Parliamentary questions

Schools Building Projects Status

John Curran

96. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the redevelopment of school buildings for schools (details supplied) in Dublin 22 will be expedited; if he will provide emergency solutions for those leaking prefabs during the construction of replacement buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49305/18]

Repair and Leasing Scheme

John Curran

273. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made in securing properties under the repair and leasing scheme in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49637/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

John Curran

274. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of units of accommodation that will be secured under Part V by each of the four local authorities in Dublin in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49638/18]

Local Authority Housing Data

John Curran

275. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority houses constructed and completed by each local authority in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49639/18]

Rent Controls

John Curran

276. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views and plans to reduce further increases in rents to attract workers to come here in view of a recent ESRI report that said Ireland will need more construction workers to increase housing supply but rental costs will hamper efforts to attract them here particularly in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49640/18]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

John Curran

277. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the fact that according to a report by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive the four Dublin local authorities are set to deliver just 142 of a target of 950 homeless family hub units by the end of 2018; the reason for this failure to meet targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49642/18]

Departmental Properties

John Curran

74. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an audit of all lands and properties owned by his Department has been undertaken with a view to making suitable properties available for social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49200/18]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data

John Curran

220. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of safe pass tutor accreditation programmes run by SOLAS in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [48899/18]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data

John Curran

221. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of safe pass tutor accreditation programmes applications made to SOLAS to date in 2018; the number still to be approved; when the next course will be held in view of the fact that there are only 149 safe pass tutors in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48900/18]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data

John Curran

222. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who applied to SOLAS for the safe pass tutor accreditation programmes in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48909/18]

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data

John Curran

227. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have taken part in and successfully completed the SOLAS safe pass tutor accreditation programmes in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48864/18]

Medical Card Eligibility

John Curran

144. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will review upwards the income thresholds for the medical card, general practitioner card, over 70s medical card and the over 70s general practitioner card in view of increases in wages and the minimum wage in particular and increases in the rate of social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48747/18]

RTÉ Expenditure

John Curran

188. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the reduction in spend from RTÉ to the Irish independent production sector (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that this spend in the sector is increased back to 2007 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48761/18]

Television Licence Fee Collection

John Curran

189. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the aspects of the television licence fee reform the interdepartmental working group is reviewing; when this report will be published; if there will be an engagement by the group with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48762/18]

Television Licence Fee Collection

John Curran

190. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on public service broadcasting; his further views on licence fee reform; when he will publish his action plan points in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48763/18]

Ministerial Meetings

John Curran

191. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he will meet with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the Irish independent production sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48764/18]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

John Curran

82. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the efforts being made on the needs of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; the extent to which ongoing negotiations continue to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48127/18]

Passport Applications

John Curran

95. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress being made on the expansion of new online passport application services; when these new services are expected to be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48128/18]

School Curriculum

John Curran

228. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to tackle an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48324/18]

Home Care Packages

John Curran

471. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the provision he will make for home support services for the elderly in view of the significant increase in the number of persons waiting for home support services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48314/18]

Home Care Packages

John Curran

472. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the challenges and risks posed to elderly persons waiting for homecare supports during adverse weather conditions; the number of extra persons he plans on providing these services to in winter 2018/2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48315/18]

Care of the Elderly

John Curran

473. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of carers in the employment of the HSE in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48316/18]

Vaccination Programme Data

John Curran

474. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the uptake of the flu vaccine to date; the details of the uptake to date compared with 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48317/18]

Medicinal Products Availability

John Curran

475. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that patients here have the same access to new medicines as patients throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48318/18]

Obesity Strategy

John Curran

476. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to address an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48320/18]

Climate Change Policy

John Curran

546. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans since taking office to increase ambition in tackling climate change and ensuring Ireland becomes a leader on climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48321/18]

Climate Change Policy

John Curran

547. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is satisfied that Ireland is ambitious enough on climate action and the use of renewable energy to continue to attract investment in the technology sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48322/18]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

