Parliamentary questions

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Declan Breathnach

278. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment under the basic payment scheme for a person (details supplied); the reason many farmers are still waiting on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52185/19]

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Declan Breathnach

283. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment under the basic payment scheme for a person (details supplied); the reason farmers are still waiting on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52322/19]

GLAS Payments

Declan Breathnach

284. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment under the GLAS scheme (details supplied); the reason farmers are still waiting on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52351/19]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Declan Breathnach

285. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment under the basic payment scheme, ANC and GLAS for a person (details supplied); the reason farmers are still waiting on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52353/19]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Declan Breathnach

287. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farm payments under the basic payment scheme, ANC, BDGP, BEAM and knowledge transfer for a person (details supplied); the reason farmers are still waiting on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52413/19]

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Declan Breathnach

300. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment under the basic payment scheme and ANC for a person (details supplied); the reason farmers are still waiting on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52468/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

261. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the monitoring of the atypical workers scheme as it relates to the fishing industry to ensure that the terms of a settlement agreement reached after High Court proceedings in early 2019 will be adhered to; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a high volume of migrant workers in the fishing industry working more than 60 hours per week resulting in an hourly rate of pay as low as €2.82 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51508/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

262. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of violations of elements of the atypical workers scheme in the fishing industry that his attention has been drawn to over the past three years and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51509/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

263. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when draft regulations in respect of a settlement agreement reached after High Court proceedings regarding the transposition of EU Council Directive 2017/159 as it relates to the fishing industry to give effect to the agreement reached will be signed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51510/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

264. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the atypical workers scheme in respect of the fishing industry as framed does not provide for effectively preventing and combating trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced labour and labour exploitation in the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51518/19]

Human Trafficking

Declan Breathnach

267. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact there have been confirmed cases of human trafficking within the fishing industry here; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the Trafficking in Persons Report 2019 and the Council of Europe GRETA report of 2017 made reference to the need for improved support for victims of trafficking here in line with a national referral mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51595/19]

Human Trafficking

Declan Breathnach

268. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to provide a suitable recovery and reflection period for those that are trafficked in the fishing industry here; if a copy of updated information supplied to GRETA will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51596/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

301. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to increase the monitoring of the atypical workers scheme as it relates to the fishing industry to ensure that the terms of a settlement agreement reached after High Court proceedings earlier in 2019 will be adhered to; if her attention has been drawn to the high volume of migrant workers in the fishing industry working more than 60 hours per week resulting in an hourly rate of pay as low as €2.82 per hour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51591/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

304. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to provide the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court with jurisdiction to hear complaints by workers on sea-fishing vessels of violations of the European Communities (Workers on Board Sea-going Fishing Vessels) (Organisation of Working Time) Regulations 2003 and to make awards in respect of such violations; if not, the reason complaints by such workers are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51724/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

488. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the atypical workers scheme in relation to the fishing industry does not provide for effectively preventing and combating trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced labour and labour exploitation in the fishing industry; the steps he is taking in conjunction with other Departments to monitor the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51590/19]

EU Directives

Declan Breathnach

535. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Council Directive (EU) 2017/159 of 19 December 2016 implementing the agreement regarding the implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention 2007 of the International Labour Organization has not been transposed by Ireland by the deadline of 15 November 2019 as contained in Article 4 of the directive and as agreed in the settlement agreement reached between the State and a union (details supplied) on 3 April 2019; when regulations transposing the directive will be signed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51592/19]

EU Directives

Declan Breathnach

536. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make amendments to the European Communities (Workers on Board Sea-Going Fishing Vessels) (Organisation of Working Time) Regulations 2003, in particular regulation 6, to reflect accurately the terms of Article 21 of Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 regarding certain aspects of the organisation of working time as it relates to maximum hours or work and minimum hours of rest on sea-fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51593/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

539. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of unannounced inspections conducted by the Marine Survey Office, MSO, as a result of referrals by the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, since the agreement reached between the MSO and WRC on exchange of information as part of the settlement of legal proceedings between the State and a union (details supplied) on 3 April 2019; the number of violations of applicable regulations observed as a result of such inspections; the number of prosecutions initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51674/19]

Human Trafficking

Declan Breathnach

547. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role of his Department in preventing trafficking in human beings, prosecuting human traffickers and protecting victims of human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51720/19]

