Parliamentary questions

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Seán Kyne

1050. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to an application by a person (details supplied) under the single payment scheme 2014, if two parcels are within a site designated under European Union law as a special area of conservation or as a special protection area, and as such if cognisance was taken of European Union rules whereby if these lands were deemed eligible in 2008 they maintained their eligibility where the designation prohibited actions taking place on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10224/16]

Exploration Licences Data

Seán Kyne

1103. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of lands covered under an exploration licence granted to a company (details supplied) and when the licence expired. [10324/16]

Exploration Licences Data

Seán Kyne

1104. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of the area in counties Galway and Mayo for which an exploration company (details supplied) has received an exploration licence; when the licence was awarded; when it expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10378/16]

Exploration Licences Applications

Seán Kyne

1105. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the procedure for acquiring an exploration licence including the information, application process and fees required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10379/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Applications

Seán Kyne

50. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive a payment for 2015 under the areas of natural constraint scheme; the minimum livestock units required to qualify; the number of horse passports submitted as proof of stocking; the number of passports accepted and rejected; the reasons for the rejection of some; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8742/16]

Young Farmers Scheme Eligibility

Seán Kyne

182. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the young farmers' payment was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the income threshold that is used in such decisions; if pensions are reckonable in such calculations; if appeals are allowed; if issues surrounding pension income are detailed in the terms and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Seán Kyne

340. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if funding to organisations providing services to persons with a disability are subject to ongoing review so as to facilitate the provision of services across seven days, including weekends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7596/16]

GLAS Applications

Seán Kyne

196. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; why this application was not successful; if, in deciding on the application, he considered that the person was previously a participant under the agri-environment options scheme, does not have tier 1 lands and is a small farmer situated in a disadvantaged area; if he will consider another scheme for such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6552/16]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Seán Kyne

225. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the result of an appeal and review for a person (details supplied) following an application to the agriculture appeals office in respect of an overclaim; if he has considered, due to the circumstances of the case, the possibility that an underclaim exists by the person; and when he will issue a decision on this. [6827/16]

Defence Forces Reserve

Seán Kyne

243. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence the status of a request for a transfer by a member (details supplied) of the Reserve Defence Force; when he will make a decision on this; the reason for the delay; if he will take the personal circumstances of the person into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6535/16]

Pension Provisions

Seán Kyne

135. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if there is a mechanism to allow a person (details supplied) in County Galway who paid voluntary pension contributions in 2014 but failed to pay in 2015 to pay voluntary pension contributions for 2015; if there is an appeals mechanism in this regard; if he will consider an oversight of the payment deadline for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5467/16]

Insurance Costs

Seán Kyne

128. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the rising cost of insurance for nursing home providers, the severely limited number of companies providing such insurance and if this is a matter which the Competition and Consumer Protection Agency could examine, given the implications for consumers as well as service providers. [5164/16]

Industrial Development

Seán Kyne

129. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress his Department and related agencies under his Department's remit have made concerning the alleviation of transport and traffic challenges in Galway city which have been identified as impediments to businesses locating in the city or to new businesses being established there. [5165/16]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Kyne

154. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue the decision on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if and when a ground inspection has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4797/16]

Basic Payment Scheme

Seán Kyne

159. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway received a penalty under the agri-environment options scheme 2; if an appeal has been received; when he will issue a decision on any such appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4818/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Eligibility

Seán Kyne

161. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) under the areas of natural constraint scheme 2015; if a copy of the flock register has been sought to account for lambs born during the year; if stocking restrictions due to farm location within the Twelve Bens mountain range has been taken into account on judging eligibility for this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4838/16]

GLAS Applications

Seán Kyne

169. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the case of persons (details supplied) in County Galway on their application under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; the reason their application was not successful; if, in deciding on the application, consideration was given to the fact that they were previously participants under the rural environment protection scheme 4, are situated in a disadvantaged area and are young farmers; if another scheme will be considered for such farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4864/16]

Defence Forces Parades

Seán Kyne

216. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Defence why a member (details supplied), along with ten other members, of the Reserve Defence Forces was excluded from the remainder of training for the 1916 commemorative parade on O'Connell Street in Dublin 1 as part of the Easter Rising ceremonies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4773/16]

Long-Term Illness Scheme

Seán Kyne

301. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the reason a drug (details supplied) is not approved under the long-term illness scheme for multiple sclerosis sufferers; if the primary care reimbursement section of the Health Service Executive is examining this drug; if he accepts that this drug works very well for some multiple sclerosis sufferers with no resultant relapses for patients using it; and if he will seek a meeting with relevant persons within the Health Service Executive to discuss this drug. [4809/16]

Hospital Services

Seán Kyne

371. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if there is an operating positron emission tomography scan available in University Hospital Galway or if there are arrangements in place with other hospitals; if so, the details of those arrangements; and his plans to review the situation. [5124/16]

Ambulance Service

Seán Kyne

372. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the operating procedures for calls to the Health Service Executive ambulance service; if there is a national or regional call centre service; the locations where calls from Galway are directed to; and if patients from the north Connemara and Clifden area are being sent by ambulance to Castlebar rather than Galway University Hospital [5128/16]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Seán Kyne

376. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health when the practice of general practitioners routinely taking stool samples from patients to test for a wide range of diseases ceased; if this has had a negative impact on the diagnosis of bowel diseases in particular; if he has satisfied himself with the present protocol for preventing bowel cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5144/16]

Hospital Facilities

Seán Kyne

381. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health his plans for Clifden District Hospital in view of plans to provide new facilities at St. Anne's in Clifden, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5158/16]

