Parliamentary questions

Schools Refurbishment

John Curran

337. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have been financed and the relevant work carried out in order to reach the necessary standards of a deep energy retrofit in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; his plans for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45437/18]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

John Curran

378. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the software changes introduced on 10 September 2018 to the INIS online booking system have been reviewed and evaluated; if they are proving successful in preventing other sites from harvesting appointments and then selling these appointments slots on for €20 to €30 each. [44603/18]

Transport Policy

John Curran

921. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the exact low emission technology for the future purchasing of Dublin buses has been determined; the work being prepared by his Department for the implementation of no longer purchasing diesel only buses from July 2019 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45433/18]

Transport Policy

John Curran

922. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding allocated to the green public transport fund in Budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45434/18]

Transport Policy

John Curran

923. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding drawn down in 2018 by the NTA to support the alternative urban fleet trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45435/18]

Transport Policy

John Curran

924. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the NTA's alternative urban fleet trials has taken place; if so, the findings of these trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45436/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

John Curran

36. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance the progress he is making with the NTMA to establish a funding vehicle capable of facilitating off-balance sheet investment in delivering social and private housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43965/18]

Property Tax Review

John Curran

47. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance if the review of the local property tax announced in 2018 is complete; the main recommendations of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43966/18]

Home Help Service Data

John Curran

219. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of home support services at 30 September 2018; the number that were approved and waiting for home support services for each CHO area at 30 September 2018; the number of persons waiting for more than one, three and six months, respectively for home support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44250/18]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Curran

220. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the status of the delivery of a primary health care centre in Rowlagh, Clondalkin, Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44251/18]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Curran

221. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the status of the delivery of a primary health care centre in Lucan village and Clondalkin village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44252/18]

Traffic Management

John Curran

320. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on An Bord Pleanála's decision to refuse planning permission for the proposed Dublin civic plaza at College Green that would have seen the area pedestrianised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44249/18]

Local Authority Rates

John Curran

358. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount wind farms contributed in rates for the period 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44253/18]

Departmental Staff Data

John Curran

360. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff engaged in the housing delivery office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44247/18]

Fire Safety Regulations

John Curran

361. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made to date on a wider fire safety review of buildings at risk here as part of the response to the Grenfell Tower disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44248/18]

Construction Contracts

John Curran

85. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce regulations, new practices or legislation to offer enhanced protection to sub-contractors that are engaged on State projects in which the main contractor ceases trading resulting in reduced or no payment to the subcontractor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43880/18]

Legislative Measures

John Curran

90. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public sector employees over 65 years of age that have been allowed carry on in their positions of work; if they continue on the rate of pay they were on when reaching 65 years of age; if not, if the rate differs; if so, the criteria used to set the pay rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43879/18]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

John Curran

72. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the additional procedures to be carried out in 2019 under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, resulting from the increase in funding from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43168/18]

Home Help Service Provision

John Curran

152. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the provision he will make for home support services for the elderly in 2019 in view of the significant difficulty many persons experienced in securing home support services in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43169/18]

Enterprise Support Schemes

John Curran

32. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports she has to prioritise entrepreneurs in view of the fact that there was a failure to make changes to entrepreneurs' capital gains tax in budget 2019 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42566/18]

Skills Shortages

John Curran

39. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to address the serious skills shortages experienced by many companies across all sectors, the majority in information technology, life sciences and construction; the actions being taken to deal with severe skills shortages in the economy; the actions set out in the 2018 Action Plan for Jobs regarding skills shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42567/18]

Capitation Grants

John Curran

73. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty smaller schools that do not charge voluntary contributions are having in running their schools on the capitation grant payment further to the increase in the capitation grant payable to schools in budget 2019; his plans to financially assist these schools especially DEIS schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42081/18]

Schools Building Projects Administration

John Curran

92. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the issues causing a delay in a school (details supplied) proceeding to construction; the actions that can be taken to ensure this project proceeds to construction immediately and that the extension and renovation works are complete by September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42082/18]

Health Reports

John Curran

220. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the Chief Medical Officer's report on transvaginal mesh implants has been finalised; if the report will be published and all its recommendations implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42994/18]

Rent Supplement Scheme

John Curran

338. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) who was renting a property to a tenant in receipt of rent supplement will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43140/18]

Skills Shortages

John Curran

235. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to address the skills shortages experienced by many companies across all sectors, for example, the majority in information technology, life sciences and construction; the actions being taken to deal with severe skills shortages in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42329/18]

