Parliamentary questions

Radon Control Strategy

Timmy Dooley

309. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has explored introducing a non-means-tested grant for remediation work on houses found to have high levels of radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34368/16]

Postal Services

Timmy Dooley

310. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of public funding given to An Post annually in the 2010-2016 period, in tabular form; the budget allocation for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34370/16]

Renewable Energy Projects

Timmy Dooley

311. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; if he has examined the refuelling infrastructure needed for operation here; his plans for test pilots in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34367/16]

Local Authority Functions

Timmy Dooley

312. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the detail of the regulations regarding the work local authorities can carry out in the event of vegetation or blockages posing a threat of flooding, including damaging properties and risking structural damage to the road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34369/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Timmy Dooley

164. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have their surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33997/16]

Special Educational Needs Data

Timmy Dooley

147. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current location of all autistic spectrum disorder units attached to mainstream secondary schools in the greater Dublin area; if any such units are proposed for the future; if so, their location and the projected opening dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33640/16]

Wind Energy Generation

Timmy Dooley

464. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will confirm that offshore wind is being considered in helping Ireland reach its renewable targets for 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33421/16]

Health Services Provision

Timmy Dooley

132. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if a clinic (details supplied) will continue; his plans to suspend same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32402/16]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Timmy Dooley

9. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total number of premises to be covered by the national broadband plan between State intervention and commercial operators; the latest timetable for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32284/16]

Postal Services

Timmy Dooley

11. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the latest developments in the corporate governance of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32285/16]

Public Service Obligation Levy Increase

Timmy Dooley

21. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on increasing the public service obligation levy on electricity bills; the rate at which it is levied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32065/16]

Mobile Telephony Services

Timmy Dooley

29. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the programme for Government commitments relating to improving mobile telephone coverage; the timetable for actions in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32064/16]

North-South Interconnector

Timmy Dooley

44. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the undergrounding of the National Small Industries Corporation using high-voltage direct current technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32067/16]

Departmental Properties

Timmy Dooley

67. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department will close the sale of an old national school building (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32170/16]

State Pension (Contributory) Expenditure

Timmy Dooley

299. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost implication for reversing the qualification criteria for the contributory pension that came into effect as a result of the 2012 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31524/16]

Climate Change Policy

Timmy Dooley

533. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline towards ratifying the COP 21 agreement on climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31588/16]

Electric Vehicles

Timmy Dooley

547. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether the current 2020 electric vehicle uptake targets are achievable in meeting climate change challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32110/16]

Alternative Energy Projects

Timmy Dooley

548. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when tariff support for photovoltaic, PV, solar energy production here will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32111/16]

Single Electricity Market

Timmy Dooley

549. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the likely energy cost implications and the effect on the single electricity market, SEM, the integrated single electricity market, I-SEM, and the electricity market, as well as on the existing energy interconnection between the UK and Ireland, following the decision by UK voters to leave the EU in its recent referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32119/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Timmy Dooley

572. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions between his Department and a group (details supplied) in respect of the emissions issue; the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31961/16]

Post Office Network

Timmy Dooley

23. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the specific measures she is taking to maintain the post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21625/16]

Waterways Issues

Timmy Dooley

193. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when Waterways Ireland will carry out improvement works on the embankments of the River Blackwater in Clonlara, County Clare, between Mount Catherine Bridge and the diversion point facilitating the Plassy-Errina Canal, to prevent a reoccurrence of the flooding experienced in this area in 2015. [31335/16]

National Broadband Plan Data

Timmy Dooley

261. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 13 July 2016 and No. 240 of 6 October 2016, if 750,000 or 920,000 premises are to be covered by the national broadband plan; when all such premises will be connected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31201/16]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Timmy Dooley

262. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the latest progress in meeting the overall renewable targets by 2020 under the renewable energy directive 2009/28/EC, including the progress on meeting the targets for the contribution of renewables and biofuels to gross electricity consumption, transport energy and heat since this Government came to office, in tabular form. [31202/16]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Timmy Dooley

263. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland is on target to meet binding European Union 2020 renewable energy targets; the fines that will be realised if not achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31203/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Timmy Dooley

264. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the latest update on meeting EU 2020 CO2 emission reduction targets; the penalties that will be faced if this target is not attained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31204/16]

Energy Efficiency

Timmy Dooley

265. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the latest update on meeting EU 2020 energy efficiency targets; the penalties that will be faced if this target is not attained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31205/16]

Electric Vehicles

Timmy Dooley

266. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide give the latest information available in meeting electronic vehicle targets for 2020 in view of climate change policy; the number of such vehicles that would have to be purchased between now and 2020 to attain these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31206/16]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Timmy Dooley

267. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the way electricity generation CO2 emissions rose in 2015 per the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's publication Renewable Electricity in Ireland 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31208/16]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Timmy Dooley

268. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on his intention to sign regulations to allow ComReg to proceed with an auction of the 3.6 GHz spectrum band in early 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31211/16]

Hydraulic Fracturing

Timmy Dooley

269. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide any preliminary update on research directed at examining the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing, commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency; the position of the Government on hydraulic fracturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31212/16]

State Bodies Expenditure

Timmy Dooley

272. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a breakdown between current and capital expenditure allocated for all State agencies and bodies under his aegis in 2016 and 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31426/16]

Departmental Staff Data

Timmy Dooley

273. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total number of additional staff to be taken on in his Department and in all individual State agencies and bodies under his aegis in 2017, in tabular form; the total cost of hiring additional staff in his Department and in each individual State agency or body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31427/16]

Energy Prices

Timmy Dooley

274. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the reported new peak time bill rates to be introduced by the ESB; the impact this will have on domestic electricity prices and usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31429/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Timmy Dooley

29. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the targets in place for child and adolescent mental health service teams staff levels in community healthcare organisation, CHO, Area 3 in 2017 to bring them closer to the target set in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30672/16]

Ambulance Service Provision

Timmy Dooley

117. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed review of the provision of ambulance services in County Clare; if he will undertake that this review will not lead to a reduction in the number of National Ambulance Service vehicles in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30671/16]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Timmy Dooley

460. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when the Government will provide a GP visit card to all children under 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30530/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

190. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 21 June 2016, the number of applications for incremental credit for non-teaching service his Department has received; if the applicants are qualified to teach in both primary and secondary schools; the length of time the applicants taught in primary and secondary schools; and the nature of the contracts and positions they had in both primary and secondary schools. [29885/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

191. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if applications (details supplied) were granted incremental credit for non-teaching service; and if not, the reason those applications were refused incremental credit. [29886/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

192. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 21 June 2016 (details supplied), if all applications are dealt with having regard to the relevant circular, discussions at the Teachers Conciliation Council that informed the wording of the circular or decisions, and subsequent precedents, or the way the circular is interpreted and applied as decided by his departmental officials. [29887/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

193. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason and when incremental credit for non-teaching service was extended to all post-primary teachers; and if it was to reward teachers for gaining relevant work experience that would enhance their classroom teaching. [29888/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

194. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, when the incremental credit scheme was extended to cover post-primary teachers, the principle of restricting the award to an applicant's initial teaching position was discussed and agreed at the Teachers Conciliation Council; if not, the forum at which the decision was made to adopt this policy; and if, subsequent to the issue of the original circular extending the scheme to post-primary teachers, it was decided to restrict the award to an applicant's initial position, the reason it was not specified in any subsequent versions of the circular that the award would be restricted to the applicant's initial position. [29889/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

195. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to an FOI request (details supplied), if a record of the type referred to in the e-mail of 6 May 2014 dealing with the role of the appeals board exists; if so, the details of the contents; if a copy of that document will be forwarded; if the e-mail of 6 May 2016 describes applications from post-primary teachers only; and his views on whether the application is based on a person's first post-primary appointment and is not an application of the type, that is, 100 per year. [29890/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

196. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the details outlined in an FOI request (details supplied) are correct. [29891/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

197. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 21 June 2016 (details supplied), if any applications from primary teachers have been rejected due to the fact non-teaching service was not relevant to their initial position, for example, teaching first class, but was relevant to their second position, for example, teaching sixth class. [29892/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Timmy Dooley

198. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it was specified in circular letter 12/55 that the scheme for incremental credit would be restricted to the teacher's initial position; and if not, the reason therefore (details supplied). [29893/16]

Primary Medical Certificates Provision

Timmy Dooley

387. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when the next clinic is scheduled in County Clare for the assessment of applicants for primary medical certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29412/16]

Electricity Transmission Network

Timmy Dooley

544. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will confirm that the east-west interconnector power line will be out of commission for the next five months due to repairs; the steps being taken to remedy this; the effect this will have on Irish electricity supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29392/16]

Electricity Transmission Network

Timmy Dooley

545. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the east-west interconnector power line being out of commission for the next five months due to repairs, if this will result in higher electricity bills for consumers, as has been reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29393/16]

Electricity Transmission Network

Timmy Dooley

546. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the east-west interconnector power line being out of commission for the next five months due to repairs, if CER had discussions with his Department on the possible consequences this will have on retail and wholesale electricity bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29394/16]