Parliamentary questions

Human Rights

Thomas Pringle

45. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recently published report by an organisation (details supplied) and its statement that the rule of law should respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; his further views on the report in the context of Catalan political prisoners and their rights on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly following on from the Catalan independent referendum in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52869/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

450. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the level of accreditation a trainer must offer to participants in disability awareness training in order for the client to avail of the 90% grant available from her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53653/19]

Defence Forces Expenditure

Thomas Pringle

70. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider the proposal to increase the defence budget of the EU in the coming years as mentioned at the recent NATO summit; his views on the proposal that Europe needs to contribute more to NATO defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52906/19]

European Defence Capabilities

Thomas Pringle

74. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the expenditure to date on the European Defence Fund by Ireland; the status of the integration into the European Defence Fund by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52907/19]

Permanent Structured Co-operation

Thomas Pringle

87. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the integration of Ireland into PESCO in view of the upcoming second anniversary of the participation of Ireland in same; the level of engagement and lobbying his Department has received from European arms manufacturers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52870/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Thomas Pringle

163. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for SNA access made for County Donegal to the NCSE during the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52575/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Thomas Pringle

164. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for SNA access made since the May 2019 allocation of SNA posts for County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52576/19]

National Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation

Thomas Pringle

207. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps taken to implement the national positive ageing strategy in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53071/19]

Health Services Provision

Thomas Pringle

390. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52877/19]

Childcare Services Regulation

Thomas Pringle

661. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the draft childminding action plan public consultation was advertised; the reason the public consultation process only ran for six weeks; if her attention has been drawn to a large number of parents who were unaware of the public consultation and have concerns regarding the drafting of regulations including the crèche-based model at the centre of proposals and the overall lack of engagement with childminders in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53069/19]

Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

748. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annual rent which will be paid in the first year for a development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52894/19]

Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

749. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the current market rental rate for a development (details supplied); the rate he views as acceptable; the way in which the figures were arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/19]

Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

750. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the process by which a development (details supplied) was leased under the enhanced long-term social housing leasing scheme; and the role played by a company. [52896/19]

Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

751. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the financial modelling used in relation to the leasing of a development (details supplied); the projected range of overall costs that will be borne by his Department over the course of the 25 year lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52897/19]

Housing Provision

Thomas Pringle

752. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the research carried out into the relative cost of leasing a development (details supplied) under the enhanced long-term social housing scheme as compared to the cost of building public housing on public land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52898/19]

Schools Data

Thomas Pringle

106. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in existence for 20 years or longer that are still housed in prefab buildings with no permanent building structures, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52485/19]

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Thomas Pringle

119. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a regulatory impact assessment was conducted for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if so, the detail of same. [52446/19]

Environmental Policy

Thomas Pringle

301. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to revise the corporate governance framework in view of the fact the current framework does not explicitly commit his Department to engagement with environmental interests and stakeholders in comparison with extensive provision for economic interests and other internal and external stakeholders; his views on whether environmental sustainability requires the inclusion and participation of environmental interests at each stage of the policy process; and his plans to ensure environmental interests and appropriate environmental expertise will be reflected in each policy process, board, conference and working group that falls under his remit. [52478/19]

EU Directives

Thomas Pringle

307. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the official or group in his Department responsible for calculating and reporting the obligations of Ireland under the land use, land use change and forestry, LULUCF, regulation, that is, EU Regulation 2018/841; if Ireland will be a net emitter over the period the regulation covers; and the implications of this information for the obligations of Ireland under the effort-sharing regulation and targets for 2030 if the LULUCF flexibilities cannot be used. [52477/19]

Renewable Energy Generation

Thomas Pringle

308. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to require the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to facilitate private wires between renewable energy generators and energy consumers. [52480/19]

Renewable Energy Generation

Thomas Pringle

309. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the rationale for limiting the RESS auction category for solar energy to a maximum of 10% (details supplied). [52481/19]

Planning Issues

Thomas Pringle

365. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to remove the planning restrictions on roof-top solar for households and businesses. [52479/19]

