Parliamentary questions

Derelict Sites Data

John Deasy

128. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of vacant or derelict properties by county that are in the ownership of the State and under the management of the Office of Public Works. [52059/19]

Fisheries Protection

John Deasy

254. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the licensed depuration facilities available to aquaculture producers around the Irish coast; and if Bord Iascaigh Mhara is considering proposals or funding programmes to increase the number of such decontamination sites. [52060/19]

Central Statistics Office Data

John Deasy

236. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on recently published figures collated by the CSO for the 12 months up 30 June 2019 indicating crime rates have increased markedly since the economic recovery compared to the period immediately after the crash; and the steps being taken to address this trend. [42956/19]

Garda Retirements

John Deasy

237. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have retired in each of the past three years; and the number of these that were before the compulsory age of retirement from the force. [42957/19]

Crime Data

John Deasy

238. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a website (details supplied) ranks Ireland as high for persons using or dealing drugs in its index of international crime rates and also in terms of increasing crime over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42958/19]

Criminal Prosecutions Data

John Deasy

239. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons convicted of various categories of knife crime in each of the years 2016 to 2018. [42959/19]

Illegal Dumping

John Deasy

486. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has discussed the utilisation of drones or similar technologies by local authorities to counteract illegal dumping; and if funding has been or will be provided to councils for this purpose. [42960/19]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration

John Deasy

253. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to ensure that applicants seeking to renew their visas through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service are not exploited by having to pay fees to Internet sites to secure appointments; if his attention has been drawn to the problems with the INIS online system caused by the block booking of slots by hackers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41736/19]

Garda Data

John Deasy

268. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of injuries to members of An Garda Síochána that were recorded in the Waterford division in 2016 to 2018 by assault, needle stick injury and psychological shock or trauma. [41919/19]

Wind Energy Guidelines

John Deasy

523. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the regulations governing the planning and construction of offshore wind farms and site testing within Irish waters. [41733/19]

Legislative Programme

John Deasy

622. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill; and the way in which this legislation will apply to offshore renewable energy projects. [41734/19]

Foreshore Licence Applications

John Deasy

623. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of foreshore licences related to offshore renewable energy projects that have been approved by his Department in the past three years; and the number of applications awaiting a decision. [41735/19]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Capital

John Deasy

108. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the status of the operation of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund; the way in which refocus of same in February 2019 on regional development has worked to date in terms of geographical spread; the amount left in the fund; and the length of time it will remain open to applications. [41489/19]

Office of Public Works Properties

John Deasy

112. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position with regard to the Office of Public Works ownership and plans for a site at Shandon, Dungarvan, County Waterford, which had been earmarked for decentralisation a decade ago. [41488/19]

Technological Universities

John Deasy

129. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has advised Waterford and Carlow Institutes of Technology of the way in which the projected combined deficit, debt and payroll costs of the planned technological university of the south east, reportedly estimated at €26 million by 2024-2025, will be addressed. [41490/19]

Drugs Seizures

John Deasy

144. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated extent of inbound illegal drug trafficking which has been intercepted by the authorities off the Irish coast over the past five years; and the estimated value of the seizures made as a result of these operations. [41495/19]

IDA Ireland Staff

John Deasy

160. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the deployment of IDA Ireland staff within County Waterford and the south east region; and the way in which this compares to its staffing complement in 2014. [41491/19]

Ports Development

John Deasy

241. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with or the submissions received from the Port of Waterford Company over the past 12 to 18 months with a view to accessing funding to advance future development plans at Belview. [41492/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

242. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to proposals received from a club (details supplied) for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to redevelop facilities at a location; the engagement his Department has had with officials in his Department heading up the ERDF in this regard; and when a decision is expected. [41493/19]

Irish Coast Guard Issues

John Deasy

243. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of emergency medical missions not related to incidents at sea that have been carried out by each Irish Coast Guard helicopter unit in the past three years. [41494/19]

Legislative Programme

John Deasy

43. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the key aspects of the central bank (amendment) Bill referenced in the legislative programme; if the Bill will be published in draft form; the likely timing of the publication of the draft; the likely timing of the initiation of the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40854/19]

Palliative Care Services

John Deasy

215. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health when the new 20-bed south east palliative care unit at University Hospital Waterford will be fully commissioned and operational; the reason for the delay in opening the facility to patients in view of the fact that it was officially handed over to the HSE almost six months ago; and if the delay in opening the unit has been caused by cost overruns associated with the national children’s hospital project. [40633/19]

Palliative Care Services

John Deasy

216. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the considerable financial contribution made towards the new south east palliative care unit at University Hospital Waterford by a company (details supplied) through public fundraising over the past three decades; and if his attention has been further drawn to the disappointment expressed by its directors at the failure to open this facility to date and their expectation that it may not be operational until mid-2020. [40634/19]

Palliative Care Services

John Deasy

217. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has received an indicative budget for the specific staffing and operational costs associated with the full-time utilisation of the new south east palliative care unit at University Hospital Waterford; the provision that has been or will be made to meet the funding requirement by the HSE; and when the necessary allocation will be forthcoming to allow recruitment of staff to take place. [40635/19]

