Parliamentary questions

Medical Card Reviews

Martin Kenny

270. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card review for a person (details supplied) is on hold in view of the fact the person is automatically entitled to a card due to being on a rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52438/19]

Legal Services Regulation

Martin Kenny

287. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Legal Services Regulatory Authority has been fully established; the activities the authority has been engaged in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50219/19]

Asylum Applications Data

Martin Kenny

289. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff from his Department, the INIS, the RIA or other agencies employed in processing the applications of asylum seekers; the reason the process is taking a long time resulting in persons spending years in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50267/19]

Hospital Services

Martin Kenny

410. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the gynaecological services at Our Lady's Hospital, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim; if no reduction in gynaecological services at the hospital will be guaranteed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50188/19]

Organic Farming Scheme Data

Martin Kenny

184. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget allocated to the new organic farming scheme which opened on 19 November 2018; the amount of same to be allocated to successful applicants to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49475/19]

Organic Farming Scheme Data

Martin Kenny

185. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the terms of the organic farming scheme which opened on 19 November 2019 (details supplied); if he will consider compensating the unsuccessful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49476/19]

Organic Farming Scheme Data

Martin Kenny

186. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of suckler farmers who were successful in applying to the organic farming scheme which opened on 19 November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49477/19]

Beef Exports

Martin Kenny

184. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the export markets that have different specifications from those set out in a document (details supplied) which restricts beef from particular holdings here being exported to such countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49186/19]

Animal Disease Controls

Martin Kenny

185. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the information retained by his Department on historical and recent BSE cases here relating to the animal, the herdowner and-or the holding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49187/19]

Animal Disease Controls

Martin Kenny

186. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the length of time his Department retains information on historical BSE cases; the persons or bodies this information is shared with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49188/19]

Animal Diseases

Martin Kenny

187. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a holding on which an animal with BSE was discovered poses a higher risk to the food chain than a holding that never had a case of BSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49189/19]

Beef Exports

Martin Kenny

188. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the World Organisation for Animal Health considers that beef from an animal which has come from a holding on which a historical case of BSE was confirmed should be treated differently when being exported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49190/19]

Departmental Investigations

Martin Kenny

246. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will extend the brief of an investigation (details supplied) into the payment of protection money to cover other building projects since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48963/19]

Commissions of Investigation

Martin Kenny

247. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will establish the two outstanding commissions of investigation which were recommended by the final report on the independent commission of inquiry into the murder of a person (details supplied) by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights in March 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48964/19]

International Protection

Martin Kenny

248. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date for the finalisation of the policy on the new inspection process for compliance with the national standards for accommodation of persons in the international protection process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48965/19]

Garda National Immigration Bureau

Martin Kenny

2. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on passport checks taking place on the Border at Garda checkpoints and on public transport, the reason for same and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47532/19]

State Visits

Martin Kenny

12. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the area of the budget of An Garda Síochána from which the estimated €15 to €18 million cost of the visits of the President and Vice-President of the United States of America will come from; the details of the expenditure in view of the high cost and the fact that the visits were of a short duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47533/19]

Climate Change Policy

Martin Kenny

454. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of climate action regions set up here; the counties that are grouped together to make up the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46424/19]

Bus Services

Martin Kenny

463. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when passengers will be allowed to use their travel card on the LocalLink bus in view of the fact that the lack of free travel is affecting persons with disabilities and older persons, especially in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46008/19]

Bus Services

Martin Kenny

464. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the LocalLink service has changed its procedure in relation to charging passengers that attend day care services; the reason it did not provide passengers with adequate notice of the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46009/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Martin Kenny

70. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which funding for apprenticeships was allocated by his Department; and if preference was given to rural areas in such allocations. [30218/19]

Garda Reserve

Martin Kenny

251. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the review of the Garda Reserve will be completed; if the findings of the review will be published; and the status of the promised recruitment campaign that had a stated objective of an increase of 1,500 Reserve members. [41705/19]