Constitutional Amendments

Thomas Pringle

46. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he will take to progress the Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No.1) Bill 2016 seeking to place the right to water in the Constitution; the reason for the delay to date in moving forward with the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51222/19]

Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

Thomas Pringle

61. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the implementation of the mica redress scheme for affected homeowners in County Donegal; the progress made to date with regard to the implementation arrangements with Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51221/19]

Domestic Violence Services Funding

Thomas Pringle

72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will meet an organisation (details supplied) in County Donegal; her views on whether Ireland is compliant with the Istanbul convention, which was ratified in March 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51149/19]

Family Support Services

Thomas Pringle

86. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to fill the gap in provision of family services left by the recently announced closure of a service (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51150/19]

Immigration Status

Thomas Pringle

242. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he plans to address undocumented children here; his plans to introduce pathways to residency for children and young persons growing up undocumented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51192/19]

Immigration Status

Thomas Pringle

248. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he plans to address undocumented children here; his plans to introduce pathways to residency for children and young persons growing up here undocumented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51257/19]

Community Services Programme

Thomas Pringle

579. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the review of the community social programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51255/19]

Local Authority Housing Funding

Thomas Pringle

661. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications made each year to date under the buy and renew scheme in County Donegal; the number of successful applications to date; the number of properties in County Donegal secured under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51231/19]

Departmental Legal Cases

Thomas Pringle

688. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the counsel of her Department has ceased agreeing to the series of adjournments made in the case of a review (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51220/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance application by person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51007/19]

DEIS Administration

Thomas Pringle

121. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there was no corresponding reduction made in the pupil-teacher ratio in DEIS band one schools in view of the fact that staffing schedules in schools were reduced in budgets 2016 and 2018 and again for small schools in budget 2020; if he has responded to DEIS teachers in County Donegal calling for a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50586/19]

Data Protection

Thomas Pringle

561. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the assurances that can be given to those jobseekers' assigned to a UK company (details supplied) which stores private data in its head office in Hoxley, UK, that their personal data is fully protected; the way in which persons can be assured that this will be the case post-Brexit in view of the fact this private data will fall outside the protection of EU or Irish law; and the measures that have been put in place to ensure same. [49781/19]

Planning Guidelines

Thomas Pringle

608. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will implement the recommendation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action to revise the planning regulations to remove planning restrictions on solar PV panels in order to enable increased microgeneration capacity at household, farm and small enterprise levels. [49808/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Thomas Pringle

193. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he plans to implement to reward farmers for farming carbon on blanket bogs or peaty soils under grassland in private ownership in the near future in order that Ireland can avail of land, land-use change, and forestry flexibilities from 2021 in view of the annual carbon losses from peatlands which in total amount to more emissions than from the entire transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49603/19]

Energy Policy Review

Thomas Pringle

202. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the scope and terms of reference of the proposed energy security review; the way in which this will be carried out; the person or body which will carry out the review; the timeline for same; if the review will consider questions of intergenerational and global climate justice; the way in which he will ensure that no conflict of interest ensues between stakeholders, regulators and policy makers in determining the energy interests of Ireland in the context of the climate emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49604/19]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas Pringle

268. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the €25million funding allocated for the upgrading of the energy efficiency of local authority homes in 2019 can be used for window and door upgrades taking into account windows lose approximately 25% of heat; if his plan is in line with proposals in the climate action plan 2019 and the obligations of Ireland under the EU energy efficiency directive; his views on whether a local authority reply (details supplied) is correct in its interpretation of the recent funding allocated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49609/19]

Organic Farming Scheme Data

Thomas Pringle

41. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay of a year to get back to applicants for the organic farming scheme under tranche 2 if only 175 farmers applied; the number of applicants who were successful overall and in County Donegal, respectively; the amount of funding provided for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49078/19]

Organic Farming Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

58. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the various changes made to the minimum qualifying score for admittance into the organic farming scheme; the minimum qualifying score; the reason for the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49079/19]

