildare benefit from the increase in tourist numbers that is occurring, especially in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10110/16]

Job Retention

Frank O'Rourke

1184. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has met or has requested a meeting with the management of Intel in Ireland, given the company’s recent announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10108/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Frank O'Rourke

261. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the tender being awarded for the building of the new community school for Maynooth, County Kildare; when the contracts will be signed; when building works will commence; the time from commencement of building works to completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9078/16]

NAMA Portfolio

Frank O'Rourke

25. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of acres of residential land and the number of residential units the National Asset Management Agency owns or controls, directly or indirectly, through loans owed to it, in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7983/16]

Food Industry Development

Frank O'Rourke

34. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine given the significant number of food sector companies in Naas and surrounding areas in County Kildare, the policies his Department is pursing to sustain and grow the numbers of persons employed in this sector in County Kildare; if his Department has considered making Naas and the surrounding area a designated location or hub for the food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7984/16]

Home Care Packages Administration

Frank O'Rourke

86. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the policies his Department and the Health Service Executive are pursuing to encourage more persons to enter the home care package sector; the policies in place to secure sustainable levels of pay for the workers in that sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7982/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Frank O'Rourke

118. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the new community school for Maynooth, County Kildare; when construction will start on the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7985/16]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Frank O'Rourke

82. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the policy initiatives he has introduced to facilitate the National Asset Management Agency in providing social housing units; the number of such units these policy initiatives will provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6362/16]

Tax Code

Frank O'Rourke

83. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance his plans to change the tax system for distressed debt and other financial assets so that speculation on distressed residential debt is penalised rather than rewarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6363/16]