Apprenticeship Programmes

John Curran

236. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to bring young persons out of unemployment through development of and access to apprenticeships to support young persons with fewer opportunities and qualifications in view of recent figures released by the National Youth Council that show thousands of young persons aged 26 years and under have been unemployed for a year or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42330/18]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

John Curran

477. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health when funding allocations for drug and alcohol task forces will be announced; if there will be an increase in core funding to these task forces in view of the financial challenges many are facing having received no increase in funding in several years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42334/18]

Waste Disposal Charges

John Curran

560. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress he has made in securing an annual support of €75 for medical incontinence; the way in which it can be applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42331/18]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

John Curran

561. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans in setting a 70% target for renewable electricity by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42332/18]

Renewable Energy Incentives

John Curran

562. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to put additional resources in place to ensure that the renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, receives state aid approval in the EU and that the first auctions take place as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42333/18]

Waste Management

John Curran

9. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to set up a waste regulator for the industry in view of the recently published Competition and Consumer Protection Commission report which found that 25% of consumers in the greater Dublin area did not have the option of more than one service provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41058/18]

Energy Resources

John Curran

14. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the immediate steps he is taking to ensure Ireland takes responsibility for its own energy supply; the increases there have been in the generation and supply of wind energy, solar PV energy, locally sourced biomass and biogas in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41059/18]

Assisted Human Reproduction Legislation

John Curran

322. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the progress made regarding the establishment of a regulatory body for assisted human reproduction, including surrogacy further to the report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction; his plans to introduce surrogacy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41007/18]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

John Curran

332. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the progress he has made to develop a performance measurement system which will improve accountability across local and regional drug task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41079/18]

Climate Change Policy

John Curran

427. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has examined a recommendation (details supplied); his views on the recommendations; the steps he has taken to establish a climate change independent body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41080/18]

Fuel Allowance Payments

John Curran

500. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the 2018 fuel allowance to reflect increases (details supplied) that are being passed onto consumers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41082/18]

Housing Data

John Curran

544. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build housing units that have been constructed to date and occupied; the number of additional units expected to be completed before the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41083/18]

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

John Curran

545. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the requests for funding submitted by each local authority and the drawdown of funding to each authority under the LIHAF scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41084/18]

Education Policy

John Curran

257. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to issue guidelines to schools on students who pose an immediate threat of harm to themselves or others; when guidelines will be issued to schools to assist teachers responding in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40051/18]

Crime Prevention

John Curran

294. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the National Conference of the Joint Agency Response to Crime's recent review of three anti-offending projects (details supplied) that seek to deal with offenders; his plans to roll out these projects nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40052/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

John Curran

295. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the low number of community-based CCTV systems that have been approved; the cause of the low number of applications and approvals; if the scheme will be reviewed in view of the fact that only €166,749 out of an allocation of €2 million has been drawn down by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40054/18]

Brexit Supports

John Curran

316. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she is taking in order to assist more businesses to accelerate contingency planning in order to be prepared for Brexit; the resources that have been put in place in order to achieve this in view of the fact that a recent survey (details supplied) showed that business preparedness for Brexit remained low; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40055/18]

Hospital Car Parks

John Curran

457. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the HSE finalising its review of hospital car parking charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/18]

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

John Curran

150. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the circumstances which lead to the unplanned long-term leave of a consultant paediatrician at the National Rehabilitation Hospital resulting in the cancellation of inpatient appointments; the steps being taken to recruit a replacement; when inpatient appointments will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39238/18]

School Accommodation Provision

John Curran

127. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has compiled the relevant information necessary to adequately reply to a previous parliamentary question from this Deputy on the number of classes being accommodated in prefabricated classrooms; the number that have been using prefabricated classrooms for two, three, five and more than five years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38927/18]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

John Curran

160. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the newly established central validation function in the NTPF to centralise the validation of all waiting lists across the HSE has commenced; if so, if he will provide a progress report on this function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/18]

Departmental Staff Data

John Curran

252. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if additional staff have been allocated to the housing delivery office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38925/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

John Curran

253. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has considered the establishment of a funding model that can utilise credit union funds to build, sell or rent social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38926/18]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

John Curran

134. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance if all the properties leased for social housing by NAMA's national asset residential property service are deemed to be off-balance sheet; the additional number of social housing units it is hoped to provide by this approach over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38882/18]