Fish Quotas

Thomas Pringle

62. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which north west scientific quota for herring impacts on the Lough Foyle herring fishery; his view on whether it should be managed separately; if vessels and skippers have to show tract record specifically on that fishery in order to have received a quota allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49081/19]

Fish Quotas

Thomas Pringle

72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to integrate the protection of island fisheries in quota allocation under the Common Fisheries Policy as recognised by the EU Commission as a distinct sector but not here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49082/19]

Climate Action Plan

Thomas Pringle

176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives to support paludiculture which will be financed under the climate action plan 2019. [49422/19]

Forestry Management

Thomas Pringle

197. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated area of peaty soils under the ownership of Coillte that has been converted to forestry; the estimated net carbon losses as a result of the practice; the remedial measures proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49426/19]

Energy Policy Review

Thomas Pringle

237. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the State agencies that have a statutory or regulatory function regarding energy security; the agencies and bodies that have an advisory role on energy security; the way in which he will ensure that the regulatory aspects of energy security are not captured by stakeholder bodies such as the ESB and a company (details supplied) that may have strategic commercial interests at stake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49420/19]

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Thomas Pringle

238. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which his Department will ensure that there is no double counting of carbon sequestered under land use, land use change, forestry via afforestation, peatland restoration and rehabilitation and other projects that are planned to generate carbon credits by Bord na Móna, Coillte and other landowners; the methodologies for carbon sequestration on State lands which will be utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49421/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Thomas Pringle

299. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures proposed to protect blanket bogs under the land use, land-use change and forestry. [49423/19]

National Raised Bog Management Plan

Thomas Pringle

300. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of the budget 2020 measures for bog restoration and rehabilitation to be funded under just transition; the role her Department plays in co-financing research and EU LIFE projects in the region; and the way in which she intends to engage with academic research in the activity in order to scale up projects to avoid further carbon losses after 2021. [49424/19]

National Raised Bog Management Plan

Thomas Pringle

304. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the bog restoration and rehabilitation measures that will be funded through the NPWS; the estimated cost of availing of the land use, land-use change and forestry flexibilities as they relate to peatlands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49425/19]

EU Budget Contribution

Thomas Pringle

144. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that on 10 October 2019 the European Parliament voted for a motion for a resolution to wind up the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission on the MFF 2021-2027, a resolution which reiterated the fact that the next MFF should represent 1.3% of the EU GNI; the amount of a net increase this would amount to annually in the case of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48565/19]

Organic Farming Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

369. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was not accepted onto the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48981/19]

Energy Policy

Thomas Pringle

399. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the State agencies that have a statutory or regulatory function in respect of energy security; the agencies and bodies that have an advisory role on energy security; the way in which he will ensure that the regulatory aspects of energy security are not captured by stakeholder bodies, such as the ESB and a company (details supplied) that may have strategic commercial interests at stake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49101/19]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Pringle

442. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding is available for groups (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48975/19]

Jobseeker's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

491. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have a decision on a social welfare claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48976/19]

Mica Redress Scheme

Thomas Pringle

517. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the implementation of the mica redress scheme in County Donegal; the way in which he plans to address the confusion and uncertainty in relation to the implementation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48999/19]

Public Transport Data

Thomas Pringle

215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current and capital expenditures for land transport broken down into the various sub categories from 2016 to date; the ratio of public transport and active travel measures to private transport in the case of both capital and current expenditures in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48432/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Thomas Pringle

253. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the efforts made to date to resolve the impasse regarding community employment supervisor and assistant supervisors pension claims; the extent to which her Department is in cooperation with the WRC on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48429/19]

Legal Advice

Thomas Pringle

7. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the low uptake of legal advice under section 26(3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (details supplied) has been investigated; the number of applications made in this regard each year since the enactment of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47799/19]

Direct Provision System

Thomas Pringle

30. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the role of security forces in combating right-wing extremism here in view of recent incidences of violence and anti-immigrant sentiment in relation to the issue of direct provision here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45773/19]

Grant Payments

Thomas Pringle

127. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost in 2020 if the ancillary grant increased by €7 per pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48061/19]

