Parliamentary questions

Air Quality

Pat Deering

305. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he has commissioned a study or research into the number of persons negatively impacted by NOx emissions from diesel vehicles since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53614/19]

Air Quality

Pat Deering

306. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the cost to the public health system as a result of health-related cases linked to NOx emissions from diesel vehicles since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53615/19]

Air Quality

Pat Deering

307. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the impact of diesel NOx emissions on the public health system in terms of chronic breathing problems and related illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53616/19]

VAT Rebates

Pat Deering

116. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the rate of VAT rebate at the point of sale paid to regular farmers, feedlot farmers and factory owned feedlots; his views on whether there is an imbalance in the rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52697/19]

Beef Industry

Pat Deering

497. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications submitted to the BEAM scheme; the breakdown between suckler and beef finishers; the amount required to meet the demand; the amount unspent; and if he will consider reopening the scheme. [52692/19]

Beef Industry

Pat Deering

498. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the criteria for the BEAM scheme was devised; and his views on whether the criteria were too stringent in view of the fact some funds remain unspent. [52693/19]

Data Protection

Pat Deering

499. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data protection measures in place to ensure information stored in animal identification and movement systems cannot be accessed by persons or systems other than relevant Departmental officials. [52694/19]

TB Eradication Scheme

Pat Deering

500. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of registered feedlots nationwide; the breakdown between farmer owned and factory owned feedlots; the number of livestock registered to feedlots; and the breakdown of the figure between farmer and factory owned. [52695/19]

Beef Industry

Pat Deering

537. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his view on whether there is an unfairness in the flat rate of VAT refund (details supplied) between feedlot beef producers and small and medium-sized beef producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53185/19]

Local Authority Housing Data

Pat Deering

766. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Part 8 schemes commenced in each local authority area by county in each year since 2016, in tabular form; the number of housing units on each site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53176/19]

Local Authority Housing Data

Pat Deering

767. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of hectares each local authority owns that is zoned for housing, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53177/19]

Local Authority Housing Data

Pat Deering

768. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of sites each local authority has available to it for housing; the number of sites that have Part 8 planning processes proceeding; the number of units each site represents, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53178/19]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Expenditure

Pat Deering

61. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost in 2019, 2020 and 2021 of the help-to-buy scheme. [52493/19]

Living City Initiative

Pat Deering

62. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the cost in tax forgone of the living cities initiative. [52494/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Pat Deering

107. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost in each of the years 2021 to 2025 of maintaining the existing ratios of teachers to students at post-primary level; if this is provided for in the figures set out within the summer economic statement and budget 2020 financial projections; the number of new teachers that would need to be hired to maintain the ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52491/19]

Housing Finance Agency Funding

Pat Deering

366. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the cost in 2018 and to date in 2019 as a result of the Housing Finance Agency drawdown of long-term debt to fund the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and the expected future cost. [52490/19]

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Pat Deering

367. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost to a local authority of hiring a grade seven member of staff in year one and then for four subsequent years. [52492/19]

Repair and Leasing Scheme

Pat Deering

368. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the cost of the repair and leasing scheme in 2018; and the expected cost in 2019 and 2020. [52495/19]

Repair and Leasing Scheme

Pat Deering

369. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost of extending the repair and leasing scheme to properties for long-term private rent. [52496/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Pat Deering

233. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive speech and language therapy. [52023/19]

Local Authority Housing Data

Pat Deering

312. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes allocated by each local authority in the past 12 months, in tabular form; the number of refusals of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52091/19]

Film Industry Development

Pat Deering

695. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress made on making Ireland a global hub for film, television drama and animation since the launch of the audiovisual action plan in 2018 with a particular reference to the growing animation sector in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51769/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Pat Deering

124. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing each SUSI grant by 1%, 5% and 10%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51055/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Pat Deering

125. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the non-adjacent SUSI grant distance from college by 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 kilometres, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51056/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Pat Deering

126. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the thresholds for the SUSI grant for PLC students by €1,000, €2,000, €3,000, €4,000, €5,000, €6,000 and €7,000, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51057/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Pat Deering

127. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the thresholds for the SUSI grant for undergraduate students by €1,000, €2,000, €3,000, €4,000, €5,000, €6,000 and €7,000, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51058/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Pat Deering

128. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the thresholds for the SUSI grant for postgraduate students by €1,000, €2,000, €3,000, €4,000, €5,000, €6,000 and €7,000, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51059/19]

Student Universal Support Ireland Data

Pat Deering

129. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the thresholds for the SUSI grant for students outside the State by €1,000, €2,000, €3,000, €4,000, €5,000, €6,000 and €7,000, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51060/19]

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Pat Deering

358. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of future allocations under the local improvement scheme; the impact which the scheme has in counties such as County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50691/19]

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Pat Deering

359. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he plans to make a further call for applications for funding under the town and village renewal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50692/19]

Employment Rights

Pat Deering

44. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the work she is carrying out in respect of the right to disconnect; if she will consider the development of guidelines for employers and employees in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50130/19]

Flexible Work Practices

Pat Deering

65. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if proposals will be brought forward to encourage remote working among businesses; her views on the way in which remote working can support regional development in counties such as County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50129/19]

Tobacco Control Measures

Pat Deering

347. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he has examined the experience of certain US states in which they have increased the age that a person can buy tobacco from 18 to 21 years of age; and if such a move is permissible here. [49826/19]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Pat Deering

15. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the impact the provision of high-speed broadband in rural areas will have on remote working and flexible working arrangements; the impact this may have in tackling climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49341/19]

Broadband Service Provision

Pat Deering

33. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the anticipated expansion of the digital economy; the role broadband will play in allowing Ireland, particularly in rural areas, to take full advantage of the opportunities of the digital economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49342/19]

Legislative Programme

Pat Deering

132. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the companies (corporate enforcement authority) Bill; if the Bill is ready for publication; if so, when it will be published; and if she will consider publishing it in draft form. [49472/19]

Work Permits Data

Pat Deering

254. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of work permits for a company (details supplied); if the quotas for general employment permits for meat processing operatives will be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48749/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pat Deering

336. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 23 October 2019, if it is standard practice that a person (details supplied) would be waiting in excess of three and a half years to have a MRI; and if so, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49021/19]

Farm Enterprises

Pat Deering

182. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding beef farm enterprises will exclusively receive in each scheme in 2019 both pillar one and two and schemes outside the RDP; the amount this funding equates to per animal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48399/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Pat Deering

178. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when funding will become available to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47886/19]

Home Care Packages Administration

Pat Deering

187. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be assessed by the HSE for further homecare hours. [47981/19]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Appeals

Pat Deering

232. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the appeals process for the ANC scheme; when those in the appeals process will receive a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48024/19]

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Pat Deering

254. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the grants and supports available to homeowners that need to carry out deep retrofit work on their homes to complete multiple energy upgrades to achieve a BER A rating on the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48052/19]

HSE Reports

Pat Deering

410. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the status of the sodium valproate rapid assessment report (details supplied) completed by the HSE; when it will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47545/19]

Audiology Services Provision

Pat Deering

429. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an audiology appointment in a local clinic. [47625/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pat Deering

317. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be seen in the gastroenterology clinic of St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. [46117/19]

Beef Industry

Pat Deering

166. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the provision of an independent sectoral regulator in the beef and retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45798/19]

Departmental Schemes

Pat Deering

46. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the built heritage investment scheme and historic structures fund for 2019 and 2020; the level of interest in both schemes in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45364/19]

Departmental Funding

Pat Deering

57. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that has been provided to arts and culture centres in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the capital investment that will be available in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45365/19]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pat Deering

524. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an MRI scan at Waterford University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44573/19]