John Curran

644. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the means test for eligibility for social housing will be reviewed; if he has given consideration to allowing maintenance payments for children who are not living with the person being assessed to be deducted against gross income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47750/18]

Rent Pressure Zones

John Curran

668. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the current rent pressure zones (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48323/18]

Grant Payments

John Curran

14. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 776 of 12 July 2018, if a grant scheme has been opened that would consider an application for funding to restore and maintain vintage mechanical equipment and machinery such as steam engines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47215/18]

Homeless Persons Data

John Curran

70. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of beds available for rough sleepers in Dublin; his plans to deal with the challenges and risks posed to rough sleepers during adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46926/18]

Housing Issues

John Curran

99. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a review will be carried out of the structural integrity and safety of houses and apartments in view of structural defects identified at a significant number of schools built in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46925/18]

Illness Benefit Waiting Times

John Curran

96. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cause of the difficulties experienced by persons accessing illness benefit payments over the past few months; the reason no information was available; the reason telephone calls from persons seeking advice were not answered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46823/18]

Pension Provisions

John Curran

97. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pensioners who have been contacted regarding the interim total contributions approach pension by November 2018; when all pensioners will be contacted; when they will receive payments; the date from which payments will be calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46822/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Curran

238. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the appointment of contractors for a school building project (details supplied) that has received approval to progress the project to stage 2B; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46951/18]

Special Educational Needs Staff

John Curran

240. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a review being undertaken by a SENO for additional SNA support in a school (details supplied) will be completed; if the case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46980/18]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

John Curran

246. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the issue of class sizes in primary schools was not addressed in the Budget Statement 2019; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47130/18]

Proposed Legislation

John Curran

247. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the publication of the education (parent and student charter) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47131/18]

Construction Industry

John Curran

295. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will review the workings and effectiveness of the Construction Contracts Act 2013; if she is satisfied that subcontractors are aware of and proactive in enforcing their entitlements with a contractor for payments that are due; her plans to increase awareness of this provision in the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46977/18]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

John Curran

414. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if an access programme will be established for the drug Spinraza for children with spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46979/18]

Waste Management

John Curran

478. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will take immediate steps to restrict single-use plastic products here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46978/18]

Local Authority Functions

John Curran

641. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to encourage or incentivise local authorities to use their compulsory purchase order, CPO, powers to buy up derelict or vacant houses in order to increase their social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47132/18]

Community Development Initiatives

John Curran

8. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if, since the establishment of the community enhancement programme, there have been specific supports or programmes to provide targeted assistance for the 51 most disadvantaged areas formerly known as RAPID areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46001/18]

Urban Renewal Schemes

John Curran

13. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports he will make available to other disadvantaged communities in the Dublin area in view of the €5.5 million investment in Dublin’s north inner city as announced by him in October 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46000/18]

Youth Services Funding

John Curran

8. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of youth projects established under the single targeted youth funding programme to date; the details of each project; the location of each; the funding each project has received to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45939/18]

Youth Services Funding

John Curran

24. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the several sample projects that were established in 2016 and 2017 in relation to the future development of a single targeted youth funding programme to replace the current schemes; the number of these projects which are now fully operational; the number of new sample projects that have been established to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45938/18]

Bus Services

John Curran

79. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional capacity that will be made to the Dublin Bus fleet in 2019 to deal with the continuing increase in bus passenger numbers in view of the difficulty on some routes for passengers at rush hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45396/18]

Bus Services

John Curran

82. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeline for the next steps in the roll-out of the BusConnects projects; the timelines for bus based park and ride facilities, new rapid transit corridors and interchange hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45397/18]

School Staff Appeals Mechanism

John Curran

268. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the appeals board has made a decision regarding an application for mainstream staffing by a school (details supplied) for the 2018/2019 school year. [44785/18]

Schools Refurbishment

John Curran

336. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to finance a deep energy retrofit of schools over the coming years to meet climate change targets. [45432/18]