Employment Rights

Declan Breathnach

548. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which, in the absence of effective rules on maximum hours of work and minimum hours of rest on sea-fishing vessels the Marine Survey Office plans to protect workers on such vessels against exploitation and overwork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51723/19]

Brexit Supports

Declan Breathnach

142. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the Brexit funding that will be available to the Border region for large IDA Ireland clients and for small and medium scale enterprises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50461/19]

Social Welfare Benefits

Declan Breathnach

230. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the alternative supports in place for students in view of the decision to cease payments to parents in receipt of child benefit for students aged 18 to 22 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50484/19]

Road Improvement Schemes

Declan Breathnach

506. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of class 3 cul-de-sac local roads which have been resurfaced by local authorities in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, excluding CIS funded resurfacing by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49973/19]

Road Improvement Schemes

Declan Breathnach

507. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the inequitable situation that persons living on class 3 cul-de-sac roads have to tolerate in that the only chance of having such roads resurfaced is by means of the CIS scheme; his views on the unfairness of those persons having to pay towards the upkeep of the roads in addition to paying road tax and other taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49974/19]

Road Improvement Schemes

Declan Breathnach

508. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since the introduction of the CIS scheme that class 3 cul-de-sac roads are being overlooked in the normal course of a local authority roadworks programme; if he will consider issuing guidelines to local authorities to allocate a percentage of their road works funding to class 3 cul-de-sac roads in proportion to the lengths in kilometre of those roads needing resurfacing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49976/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Administration

Declan Breathnach

103. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the initiatives being taken to improve CAMHS in CHO 8 and also to ensure there is no service gap when a transition to adult services occurs at 18 years of age. [48858/19]

Medical Card Administration

Declan Breathnach

113. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to expedite the provision of medical cards for cancer patients. [48857/19]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Declan Breathnach

239. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene to speed up the process of ANC and basic payment scheme applications in circumstances in which land is selected for remote sensing, that is, satellite inspection; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of applicants are awaiting payment due to a delay in carrying out the inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48218/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

214. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a new 600 pupil post-primary school for south Drogheda and east County Meath announced in April 2018, which was to open in 2019, has not been built; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that temporary accommodation for the school can only accommodate 48 pupils; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that demand for places at this school is very high with a large number of disappointed applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47730/19]

Garda Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

256. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider increasing the age limit for applying to An Garda Siochána for members of the Garda Reserves only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47296/19]

Community Employment Schemes Supervisors

Declan Breathnach

606. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason her Department has reneged on a promise to meet with union officials (details supplied) in respect of the 2008 Labour Court recommendation in relation to community employment supervisors pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47236/19]

Housing Estates

Declan Breathnach

661. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the persons or body with which liability stands for the upkeep of roads in cases in which a housing estate is not taken in charge by a local authority, does not have a management company and the builder is no longer in business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47507/19]

Local Authority Staff Remuneration

Declan Breathnach

664. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funds being made available to local authorities to meet the costs of public sector pay increments in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47555/19]

Respite Care Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

126. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a fully accessible accommodation operated by an organisation (details supplied) is set to close due to funding and refurbishment issues; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there will be approximately 40 job losses; if he will intervene to reverse the decision of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46939/19]

Approved Housing Bodies

Declan Breathnach

220. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of approved housing bodies that have sold housing units funded under the CLSS scheme; the number of units sold; the conditions under which sale agreements were entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45754/19]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

459. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of general practitioner availability in mid-County Louth; when a review of the contractual terms for the GMS and other publicly-funded general practitioner services will be complete; the measures which will be put in place to attract general practitioners to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44334/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

902. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a motion was passed at the Laytown and Bettystown municipal district meeting to designate the R132 Julianstown Road a national road and that this motion will be going before Meath County Council on 7 November 2019; if he will consider a ministerial order to designate the R132 Julianstown Road a national route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44378/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Declan Breathnach

197. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an inequitable situation which has arisen between public and private patients in respect of the treatment of patients with stage 3 melanoma by a company (details supplied) which has sanctioned the use of immunotherapy for its customers, which has been proven to be successful to prevent the cancer recurring in stage 3 patients; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this treatment is unavailable to public patients who have stage 3 melanoma despite his pronouncement earlier in 2019 that patients in public hospitals are not treated in a different way regardless of whether they have private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44053/19]

