Parliamentary questions

Road Safety

Seán Kyne

1669. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he and his Department are considering the introduction of speed awareness courses; if there is an indicative timeframe for the introduction of such an initiative which works very successfully in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32316/15]

Road Network

Seán Kyne

1714. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the plans for a new bridge crossing in Oughterard, County Galway, which is needed for residents and for road safety given the environmental difficulties identified in previous plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32253/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Implementation

Seán Kyne

15. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has analysed the data on the pilot operation of the housing assistance payment scheme, with a view to introducing the scheme to other local authorities areas such as those in counties Galway and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28997/15]

Building Regulations

Seán Kyne

28. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the revised building regulations, including lists of prescribed persons permitted to sign off and certify housing construction, in particular the construction of one-off housing, will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28988/15]

Trade Strategy

Seán Kyne

105. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made by his Department on the ten action points in the Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy strategy and the Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, for which his Department is responsible. [28347/15]

Humanitarian Aid

Seán Kyne

124. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following the first Irish Humanitarian Summit, if he will detail the Irish Aid humanitarian funding provided in 2014; if this funding amount will be increased in the context of improving State finances; and the efforts being made at European Council level to address the conflicts which are resulting in the unprecedented displacement of persons. [28344/15]

Departmental Communications

Seán Kyne

247. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the process and frequency of her Department's review of automated letters, which are sent to customers to ensure accuracy, both in terms of information contained within and correct delivery to recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29101/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Seán Kyne

406. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the running costs of his Department for each of the years 2006 to 2014; if savings have been made; the origin of such savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29102/15]

School Staff

Seán Kyne

802. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a permanent post will be offered to a school (details enclosed) in County Galway, considering the temporary resource hours allocated over the past number of years almost equate, on a yearly average, to a permanent position; her views that discretion should be exercised in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28913/15]

School Staff

Seán Kyne

803. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the distribution of posts in a school (details enclosed) in County Galway which is unique in a number of areas, if a permanent non-teaching principal position will be offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28914/15]

School Accommodation

Seán Kyne

821. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional accommodation needs and improvements that have been identified for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if she is aware of the increases in enrolment that are forecast; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29100/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Seán Kyne

823. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current position regarding the construction of a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29106/15]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Seán Kyne

887. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a new tenant purchase scheme is under consideration by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29217/15]

Air Services Provision

Seán Kyne

965. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will be made on tendering for a new contract for the air service for Oileáin Árann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29207/15]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Seán Kyne

966. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken to de-designate natural heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29216/15]

HSE Expenditure

Seán Kyne

17. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 29 April 2015, the progress to date at resolving the issue of outstanding payments for unsocial hours or twilight payments for health care staff in certain regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27654/15]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Seán Kyne

36. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the policies being pursued to increase ambulance response times in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27653/15]

Child Care Services Provision

Seán Kyne

24. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the use of national school facilities as venues for preschool or afterschool service providers; if it will be considered appropriate for school authorities to undertake a tendering process for selection of a provider, should the decision be taken to permit the use of the school facilities particularly in the interests of fairness to all providers in a locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27337/15]

Child Care Services Funding

Seán Kyne

29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on whether tax breaks for child care, direct funding for child care services, or a combination of both, is more preferable to increasing the availability and accessibility of quality child care; if his Department or agencies under its remit are undertaking research into the experience of other countries regarding the different funding mechanisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27340/15]

Construction Contracts

Seán Kyne

84. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the contracts for the construction of a public sector development (details supplied) in County Galway will be signed, given the recent contract signing of a very similar project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27895/15]

Public Transport Initiatives

Seán Kyne

245. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport , further to Parliamentary Question No. 603 of 6 May 2015, if he has received the recommendations from the National Transport Authority following the examination by the authority of responses to the public consultation on transitioning to a wheelchair accessible licensed bus sector; if the recommendations will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27894/15]

Garda Resources

Seán Kyne

8. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in the context of investment in vehicles and information technology, if members of An Garda Síochána are receiving the resources required to facilitate mobile policing, which is particularly relevant in more rural areas and also in locations which experience greater numbers of visitors in the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27053/15]

Garda Deployment

Seán Kyne

29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the assignment, by division, of the 99 new gardaí whose passing-out ceremony took place on 23 April 2015 in Templemore in County Tipperary; when the next class of recruits will be assigned for the next phase of training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27052/15]

Beef Data Programme

Seán Kyne

214. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the beef data and genomics scheme if he supports the concerns of pedigree breeders that the rules limit the possibility of importation of foreign bulls to help improve the genetics of the Irish pedigree herd; his views on whether the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, in pursuing this policy, will cause stagnation in the Irish herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27655/15]

School Management

Seán Kyne

462. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the accountability of boards of management in respect of spending locally raised funds and in respect of capitation grants provided by her Department; if schools have to provide audited accounts; the safeguards in place to ensure moneys are spent appropriately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26929/15]

Education and Training Boards Establishment

Seán Kyne

519. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a delegated sanction, permitted under the Act establishing the education and training boards, will be sanctioned to the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board, which is required so that the board may appoint educational officers, principal officers and assistant principal officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27704/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Seán Kyne

520. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the success of the roll-out of high-speed broadband to secondary schools, if consideration will be given to a similar initiative for other training centres operated by education and training boards which have a lack of high-speed broadband coverage that impacts on the delivery of training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27707/15]

Institutes of Technology Funding

Seán Kyne

521. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on providing capital assistance to Galway Technical Institute for modernisation, including an extension, particularly in view of the great value delivered by the institute to her Department, considering that it caters for almost 1,300 students at a cost equivalent to 900 students, due to a funding cap; if an extension to the institute is in her departmental plans; when the institute's accommodation needs were last reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27708/15]