Garda Transport Data

Thomas Pringle

143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars and vans attached to each Garda district in the Donegal Garda division as of 31 December 2018 and 11 November 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48059/19]

Immigration Data

Thomas Pringle

144. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in the asylum process that were granted programme refugee status, convention refugee status, subsidiary protection, permission to remain under the International Protection Act 2015 and leave to remain under section B of the Immigration Act 1999 at first instance and final decision stage, respectively to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48063/19]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Staff

Thomas Pringle

167. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of vacant posts at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; the length of time each has been vacant for; when the vacancies will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48062/19]

Public Service Obligation Levy

Thomas Pringle

250. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to extend the REFIT PSO for biomass burning until 2023 alongside a new proposal for a PSO for bog rehabilitation; the way in which the proposed PSO will not duplicate bog rehabilitation that is required under the EPA licence at Edenderry; his views on whether such a PSO to be another form of carbon taxation levied on electricity customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47933/19]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Thomas Pringle

255. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated full-year cost of recruiting three extra whole-time equivalent petroleum exploration specialists in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48060/19]

Bus Services

Thomas Pringle

289. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the repeated delays in finalising and commencing a small pilot urban bus project for Kilkenny city; the reason the NTA has not finalised fares and timetables after three years of planning; when the service will commence; and the lessons his Department and the NTA will learn from these delays to ensure that future projects are not held up in the same manner. [48236/19]

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the National Council for Curriculum Assessment has completed its second consultation on the issue of reforming sex education in schools; when its final report is due; the steps he is taking to counteract campaigns of misinformation regarding sex education reform here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47439/19]

Budget 2020

Thomas Pringle

49. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views in relation to concerns expressed by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the lack of sufficient funding provided in budget 2020 in view of the fact that in the first school year of the new decade class sizes in primary schools here will be the highest in the eurozone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47437/19]

School Services Staff

Thomas Pringle

91. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of negotiations regarding the pay and conditions of school secretaries; the way in which he plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47438/19]

Third Level Funding

Thomas Pringle

96. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a commitment has not been given to address the future funding of third level education; the further reason no response has been given on the Cassells report since it was first published three years ago; the representations he has made to the European Commission regarding its decision on funding options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47440/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Pringle

100. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes being considered to the July provision scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47436/19]

Flood Relief Schemes

Thomas Pringle

137. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will meet with a group (details supplied) and visit an area to witness the urgent need for a flood relief scheme in Buncrana, County Donegal; the reason he has indicated that funding will not be released until previous Donegal County Council flood schemes have progressed in view of the fact that many existing schemes are held up by the council for various reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47653/19]

Criminal Law Review

Thomas Pringle

285. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the review of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences here by a person (details supplied) will be published in view of the fact that it was promised initially for the end of 2018, then pushed back to early 2019; the reason for the delay of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47800/19]

Disability Allowance Payments

Thomas Pringle

613. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a disability allowance payment will be made for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47374/19]

Disability Support Services

Thomas Pringle

632. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the level of accreditation needed for a person to offer participants of the disability awareness training in order for the client to avail of the 90% grant available from her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47654/19]

Disability Allowance Payments

Thomas Pringle

637. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the revised means assessment request by a person (details supplied) on a disability allowance will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47728/19]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

5. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role of his Department in 2019 and 2020 in the implementation of the Climate Action Plan 2019 for his Department and throughout Departments generally; if estimates of the net cost of the plan are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46785/19]

Teagasc Activities

Thomas Pringle

154. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policy of Teagasc towards stakeholder engagement; the bodies that are designated stakeholders; the way in which they are routinely consulted; his views on whether environmental organisations are stakeholders; and the approach of his Department to stakeholder engagement with environmental organisations. [46938/19]

Transport Policy

Thomas Pringle

487. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if SmarterTravel, A Sustainable Transport Future will be implemented in full by 2020, in view of further delays to the planned update to the plan described in the first progress report of the Climate Action Plan 2019; the obstacles to its implementation to date; and the action he will take regarding rising emissions of greenhouse gases and particulates from the transport sector before 2020. [46446/19]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Thomas Pringle

488. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will require local authorities under ministerial order to provide segregated cycle lanes to ensure the safety of cyclists in urban areas; and if additional funding will be provided to local authorities for networks of segregated cycle lanes in 2020 for all major cities and towns. [46447/19]

Overseas Missions

Thomas Pringle

15. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the deployment of the Defence Forces to Lebanon as part of UNIFIL in view of growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah; the extent of co-operation between Defence Forces personnel and forces from other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45771/19]

EU Battle Groups

Thomas Pringle

17. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the Army Ranger Wing recently deployed to an EU battle group in Germany, which is the fourth time Ireland has been involved in an EU battle group and the first time the unit has taken part; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45770/19]

EU Issues

Thomas Pringle

29. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of plans by the European Commission to establish a new directorate-general for defence industry and space; the level of involvement the private sector arms industry will have in formulating EU defence policy; the position of Ireland on the establishment of a new directorate-general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45769/19]

Budget 2020

Thomas Pringle

34. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding allocated to Defence in budget 2020, which exceeded €1 billion for the first time; the amount allocated to defence programmes as mandated under the European Defence Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45772/19]

Legal Aid Service Data

Thomas Pringle

365. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have received civil legal aid from the Legal Aid Board since 1 October 2018 in order to proceed with claims of discrimination under equality legislation against licensed premises; the number of cases that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45341/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

1041. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44497/19]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

1084. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45107/19]

Disability Allowance Applications

Thomas Pringle

1085. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45108/19]

Disability Allowance Appeals

Thomas Pringle

1086. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a disability allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45109/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

1087. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person residing here permanently in receipt of a pension from abroad but not in receipt of an Irish State pension is eligible to apply for the winter fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45110/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

1088. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person residing here permanently in receipt of a pension from abroad but not in receipt of an Irish State pension is eligible to apply for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45111/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

1089. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person residing here permanently in receipt of a pension from abroad but not in receipt of an Irish State pension is eligible to apply for the household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45112/19]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Pringle

216. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to hold a public consultation process as part of the preparation of the long-term strategy of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44047/19]

Parking Provision

Thomas Pringle

97. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the ongoing parking situation at a building (details supplied) in County Donegal will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43710/19]

Teagasc Administration

Thomas Pringle

458. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to amend and update the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988 to ensure that Teagasc has the necessary expertise and mandate to consider mitigation strategies from the agriculture and food sectors here in view of the recent UN IPCC special report on land and climate change 2019. [43416/19]

Teagasc Funding

Thomas Pringle

459. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the research budget of Teagasc that is dedicated to climate mitigation activities; and his views on the adequacy of resources available to his Department towards climate mitigation in view of the recent study by the CSO on environmentally damaging subsidies. [43417/19]

National Raised Bog Management Plan

Thomas Pringle

483. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dedicated resources and expertise in relation to paludiculture available within his Department or State agencies under his remit; his plans to implement the recommendation regarding paludiculture research in chapter 8 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action report; his views on the potential for paludiculture in the context of the new €5 million fund for wetlands restoration and rehabilitation as announced by Minister Bruton on 16 October 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43526/19]

Agrifood Sector

Thomas Pringle

484. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of the 400 stakeholders and delegates invited to attend the open policy debate on a strategy for the agrifood sector to 2030 arranged for 16 October 2019. [43528/19]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Thomas Pringle

491. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress towards meeting the renewable heat obligation of Ireland under EU directives for 2020; if Ireland is on course to meet the target; the budget for the support scheme for renewable heat in 2019 and 2020; the number of applications received under the scheme to date; the number of grants awarded for 2019; the number of applications by county; his plans to address the delays in approving up to 40 eligible projects in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42943/19]

Employment Rights

Thomas Pringle

148. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she is taking to ensure that all public bodies comply with S.I. No. 234/2019 - Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2019 introduced by her Department and previous orders; the steps that can be taken if they have not complied with same; if her Department carries out inspections to see if there is compliance by public sector employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42411/19]