Teacher Training Provision

Declan Breathnach

106. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Gaeltacht grant was not restored for students in the professional masters of education; his plans to restore the grant to such students; the amount of Gaeltacht fees which will be covered by the grant that was restored for non-professional masters of education students; the amount of the budget of his Department which will be set aside for the provision of the grant in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43680/19]

Knackery Industry

Declan Breathnach

440. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the knackery industry cannot continue as it stands at present in view of the fact that it is no longer financially viable to stay in business; if written confirmation will be provided to an association (details supplied) outlining commitments given at a meeting on 16 September 2019 between the organisation and his officials confirming the immediate commencement of a bridging scheme to address the financial crisis in knackeries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42930/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Declan Breathnach

75. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a major school building project (details supplied) is stuck at stage 2b detailed design since December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40611/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

118. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 26 March 2019, the remit of the working group; the membership of the group; the number of times the working group has met in each quarter since its establishment; when the group will report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39335/19]

Defence Forces Operations

Declan Breathnach

119. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made on the gap analysis of skills sets in the Permanent Defence Forceto identify potential roles for members of the Defence Forces Reserve with specialist skills; the efforts he has made to date in 2019 to progress the initiative; when the gap analysis will report its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39338/19]

Brexit Issues

Declan Breathnach

134. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to differences in tax policies on both sides of the Border, a truckload of coal is €2,217 more expensive here than in Northern Ireland; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this price differential will increase further post-Brexit; the actions being taken to prevent smuggling of solid fuel across the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39408/19]

Customs and Excise Controls

Declan Breathnach

135. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance the measures being taken to monitor goods entering the State across the Border after the UK leaves the EU; if extra customs staff are being deployed for this purpose; if new offices of the Revenue Commissioners are being established along the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39417/19]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Declan Breathnach

136. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the criteria under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme to qualify for a primary medical certificate; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of disabled drivers are at a severe disadvantage by not meeting the strict criteria as currently set out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39476/19]

Budget 2020

Declan Breathnach

146. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider reliefs for the haulage industry in budget 2020 by not increasing carbon tax for licensed hauliers; if he will introduce measures to reduce fuel costs for licensed hauliers by doubling the rebate level allowed under the diesel rebate scheme from 7.5c to 15c and reducing the floor at which the rebate starts from €1.00 to 85c; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39813/19]

Budget 2020

Declan Breathnach

147. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider no increase in motor tax, VRT or other taxes on the licensed haulage sector in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39815/19]

Road Projects

Declan Breathnach

492. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the €34 million in funding promised for the Ardee bypass can be ring-fenced in order that the project will not lose out if funding is needed elsewhere in the interim period in view of the fact that there is a proposal for a review of the scheme design for the Ardee bypass in advance of progressing to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39398/19]

Driver Licences

Declan Breathnach

493. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the deadline for persons here driving with UK licences in order to swap their licence for an Irish licence in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39399/19]

Men's Sheds

Declan Breathnach

574. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will consider providing funding of €1,000,000 over a three year period to an association (details supplied); if he will consider a multi-departmental approach to the awarding of such funding; if his attention has been drawn to the benefits that would accrue from this small investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39663/19]

Forestry Grants

Declan Breathnach

169. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the length of time to process forestry applications within the Forest Service; the longest, shortest and average processing times for the past five years in tabular form; his plans to speed up the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37814/19]

Public Procurement Regulations

Declan Breathnach

179. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to amend the public sector procurement system in order that organisations can procure supplies locally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that while in theory local suppliers can tender for procurement business, in practice the system favours larger companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36553/19]

Energy Conservation

Declan Breathnach

1503. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications received by the SEAI for the full deep retrofit grant not proceeding due to lack of funding; if additional funding will be provided to the scheme for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35531/19]

Building Energy Rating Compliance

Declan Breathnach

1504. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he plans to achieve the goals as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2019 particularly in relation to the stated aim of upgrading half a million homes to B2 BER in view of the lack of funding of the SEAI for the full deep retrofit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35532/19]

State Pension (Contributory)

Declan Breathnach

1827. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons born before 1 September 1946 will be considered in the review of contributory pensions under the new aggregated contributions method of pension calculation; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons born before that date who took time out of the workplace to care for family and view it as unfair not to be included in the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35537/19]

School Uniforms

Declan Breathnach

471. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a report has been carried out on the impact that the introduction of generic school uniforms would have on stockists, wholesalers and manufacturers and embroiders of school uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32360/19]