Palliative Care Services

John Deasy

218. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the reason the recruitment requirement for the new south east palliative care unit was not advertised in parallel with the Dunmore wing construction project at University Hospital Waterford in view of the complexities involved in securing appropriately qualified staff. [40636/19]

Passport Data

John Deasy

143. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of UK citizens currently resident here that hold and do not hold an Irish passport. [40088/19]

Courts Service Data

John Deasy

144. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of convictions for possession and-or supply of a controlled substance that were recorded in each court district in each of the years 2016 to 2018. [40089/19]

Garda Data

John Deasy

145. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda members allocated to the Waterford divisional drugs unit in each of the years 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019. [40090/19]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

John Deasy

200. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) under the disadvantaged areas scheme. [40083/19]

Firearms Licences

John Deasy

256. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of handguns licensed in the State; and the number of handgun licences issued by Garda district and Garda division in each of the past three years. [39394/19]

Live Exports

John Deasy

432. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of live cattle export volumes by destination, both EU and third countries, respectively, over the past five years. [39302/19]

Live Exports

John Deasy

433. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of live cattle export shipments by port of origin over the past five years. [39303/19]

Live Exports

John Deasy

434. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to secure and source existing and new markets for live cattle exports, including discussions with port authorities and exporters. [39304/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

73. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the overall allocation of €550 million to the urban regeneration and development fund up to the end of 2022 is ring-fenced regardless of potential economic circumstances; and if the €2 billion allocated to the fund up to 2027 under the National Planning Framework is guaranteed. [38945/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

148. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, CIÉ, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann regarding the new transport hub proposed by Waterford City and County Council under the urban regeneration and development fund. [38964/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

149. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department or Iarnród Éireann has previously contributed to the cost of relocating a rail terminus or line specifically to facilitate a public-private investment, such as that proposed for Plunkett Station, Waterford; and if his attention has been drawn to particular concerns Iarnród Eireann has regarding the North Quays application under the urban regeneration and development fund. [38965/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

168. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether it is a realistic expectation that the bid by Waterford City and County Council via the urban regeneration and development fund for €104.5 million towards works around the proposed North Quays scheme, notwithstanding a matching commitment of €35 million, is likely to be phased beyond the €550 million funding round announced up to the end of 2022 in view of the fact that a planning application has still to be submitted for the overall project. [38946/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

170. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the sustainable transport bridge element of the application by Waterford City and County Council under the urban regeneration and development fund costed at approximately €13 million can be approved in isolation from other aspects of the proposed North Quays scheme in view of the fact that the crossing has received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála; and if so, when a funding decision might be expected. [38954/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

171. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the projects applied for under the urban regeneration and development fund by the 28 September 2018 deadline; and the bids which were categorised as either ready-to-go or category A or B, as per the submission criteria. [38955/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

172. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the works or costs specified in the initial €6 million allocated to Waterford City and County Council in November 2018 as part of its application under the urban regeneration and development fund. [38956/19]

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

John Deasy

173. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if public and private consortia applying under the urban regeneration and development fund are expected to progress a certain proportion of capital expenditure from their own resources before further phases of funding are sanctioned. [38957/19]

Work Permits Data

John Deasy

148. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employment permits taken up by horticultural workers, meat processing operatives and dairy farm assistants; if the quota of work permits provided for each has been taken up; if not, her plans to allocate the unused permits to pig farm production units that are finding it increasingly difficult to fill vacant positions with persons from the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18102/19]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

John Deasy

136. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reopen the Residential Institutions Redress Board to individual survivors who, due to personal circumstances, were not in a position to pursue a claim at that time. [14436/19]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

John Deasy

137. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to accommodate bona fide survivors who were deemed ineligible for Caranua support services on the basis that they did not receive redress board or court awards or settlements with religious orders in the first instance. [14437/19]

An Bord Pleanála

John Deasy

730. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced in respect of decisions by An Bord Pleanála by which decisions are being deferred on a number of occasions without a final date; the number of appeals that have been submitted in July and August 2018 on which no decision has been made to date; the reason for continuous deferrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12352/19]

Schools Building Projects Data

John Deasy

242. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the approved primary and post-primary school capital projects at various stages of construction and planning and design in Waterford city and county; the estimated combined cost of these projects; and the number of other applications received by the planning and building unit from County Waterford at pre-approval stage. [8192/19]

School Accommodation

John Deasy

243. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of prefab units in situ at primary and secondary schools in County Waterford as of 31 December 2018; the number of prefabs in place across schools in County Waterford in 2008 and 2013; and the average rental cost per prefab unit. [8193/19]

Brexit Supports

John Deasy

540. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the targeted financial aid or compensation measures considered at national and EU level to support Irish beef farmers in view of the effects of perceived already uneconomical prices at market from calves to weanlings to finished cattle in the context of a deal or no-deal Brexit. [6750/19]

Beef Exports

John Deasy

541. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific market-oriented engagement that has taken place between his Department and the agencies under his remit since the Brexit referendum with a view to opening new lines of export for the beef sector; the successes achieved to date; the options to be prioritised or explored next; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6751/19]

Brexit Preparations

John Deasy

542. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest assessments made by his Department of the potential impact of a hard or soft Brexit on the beef sector here at primary producer level; and if average farm income reduction calculations have been made based on both best case and worst case scenarios. [6752/19]