Parliamentary questions

Homelessness Strategy

Jan O'Sullivan

12. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the target of taking all homeless families with children out of hotels except in exceptional circumstances to be met; the indicative length of time such families are expected to stay in family hubs; the arrangements made for children to get to school, after-school programmes and so on while they are in hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33377/17]

Mortgage to Rent Scheme

Jan O'Sullivan

42. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of applications that have been received to date in 2017 under the revised mortgage to rent scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33376/17]

House Prices

Jan O'Sullivan

66. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the direction he has given to local authorities to ensure that homes built for private sale on publicly owned land are sold at affordable prices; if he will consider introducing an appropriate national affordable housing scheme for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33379/17]

Rent Pressure Zones

Jan O'Sullivan

68. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the next review of rent pressure zones will be carried out; if the general review of Rebuilding Ireland will include more substantial changes to the legislation which defined qualification as a rent pressure zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33378/17]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

28. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has held discussions with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government regarding the family hubs that are planned to replace the use of hotels for families in emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30783/17]

Refugee Data

Jan O'Sullivan

35. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unaccompanied minors that had been in the migrant camp in Calais that have come here; if work is ongoing to expand Tusla's capacity for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30782/17]

Preschool Services

Jan O'Sullivan

38. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if training or upskilling is provided to persons working with children on the autism spectrum in preschool settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30781/17]

Affordable Childcare Scheme Establishment

Jan O'Sullivan

49. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the interim arrangements for the new child care supplement in view of the fact that the database will not be ready in time to receive new applications in September 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30784/17]

Brexit Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

103. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the possible affect of Brexit on fees and access to higher education for Irish students who attend British universities and colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30365/17]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Jan O'Sullivan

285. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the functions and responsibilities she now has in terms of her employment remit; the functions of the former Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which will be transferred to her Department; the agencies and statutory bodies under the aegis of the former Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which will be transferred to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30384/17]

Site Acquisitions

Jan O'Sullivan

238. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in identifying a site for the proposed new post-primary school under the patronage of an organisation (details supplied) that is due to open in the Castletroy Monaleen area of County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30062/17]

Planning Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

591. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if an archaeological report has been submitted to his Department further to condition No. 34 of the Louth County Council planning decision No. 08/1, issued on 12 August 2008; if so, if a copy can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29515/17]

Vacant Sites Levy

Jan O'Sullivan

642. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made in the establishment of a register of vacant sites in advance of the introduction of the vacant site levy due to come into operation in 2018; the guidance that is given to local authorities in the event of difficulties in identifying the ownership of a site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/17]

Coastal Erosion

Jan O'Sullivan

74. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps the OPW has taken to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion at Bettystown and Laytown beaches, County Meath; the levels of erosion experienced at these points on the coastline in the past ten years; the way in which the OPW plans to continue to measure the rate of erosion of the east Meath coastline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29295/17]

Paternity Leave

Jan O'Sullivan

206. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of fathers that have taken paternity leave since the introduction of the scheme by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29286/17]

Low Pay Commission Report

Jan O'Sullivan

182. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Low Pay Commission has reported to the Minister of State on reviewing the board and lodgings rates for au pairs; when she will make a decision on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28246/17]

School Services Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

641. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if retired school caretakers who receive a pension from his Department are also entitled to receive a State pension; if there are circumstances in which this can be the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28941/17]

Disease Management

Jan O'Sullivan

1144. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will develop a strategy on Lyme disease in co-operation with stakeholders including the areas of education for health workers, testing and diagnosis and treatment protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27004/17]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Jan O'Sullivan

1191. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the HSE plans to fill a vacant post (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27233/17]

Postal Codes

Jan O'Sullivan

1747. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of new Eircodes that were issued in 2016; the number issued in the first quarter of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27008/17]

Inland Fisheries Ireland Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

1758. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fisheries protection officers employed by Inland Fisheries Ireland in each of the years 2005 to 2016; the number of man hours spent on patrol to protect the fisheries resources in each of those years, in tabular form; the number of protection officers which have been transferred to alternative roles in the organisation between 2005 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27238/17]

Planning Issues

Jan O'Sullivan

2263. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the implications for local authorities and planning regulations here of a European Court of Justice ruling against the Flemish authorities in relation to restrictions on non locals living in certain areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28965/17]

Low Pay Commission Report

Jan O'Sullivan

237. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she or the Minister of State have received the report from the Low Pay Commission following their review of the rates for board and lodgings applicable to au pairs here; when she expects decisions to be made following receipt of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26351/17]

Departmental Properties

Jan O'Sullivan

660. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the responsibilities of his Department with regard to a protected structure (details supplied) owned by his Department and leased to a local authority; if there is funding available from his Department or other organs of the State to assist in the cost of making safe and restoring the structure to use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25578/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

4. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will introduce an affordable housing scheme to ensure the large tracts of publicly-owned land that are currently under consideration for mostly private development will be used to build housing that is affordable to persons on average incomes; the control mechanisms in place to ensure public lands are not used to generate excessive private profit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25051/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Jan O'Sullivan

21. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has considered the proposals from a group (details supplied) which proposes municipal led mixed income public housing; if he has met with the group with a view to progressing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24784/17]

Rent Controls

Jan O'Sullivan

41. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will review of the provisions in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 that relate to rent pressure zones, in view of the evidence that rent levels are rising substantially; the effect on excluded areas in view of the fact that the onus is on vulnerable tenants to report breaches of the rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24785/17]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

47. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of developments that have been approved by his Department under which local authorities built 15, or fewer, homes using only one approval stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24786/17]

State Properties Data

Jan O'Sullivan

50. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of publicly owned land in each local authority area that is under consideration to offer to developers for housing construction in tabular form; the way in which a fair return to the State will be ensured in these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24783/17]

Action Plan for Jobs

Jan O'Sullivan

263. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of progress on the development of the M1 digital payments fin tech corridor, as recommended under the regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative; the actions IDA and Enterprise Ireland have taken to date to develop and promote the concept; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25180/17]

Office of Public Works Properties

Jan O'Sullivan

194. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works, OPW, plans to open the medieval Barbican to the public in view of the local authority's decision to close Laurence's Gate in Drogheda to traffic; the cost of making the gate safe for access by the public; the timeframe for the opening of the gate to the public; if the OPW will provide personnel at the site in Drogheda to allow for public access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24830/17]

Child Care Services Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

261. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress which has been made in conducting an independent review on the cost of providing quality child care in private and community settings consistent with the principles of ongoing professionalisation of the sector; the factors which will be considered in the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24872/17]

Child Care Services Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

262. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which the universal child care scheme will be administered from September 2017; if the existing platform will be used; when providers will be given detailed information on the way in which the scheme will operate in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24873/17]

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Jan O'Sullivan

263. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some preschools and child care providers are having difficulty with the online application forms for EYC and after-school grants recently announced; if her Department and Pobal will engage with the sector as soon as possible to ensure that difficulties are addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24874/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Eligibility

Jan O'Sullivan

197. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if a person who was part-owner of a family home prior to separation and transferred their share to their spouse on separation can qualify for the help-to-buy scheme as a first-time buyer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24747/17]

Inland Fisheries Ireland Staff

Jan O'Sullivan

278. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fisheries protection officers employed by Inland Fisheries Ireland in each of the years 2005 to 2016, and to date in 2017; the number of person hours spent on patrol to protect the fisheries resources in each of those years in tabular form; the number of protection officers who have been transferred to alternative roles in the organisation between 2005 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23711/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

194. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make provision for the post-primary education needs of children who attend a special school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23166/17]

Teachers' Professional Development

Jan O'Sullivan

195. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put increased emphasis on teacher training and continued professional development for teachers who teach children on the autism spectrum both at primary and post-primary level in mainstream and special classrooms and units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23167/17]

Disability Support Services Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

462. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if behavioural therapy is available to children in all counties; if not, if children who have been identified as needing such therapy can have it provided in a neighbouring county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/17]

Autism Support Services

Jan O'Sullivan

463. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the expected publication date of an autism strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23165/17]

Social Workers Recruitment

Jan O'Sullivan

4. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the recruitment of social workers for children in care who still have not been allocated a social worker; the actions she will take to ensure that such children are allocated a social worker without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22524/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

204. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of a new school (details supplied); when it is expected that the school community can move into the new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Jan O'Sullivan

205. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of a new school (details supplied); when he expects the school community to be able to move into the new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21734/17]

School Curriculum

Jan O'Sullivan

206. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultation that has taken place on the new wellbeing curriculum that is proposed in the reform programme for the junior cycle; if it is still possible for groups with an interest in this area to feed into the consultation process; when the subject will commence in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21735/17]

Capital Assistance Scheme

Jan O'Sullivan

223. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the value of funding ring-fenced under the capital assistance scheme to provide housing for young persons exiting State care in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22027/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Jan O'Sullivan

301. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department estimates it will pay to companies engaged under the JobPath programme for the duration of the relevant contracts; the amount which has been expended to date; the number of persons these companies have activated into full-time employment by county, in tabular form; his plans to review these contracts as the State continues to move towards full employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22003/17]

Public Sector Pay

Jan O'Sullivan

335. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the planned timeframe for achieving equality of pay for those that entered the public service following the measures taken under the FEMPI legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21990/17]

Child Detention Centres

Jan O'Sullivan

667. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will publish the report on the Oberstown children detention campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21989/17]

Child Care Costs

Jan O'Sullivan

265. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the 9,000 families (details supplied) that are to benefit from more affordable child care; the income bracket those 9,000 families are in; the net incomes they would need to be on to qualify for up to €12 a week when the online system is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21199/17]

Child Care Services Provision

Jan O'Sullivan

266. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of families that will be eligible under the community subvention scheme in September 2017; the number of families that will not be eligible but would have been eligible under the affordable child care scheme if implemented according to details published in October 2016; the rates which will be in effect in September 2017 for bands (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21203/17]