Victims Commission

Declan Breathnach

320. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to reappointing a victims commissioner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31178/19]

Crime Investigation

Declan Breathnach

323. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a historical investigations unit, similar to such a unit in Northern Ireland, will be created; if not, if a committee, body or independent person will be put in place to monitor the progress of State institutions here in investigating legacy issues as recommended in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31350/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

758. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if self-employed persons such as farmers will be entitled to the maximum pension rate under the changes in the new total contributions approach, TCS, planned for post-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29261/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

844. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason maintenance payments in divorce settlements are classed as disposable income (details supplied). [29418/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

845. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason social housing assessment regulations place County Louth in band 2 of the maximum net income threshold at €30,000 (details supplied); the reason counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow are placed with the Dublin local authorities in band 1 while County Louth is in band 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29420/19]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Declan Breathnach

555. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he will take post the nationwide ban on smoky coal to ensure smoky coal from Northern Ireland, which has a lower VAT rate and no carbon tax, is not sold here; when the ban will be coming into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27713/19]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Declan Breathnach

556. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if concerns have been raised regarding smoky coal bought in Northern Ireland, which has a lower VAT rate, no carbon tax and a higher percentage content of sulphur following the introduction of the smoky coal ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27714/19]

Free Travel Scheme Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

672. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason not all persons who have sight loss are eligible for the free travel scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that 700 persons who use a service (details supplied) do not have sufficient vision to drive a car but are also not entitled to the free travel scheme; if the scheme can be extended to this cohort of persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28101/19]

School Staff

Declan Breathnach

200. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to allow for equal and fair rights for school secretaries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that school secretaries work long hours without holiday pay, sick pay, pensions or access to public service salary scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26480/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Declan Breathnach

209. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans drawn down in County Louth; if funding for Rebuilding Ireland home loans has been exhausted in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25897/19]

Personal Injury Claims

Declan Breathnach

264. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the committee he requested be established with representatives of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and his officials to review guidelines for minor personal injury claims including whiplash and soft tissue injuries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25328/19]

Proposed Legislation

Declan Breathnach

265. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to setting up a judicial council to review levels of awards for personal injuries; if his attention has been drawn to the urgency of bringing down the level of awards for soft tissue injuries in line with international norms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25359/19]

Insurance Fraud

Declan Breathnach

269. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to tackle insurance fraud; if he will consider setting up a dedicated central Garda resource tasked with investigating fraudulent cases for potential prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25429/19]

Disabilities Assessments

Declan Breathnach

468. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of need will be carried out on a child (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ongoing delays in the case are causing distress to the family involved; his views on the delays in assessment of need applications in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25459/19]

Social Welfare Offices

Declan Breathnach

911. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is considering amalgamating her Department’s services in Dundalk, County Louth, which would involve the closure of one or possibly two local welfare offices; if her attention has been drawn to the hardship that such a decision would cause to service users who are elderly or that have mobility issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23827/19]

National Broadband Plan

Declan Breathnach

172. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the equity being invested in the national broadband plan; the way in which the plan is being financed; the way in which the consortium awarded preferred bidder status is being financed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22220/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

173. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an agreement has been reached in relation to the provision of broadband to rural areas that are awaiting the service; the average cost per linear metre to each household in which the high-speed fibre is on a public road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22221/19]

National Broadband Plan

Declan Breathnach

174. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider the use of ESB poles in relation to the national broadband plan for those properties not within reach of a telecom pole; if he will consider involving the ESB in allowing its infrastructure to be used in connecting hard to reach households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22222/19]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Declan Breathnach

453. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to a mechanism to force a doctor already struck off the register for offences and misconduct to present themselves to answer new charges of misconduct leading to the death of a patient; his views on whether it is unfair that such charges be brought merely on the grounds that the doctor is already struck off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22021/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

150. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of houses and properties that do not have poles or infrastructure nearby to provide broadband connections to such properties from the roadway without major investment. [21255/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

151. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to take a company (details supplied) back into State control; if such an offer would be cost effective in the long run in view of the fact that it would then be a State-owned company with the task of the broadband roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21269/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Declan Breathnach

152. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use the ESB in the roll-out of broadband to properties that are waiting for connection under the State intervention scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ESB already has direct access to all properties and its infrastructure could be used in the provision of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/19]

