Parliamentary questions

Education and Training Provision

Shane Cassells

117. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions allocated to counties Meath and Westmeath in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6278/17]

Education and Training Provision

Shane Cassells

118. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6281/17]

Education and Training Provision

Shane Cassells

142. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated to counties Meath and Westmeath for tourism and hospitality skills training by his Department in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6280/17]

Tourism Funding

Shane Cassells

264. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to counties Meath and Westmeath for tourism and hospitality skills training by his Department in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6279/17]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Shane Cassells

306. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the practice in which persons in receipt of jobseeker's payments who take up temporary employment for a period are then prevented from entering a community employment scheme until they are on jobseeker's payments again for 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574/17]

Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Shane Cassells

395. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if he will review underpayments to a person (details supplied) in County Meath under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5566/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Shane Cassells

566. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address the concerns of residents and businesses in the Piercetown area of County Meath (details supplied) whereby according to a website there is no planned broadband roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5575/17]

Broadband Service Provision

Shane Cassells

577. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of broadband in Addinstown, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6020/17]

Medicinal Products

Shane Cassells

244. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the measures he will put in place to reduce waiting times for multiple sclerosis sufferers who require assessment as responders to fampridine, based on a protocol provided by clinical experts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4984/17]

Medicinal Products

Shane Cassells

245. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the measures he will put in place to expedite access to fampyra for multiple sclerosis sufferers identified as responders to fampridine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4985/17]

National Broadband Plan Administration

Shane Cassells

314. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a liaison person in his Department to whom public representatives can submit broadband queries on behalf of members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4986/17]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Shane Cassells

364. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a record is maintained and monitored of the number of participants on community employment child care schemes that are retained in the early year’s sector; if her Department engages regularly with the Department of Social Protection on community employment child care schemes; if so, the details of this engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4992/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Shane Cassells

504. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3190/17]

Ticket Touting

Shane Cassells

611. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to develop protections for buyers of tickets for sporting, cultural and musical events from so-called ticket touting (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3189/17]

Library Projects

Shane Cassells

15. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if will he engage with Meath County Council to fund the plans for the development of the proposed library in Ballivor, County Meath, and support the community to realise these plans drafted nearly ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2016/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Shane Cassells

269. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if upgrade works currently taking place under the national broadband scheme will be extended to all parts of Kilmainham, Kells, County Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2269/17]

Schools Establishment

Shane Cassells

61. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will establish a second level educational campus in Enfield, County Meath, to cater for the accelerating population growth in this area of south County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1888/17]

Gaeltacht Policy

Shane Cassells

163. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for the Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2063/17]

National Broadband Plan

Shane Cassells

231. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if upgrade works on the national broadband scheme will take place in the Gaeltacht area of Lambay, Cill Bhríd, Trim, County Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2062/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Shane Cassells

376. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of building plans for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41361/16]

Home Care Packages Provision

Shane Cassells

804. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the reason home care hours in an area (details supplied) are being allocated when there are not sufficient carers available to cover this allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41032/16]

General Medical Services Scheme

Shane Cassells

1173. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if a medication (details supplied) will be added to the list of medications available under the GMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1262/17]

VAT Registration

Shane Cassells

188. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the VAT threshold of €37,500 for sole traders providing services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40159/16]

Social Welfare Benefits

Shane Cassells

308. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Christmas bonus will be extended to families that receive the family income supplement in view of the fact the Christmas period is a difficult and expensive time for low-income families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39714/16]

Garda Strength

Shane Cassells

111. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in County Meath as of 31 October 2016. [38163/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Shane Cassells

405. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the local authority or the private householder has responsibility for completing the application form for the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme, and attaching a detailed design of the proposed remedial works along with a costing for the proposed work, and for ensuring the remedial works they commission comply with planning legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37329/16]

Record of Protected Structures

Shane Cassells

462. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if protection will be provided to a heritage feature (details supplied) in the Laimbe area of the Rath Cairn Gaeltacht, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37171/16]

Planning Issues

Shane Cassells

30. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine with other Departments the wider infrastructural, transport and social needs of towns that have been assigned SDZ housing scheme status on extensive land banks in view of the demand on services and infrastructure that would arise in the designated towns from such extensive housing schemes outside of the narrow scope of the particular zoned lands. [35360/16]