Insurance Costs

Seán Kyne

383. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of concerns arising from the increased insurance costs faced by nursing home providers, some of which have experienced substantial increases in premiums over the past two years, which is undoubtedly impacted by the limited number of insurance providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5163/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Seán Kyne

452. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will sign a contract with the winning contractor for a new school building (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; when work will start; and the timescale for the development of the project. [4848/16]

Public Transport

Seán Kyne

585. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress he has made and the plans to be realised in making public transport, in particular outside urban areas, more accessible to persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5159/16]

Public Transport

Seán Kyne

586. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will extend improvements to public transport services such as on-board signs and announcements regarding routes and stops which are of considerable benefit to passengers with disabilities, including visual or hearing impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5162/16]

Planning Issues

Seán Kyne

39. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 11 November 2014, if the plans have been updated. [4517/16]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Seán Kyne

73. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress in improving emergency vehicle response times in rural areas and in Connemara, County Galway, in particular; if the stationing of ambulances at primary care centres or local hospital facilities and the introduction of advance emergency vehicles, with a paramedic, is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3887/16]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Seán Kyne

75. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the type of measures he is considering to help support the provision of general practitioner services in rural areas, given the global pressures on the recruitment and training of health care staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3888/16]

Lansdowne Road Agreement

Seán Kyne

118. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015, if a non-union public servant working in a sector, where the relevant union has voted against the Lansdowne Road agreement, will be negatively impacted and will not be awarded an increment, and that the operation of the pay scale that applies to such a non-union public servant shall stand suspended until 1 July 2018. [3605/16]

Lansdowne Road Agreement

Seán Kyne

119. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015, if a public servant working in a sector where the relevant trade union has voted against the Lansdowne Road agreement, and who is not a member of the trade union, or who resigns from the union, is outside the agreement. [3606/16]

Lansdowne Road Agreement

Seán Kyne

120. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015, if a public servant of pensionable age, working in a sector where the relevant union has voted against the Lansdowne Road agreement, who will reach the 25th point of the salary scale on 7 August 2016, and who will resign on 31 August 2016, will have their retirement lump sum and annual pension calculated as if their final salary was at the 25th point of the salary scale. [3607/16]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Seán Kyne

357. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the grave concerns about the possibility of Ireland missing the 2020 16% renewable energy targets by 4%, which would cost Ireland an estimated €600 million per year in fines; and the steps he is taking to meet these targets. [3608/16]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Seán Kyne

358. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of concerns that his Department requires additional resources, particularly human resources, to ensure the successful adoption of renewable energy into our economy, which is without doubt a substantial but necessary task for environmental reasons and for the avoidance of fines, the financial resources for which could be much better directed elsewhere. [3609/16]

Garda Operations

Seán Kyne

8. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of Operation Thor; if she has provided additional resources or sanction for the allocation of resources to facilitate it in fulfilling its objectives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3034/16]

Garda Deployment

Seán Kyne

14. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the assignment of new Garda Síochána recruits since the reopening of Templemore training college, by division; and if she will confirm the recruitment of suitable candidates for service in Gaeltacht communities. [3037/16]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Seán Kyne

200. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) under the young farmers payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2932/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Seán Kyne

441. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of an application for additional classroom, resource, learning support and special needs accommodation for a school (details supplied); when the application will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3052/16]

Septic Tank Grants

Seán Kyne

469. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a grant scheme for old septic tanks damaged by floods in the recent bad weather or if he will provide an additional scheme for those registered under the Water Services (Amendment) Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2934/16]

Food Safety Standards

Seán Kyne

11. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the high level of traceability on Irish farms, if beef factories have full traceability of beef; if 30-month old beef is not being sold as premium beef under 30 months old by beef plants; Bord Bia's role in investigating issues of traceability of Irish beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2299/16]

Competition Law

Seán Kyne

24. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recent sale of Slaney Meats to ABP Food Group will further reduce competition in the beef sector; if the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission should investigate the presence of monopoly situations in the beef sector and in the rendering sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2300/16]

IDA Portfolio

Seán Kyne

10. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he and State agencies within his Department's remit are taking to ensure a supply of office and manufacturing facilities generally but also in County Galway where a constraint on suitable accommodation has delayed the establishment of new companies or divisions of existing ones. [2073/16]

Business Parks

Seán Kyne

22. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his engagement with other State agencies, such as the Industrial Development Agency Ireland and the National Transport Authority, regarding access and mobility into and around the Parkmore Business Park in County Galway, which is the site of companies employing over 6,000 persons; and his short-term and long-term plans to remedy the problems. [2074/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Seán Kyne

65. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on introducing the €430 million fund for flood defence works, given the recent flooding and the damage to coastal communities and the higher frequency of more severe Atlantic storms over the past number of years. [1914/16]

State Bodies Data

Seán Kyne

68. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State agencies that have been rationalised, merged or abolished since 2011, the savings of public moneys achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1915/16]

Single Payment Scheme Administration

Seán Kyne

217. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why there is a delay in transferring entitlements to a person (details supplied); when the transfer will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1902/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Seán Kyne

405. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the event of a secondary school teacher resigning from a union, if the extension of the grace period under the Lansdowne Road agreement applies in terms of calculating retirement pension level; if the teacher would go up the incremental scale after the ending of the Haddington Road agreement in June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2340/16]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Seán Kyne

25. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce further agri-taxation measures on top of those introduced in the two most recent budgets with particular reference to enabling the succession of family farms and to attract more younger farmers into a sector which has played a central role in our economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1329/16]

Tax Reliefs Application

Seán Kyne

27. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce taxation measures to stimulate investment and development on a regional level in a manner which will promote balanced regional development such as, but not limited to, tax relief on construction, the development of start-ups and so forth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/16]