School Enrolments

Seán Kyne

523. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether second level schools on islands should be treated as a special category for teacher allocations in recognition of the specific issues they experience in terms of pupil numbers, as well as challenges in providing the most basic curriculum; if a different allocation model is necessary; if, considering there are five second level island schools nationwide operated by the education and training boards, a change would not be financially draining; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27715/15]

Outdoor Education Centres

Seán Kyne

524. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether outdoor educational training centres operated by the education and training boards could be included in capital funding schemes for the purposes of refurbishment and updating, as they are presently excluded from such capital funding schemes; the reason they are excluded, and if there is recognition of the need to provide assistance arising from their importance to, among other things, the local economies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27724/15]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Seán Kyne

614. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total area designated exclusively as natural heritage areas, without any additional designation as special areas of conservation or special protection areas. [27701/15]

Natural Heritage Areas Designation

Seán Kyne

615. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the process that must be adhered to in order to designate a natural heritage area; if any such areas have been de-designated in the past ten years; if a compensating designation mechanism can be explored to enable a de-designation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27702/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Seán Kyne

9. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress of initiatives such as the free Wednesday scheme, extended opening hours and operating seasons involving the Office of Public Works sites, heritage and otherwise, with particular reference to counties Galway and Mayo; if these initiatives are subject to review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26127/15]

State Bodies Mergers

Seán Kyne

19. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of the rationalisation, merging or abolition of over 180 State agencies to maximise the value for taxpayers, if his Department seeks to establish merged or new agencies in locations outside of Dublin which would promote balanced regional development and in view of the fact that agencies are more suited to being established away from Departments in view of their often autonomous nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26121/15]

Farm Safety Scheme

Seán Kyne

12. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the operation of the new farm safety scheme; the number of applications under the scheme; his plans for reinforcing safety as opportunities are taken to grow and develop Irish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26099/15]

Common Fisheries Policy Reform

Seán Kyne

18. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the operation of the change in the Common Fisheries Policy concerning the move towards a more regionalised decision making structure, which it is hoped will be more responsive and reflective of the needs of coastal communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26098/15]

Education Policy

Seán Kyne

125. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the public consultation process on the new proposals for education in the Gaeltacht; when the process will be complete; a timeframe for the introduction of the proposals following the consideration of the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25755/15]

Educational Disadvantage

Seán Kyne

136. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the evaluation process under which a school is designated under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme; if the evaluation process is subject to ongoing review; if schools not currently included in the scheme are eligible to apply for consideration, particularly in the interests of equity between schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25754/15]

Overseas Missions

Seán Kyne

22. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence if, in consideration of the hugely positive contribution that the Irish Naval Service is making in the Mediterranean area, he has had engagement with his European counterparts on a longer term solution to address the influx of persons; if he envisages an expended role for the Defence Forces in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25116/15]

Commemorative Events

Seán Kyne

31. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence the involvement of the Defence Forces in the Ireland 2016 commemorative programme; and if the personnel involved will be drawn on a regional basis. [25115/15]

Tax Code

Seán Kyne

279. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce a competitive income-based tax regime for intellectual property, the Knowledge Development Box; the number of submissions received by his Department as part of the public consultation process; and when it is envisaged that the next steps on the introduction of this important initiative will be taken. [25158/15]

Tax Code

Seán Kyne

280. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance with regard to the agri-taxation review and the measures contained therein, the progress at introducing the recommendations, such as increased land mobility, assisting with succession, new stock relief, and stamp duty exemption; and if further recommendations in the review are to be introduced. [25159/15]

Fisheries Protection

Seán Kyne

634. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the text of the current by-law restricting the killing of sea trout caught by rod and line in the Connemara region; the population statistics justifying these restrictions; if he will provide a full explanation as to the way this by-law was drafted, published, and subsequently signed into law, including the public consultation procedure involved; the scientific reasoning behind the decision to restrict the killing of sea trout; and the publication dates, enforcement periods and copies of the relevant by-laws restricting the killing of sea trout in the western region since 1990. [25001/15]

Commemorative Events

Seán Kyne

9. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of the plans for Ireland 2016; if she would report on stakeholders, including the public and local authorities, in terms of preparations and engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23842/15]

Irish Language

Seán Kyne

34. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the proposal within the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language on encouraging, on a voluntary basis, companies to produce bilingual packaging, in view of the fact that such a measure would heighten exposure to and awareness of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23875/15]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Kyne

28. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the status of the active towns smarter travel scheme; if this scheme will be open to new applications; the funding programmes available for initiatives that would meet the criteria of the scheme, such as improvements to pedestrian facilities, including footpaths and bridges beneficial to varied groups in communities, including schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23466/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Seán Kyne

40. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the plans for the upgrade to the Oughterard to Maam Cross section of the N59, which is the primary route into north Connemara, and for which the National Roads Authority has allocated funding for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23464/15]

Housing Data

Seán Kyne

29. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when it is envisaged that the national statement of projected housing supply and demand for this year will be published; if the statement will contain recommendations; and how these will be acted upon. [22321/15]

Banking Sector Regulation

Seán Kyne

73. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if, as principal shareholder in Allied Irish Banks, he can confirm that the bank is currently considering outsourcing work and staff from the application and development management teams within its information technology division to a third-party service provider; his views on the concerns of staff and customers regarding the outsourcing of such business, in view of the centrality of information technology in day-to-day banking as well as the security of sensitive information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22716/15]

Hospital Staff Data

Seán Kyne

151. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the staffing numbers, by type and grade, working at University Hospital Galway; the number of patients, both inpatient and outpatient, treated in 2014; the way the staffing levels at the hospital compare with other acute hospitals; and his plans to increase staffing numbers at the hospital in 2015. [22719/15]