Irish Water Remit

Shane Cassells

57. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to amend current legislation in order that Irish Water would be responsible for problems pertaining to wastewater services which occur on the property of persons connected to the public supply and in doing so ensure that staff of Irish Water would enter these properties and alleviate the situation in these pipe networks. [35361/16]

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Shane Cassells

73. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to have the issue of commercial rates exemption extended to all child care facilities in order to improve the sustainability of centres and offer a pathway to reduce costs on parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33533/16]

Crime Levels

Shane Cassells

77. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if recorded crime statistics for County Meath are an accurate reflection of the reality of crime in the area; if all Garda stations in County Meath have access to the PULSE system; if not, the details of the stations without access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34718/16]

Agriculture Industry

Shane Cassells

115. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will implement stricter enforcement of the protocol for the spreading of bio-solids and sludge as many residents in affected areas of County Meath are concerned regarding the strong odour which comes from fields in which bio-solids and sludge spreading takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33961/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Shane Cassells

60. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the costs to his Department if two-tier pay disparity between pre-2011 and post-2011 teachers was ended immediately and all teachers' salaries were based on the pre-2011 scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33139/16]

Sports Facilities Provision

Shane Cassells

30. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the municipal stadium model which has been successfully developed in Tallaght by South Dublin County Council; and if he will examine the possibility of helping to finance less affluent local authorities in other parts of the country develop similar schemes. [32789/16]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Shane Cassells

141. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a decision not to grant home tuition to a person (details supplied) in County Meath following a number of recent operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32699/16]

Office of Public Works Properties

Shane Cassells

251. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a building (details supplied) in Enfield, County Meath; and if the Office of Public Works will consider its use as a community space for persons living in Enfield and its environs. [32697/16]

Health Services Provision

Shane Cassells

313. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if he will address the ongoing need for medical services in south Meath and specifically in Enfield, County Meath, where a population of 4,000 persons have no access to medical services of any type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32696/16]

Mental Health Services

Shane Cassells

314. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if due to the transfer of psychiatric admission beds from Navan to Drogheda and the resultant burden put on service users and their carers, he will redraw the sector line in mental health areas to include south Meath in the Mullingar catchment area to allow accessible treatment and admission facilities for persons in south Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32698/16]

State Pension (Contributory)

Shane Cassells

333. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will change the way his Department calculates contributory pension contributions in order that the calculation will be based on actual years worked and not solely on the date when a person enters the workforce for the first time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31999/16]

Disability Support Services Provision

Shane Cassells

484. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the alternative services he plans to provide for persons and service users in a unit (details supplied) to replace a much needed hydrotherapy pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31998/16]

Bus Services

Shane Cassells

169. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new bus shelters installed by county for each of the years from 2010 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31129/16]

Bus Services

Shane Cassells

170. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of operational bus shelters in each county as of the end of September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31165/16]

Hospitals Building Programme

Shane Cassells

69. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed regional hospital for counties Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan which was to be constructed in Navan, County Meath; and when construction is likely to commence. [30492/16]

Health Services Staff

Shane Cassells

75. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health his views on the recruitment of a new general manager at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, with the stated job remit to downgrade the hospital from a model three to a model two hospital and close the 24/7 accident and emergency unit. [30491/16]

Rural Broadband Scheme

Shane Cassells

377. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made by the local and regional broadband taskforces and rural digital strategies she advised would be established to aid and accelerate the broadband network build in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30406/16]

Broadband Service Provision

Shane Cassells

612. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the roll-out of broadband in Robinstown, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30459/16]

VAT Rate Application

Shane Cassells

74. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the 9% VAT rate available in the hospitality sector to owners of beauty salons who at present are excluded from this measure and are therefore at a competitive disadvantage to others in their industry who can avail of the lower VAT rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29313/16]

Social Welfare Benefits

Shane Cassells

248. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will stop the practice of 65 year olds having to sign on for jobseeker's payment until they reach the age of 66 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29312/16]

Public Procurement Regulations

Shane Cassells

301. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, under EU procurement regulations, Irish SMEs will be precluded from tendering for public contracts, which they have been successfully carrying out efficiently and effectively for many years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29452/16]

Labour Court Recommendations

Shane Cassells

306. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will recognise and implement the community supervisors-assistants pension claim, LCR 19293, in view of the fact this is now ongoing for the past 14 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29311/16]