Universal Social Charge Application

Declan Breathnach

90. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly causing discrimination to public service pensioners by which public service pensioners pay USC on their pension payments whereas social protection pension payments are not subject to USC; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those in receipt of social protection pensions are able to earn an additional €13,000 in occupational pension payments, bringing their total above many public service pensions and still not be liable to USC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20996/19]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Declan Breathnach

149. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health the obligations on the Medical Council of Ireland to report to An Garda Síochána a medical professional who has been struck off the register for offences that are deemed illegal; if there is no obligation on the Medical Council to report such incidents further, his plans to introduce measures to remedy this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20957/19]

General Practitioner Services

Declan Breathnach

151. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health his views on the process that is followed or guidelines that are given by the Medical Council of Ireland to general practices when vetting or hiring general practitioners who may have been struck off in another jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20962/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Funding

Declan Breathnach

168. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will make additional funding available to child mental health services in County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting lists for child mental health services causing severe distress to families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20993/19]

Addiction Treatment Services

Declan Breathnach

170. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by a private health provider (details supplied) for addiction services in receiving recognition for the services it provides and in receiving fair and reasonable payment for the services it provides; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these problems were highlighted by the Health Insurance Authority in a 2007 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21000/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Declan Breathnach

1543. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the 2018 review of income eligibility levels for social housing will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18913/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

531. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made with Transport Infrastructure Ireland in respect of timescales for the delivery of the bypass at Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16290/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

532. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to alleviate the concerns expressed by residents of the negative impact of creating a cul-de-sac at Mulleston and Townpark road once the N52 realignment is constructed in 2019, further to his meetings with local resident groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16291/19]

Road Network

Declan Breathnach

533. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if priority will be given to the necessary retrofit upon the completion of the realignment of the N52 in order to remedy the negative impact of creating a cul-de-sac at Mulleston and Town Park road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16292/19]

Energy Schemes

Declan Breathnach

408. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are long delays in applications for the SEAI home energy grants; his plans to make additional funding available to the scheme in order to increase the number of contractors involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14977/19]

Commemorative Events

Declan Breathnach

124. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Volunteer Reserve Force the precursor to the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12936/19]

Defence Forces Recruitment

Declan Breathnach

125. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the use of competitions will be broadened for direct entry officers to include those with specialist dental, legal and other professional qualifications in order to fill such specialist vacancies within the Defence Forces as they arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12938/19]

Respite Care Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

86. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if there will be an improvement in the provision of respite facilities in County Louth during 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12409/19]

Departmental Consultations

Declan Breathnach

211. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the result of the public consultation carried out by his Department on the impending decision regarding daylight saving time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12038/19]

Disability Support Services Provision

Declan Breathnach

353. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a new respite service recently opened in Dundalk, County Louth, is not fully wheelchair-accessible; if funding will be made available to make this facility fully wheelchair-accessible and suitably staffed to deal with the needs of those who seek the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/19]

Residential Tenancies Board

Declan Breathnach

702. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government where a complaint can be directed regarding poor customer service by a client that had a very negative experience in dealing with them in view of the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman will not hear complaints regarding the Residential Tenancies Board other than in connection with Part 7 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11763/19]

Property Registration

Declan Breathnach

713. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a backlog in registrations in the Land Registry; if such a delay is holding up the sale of a property; if there is a system of expediting a particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12072/19]

Coast Guard Services

Declan Breathnach

472. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are grave concerns among the 950 Irish Coast Guard volunteers resulting from a decision of management of the Irish Coast Guard to stop volunteers using blue lights and sirens while responding to rescue calls; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that such a measure could result in delays in responding to life and death situations; if he will intervene to examine if this decision can be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10523/19]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Declan Breathnach

578. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to problems being experienced with the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme in which, due to a lack of a national database of applicants, multiple applications have been made to different councils by the same persons; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this practice is delaying other applications by up to six months due to the fact those multiple applications stay on the system until they expire after six months, thus causing others to lose out; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to 50% of the loan offers are duplicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10397/19]

Departmental Funding

Declan Breathnach

309. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 29 January 2019, the funding for e-hubs provided for entrepreneurship and start-ups in each local authority and local enterprise office by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8360/19]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Declan Breathnach

630. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) based in her Department in County Louth will be replaced after the official retires in two weeks' time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8227/19]