Hospital Services

Martin Kenny

12. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the diabetes service in Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41165/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Martin Kenny

262. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for carer's benefit and allowance awaiting medical assessment; if there is an adequate number of medical assessors to carry out the assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41515/19]

Carer's Allowance Waiting Times

Martin Kenny

263. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time it takes for a medical assessor to access a carer's allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41516/19]

Primary Care Centres Funding

Martin Kenny

275. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if capital funding will be allocated to upgrade Cliffony health centre and Carrigans day care centre in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40888/19]

Local Authority Leases

Martin Kenny

501. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of private houses that local authorities are renting and subletting as social housing by local authority; the annual cost of renting these houses in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40631/19]

Garda Reorganisation

Martin Kenny

2. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether An Garda Síochána has adequate resources to make the new model of policing a success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40174/19]

Domestic Violence

Martin Kenny

11. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address the issues raised in a report by an organisation (details supplied) particularly the call for an urgent audit of the criminal and family law systems to develop a better process to deliver justice, safety and a consistent experience for victims of domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40128/19]

Garda Expenditure

Martin Kenny

33. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the part of the budget of An Garda Síochána the estimated €15 to €18 million cost of the visits of President Trump and Vice President Pence came from; the breakdown of the expenditure in view of the cost and the fact that the visits were of short duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40130/19]

Garda Operations

Martin Kenny

38. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding passport checks taking place on the Border at Garda checkpoints and on public transport; the rationale for this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40129/19]

Brexit Supports

Martin Kenny

383. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the rules of the BEAM scheme will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38218/19]

Garda Transport Provision

Martin Kenny

888. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on new Garda vehicles; the number of vehicles purchased by Garda division in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33142/19]

Garda Resources

Martin Kenny

889. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on capital investment in An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the details of the expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33143/19]

Garda Information and Communications Technology

Martin Kenny

890. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the stage the procurement process of the new computer aided dispatch system is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33144/19]

Garda Information and Communications Technology

Martin Kenny

891. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent to date on the procurement process of the new computer aided dispatch system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33145/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

958. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of site visits from RIA that is policy for temporary direct provision; if RIA staff are required to meet residents on these visits; if the RIA give pre-warning to contractors or management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34569/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

959. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if feminine hygiene products are provided in direct provision temporary accommodation centres; the person or body responsible for their provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34570/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

960. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if nappies and baby hygiene products are provided in direct provision temporary accommodation centres; the person or body responsible for their provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34571/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

961. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if food specifications such as halal and so on are a requirement of successful tender of contract to supply temporary emergency accommodation to asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34572/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

962. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that visitors are not allowed in some emergency temporary accommodation direct provision centres; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34573/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

963. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if staff in temporary accommodation centres for asylum seekers receive training regarding being the first point of contact for residents; the person or body that provides this training; the nature of the training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34574/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

964. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the responsibility RIA has in informing the local community structures regarding the provision of a temporary emergency accommodation for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34575/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

965. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if staff in contracted organisations for provision of temporary emergency accommodation direct provision are Garda vetted and have completed child protected training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34576/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

966. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the guidelines for healthy and culturally friendly food included in contracts for temporary direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34577/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

967. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the definition of adequate food in contract with temporary emergency accommodation direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34578/19]

EU Directives

Martin Kenny

968. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if Ireland has opted into the EU Reception Conditions Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34579/19]

Direct Provision Data

Martin Kenny

969. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children in temporary emergency accommodation and direct provision centres as of July 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34581/19]

Direct Provision System

Martin Kenny

970. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views that all provisions of the EU Reception Conditions Directive relating to the adequacy, variety, and quality of food are being fully delivered in all direct provision and temporary provision centres. [34582/19]

Home Help Service Provision

Martin Kenny

1071. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to reapply for home help that the person had prior to going into hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31540/19]