Parliamentary questions

Road Projects

Tom Barry

575. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland to progress work on the Mallow northern relief road. [41297/15]

School Patronage

Tom Barry

1318. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when the necessary steps will be taken to enable the education and training boards to become patrons for community national schools. [31874/15]

Special Protection Areas Designation

Tom Barry

20. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason locations (details supplied) in County Cork have been classified as hen harrier areas, given that such designation effectively excludes commercial tillage farmers from entering the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25847/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Tom Barry

61. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when rent supplement is granted, if the given property is properly inspected in terms of health and safety requirements; and if proof of registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board is required. [21074/15]

Child Care Costs

Tom Barry

557. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding the seven departmental committees established to examine how best to facilitate parents of young children in returning to the workplace, if consideration of the provision of tax breaks towards the cost of child care will be included in these committees' remit. [19848/15]

Homelessness Strategy

Tom Barry

475. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a progress report on the implementation of the housing first programme; and if he will provide details of the funding set aside for same. [19392/15]

Homelessness Strategy

Tom Barry

476. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he and the Minister of State have been working together on the national implementation of the housing first programme. [19393/15]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Eligibility

Tom Barry

158. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Health to outline the stage the review of the fair deal scheme is at; and if consideration is being given to a cap on the charge for nursing home care against non-residential productive assets, which is impacting negatively on farm families and small business owners. [18992/15]

VAT Payments

Tom Barry

136. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the value in monetary terms of value added tax being paid back to the United Kingdom because companies have succeeded in tendering for public procurement, in cases under the €41,000 threshold. [13971/15]

VAT Payments

Tom Barry

137. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the value in monetary terms of value added tax being paid to European Union countries other than the United Kingdom because companies have succeeded in tendering for public procurement, in cases under the €41,000 threshold. [13972/15]

VAT Payments

Tom Barry

138. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the value in monetary terms of value added tax being paid to non-European Union countries because companies have succeeded in tendering for public procurement, in cases under the €41,000 threshold. [13973/15]

Tax Collection

Tom Barry

275. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the number of cases that are currently under appeal with the Revenue Commissioners; and the numbers annually under appeal since 1995. [13228/15]

Tax Collection

Tom Barry

276. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the average time it takes to process an appeal with the Revenue Commissioners. [13229/15]

Tax Collection

Tom Barry

277. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the number of cases currently under appeal with the Office of the Appeals Commissioner. [13230/15]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility

Tom Barry

266. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who is currently subject to a contract under the rural environment protection scheme transfers ownership of land to a son, whether that person will be deemed to have broken the contract, or whether the contract will continue in place with the new farmer. [8803/15]

Garda Recruitment

Tom Barry

321. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the protocol to be followed by persons who wish to join An Garda Síochána; and the protocol and procedures they must follow to meet a full application. [8964/15]

Early Childhood Care and Education Standards

Tom Barry

331. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on introducing a grandfather clause for existing Montessori-preschool providers who have considerable qualifications and years of experience so that they may qualify for the higher capitation grant under the early childhood care and education scheme. [6810/15]

Tax Rebates

Tom Barry

71. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance if legislation will allow a person to successfully claim a tax repayment when a return is made outside of the four-year limitation (details supplied). [6466/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Tom Barry

506. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full cost of the archaeological dig in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [5654/15]

GLAS Establishment

Tom Barry

331. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the GLAS scheme will be fully operational. [4579/15]

GLAS Establishment

Tom Barry

332. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a one-year derogation on entry to GLAS will be applied in view of the spring barley growing tillage farmers who have a derogation of the three-crop rule provided that they are in the new GLAS and in view of the fact that the application date for the single farm payment may come before GLAS acceptance. [4581/15]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Tom Barry

333. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the funding of tillage groups will become operational. [4582/15]

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Tom Barry

334. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that adequate compensation will be paid for farmers who have had their land designed special areas of conservation with regards to the hen harrier, and in view of the severe restrictions on available farming options that this brings about; and if the designation will be removed. [4583/15]

Leader Programmes Administration

Tom Barry

554. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when rural development plan funding will be open for applications, following the reconfiguration of Leader groups. [4580/15]

Road Projects

Tom Barry

633. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reactivate the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway project; and if there is work being done on this project at present. [4767/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Tom Barry

567. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when broadband services in the Rathcormac area (details supplied) in County Cork will be improved as it is affecting rural businesses. [3709/15]

Economic Growth Rate

Tom Barry

150. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the worth in monetary terms to the Irish economy of each percentage point in growth in terms of GDP. [1086/15]

Universal Social Charge Application

Tom Barry

151. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the worth to the economy of a 1.5% rate of universal social charge to higher earners, that is over €100,000. [1087/15]

Defence Forces Personnel

Tom Barry

254. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Defence if he will acknowledge that a person (details supplied) was not medically assessed by an Army medical doctor and therefore their discharge is invalid; if this matter will be investigated; if the person's medical discharge papers will be located and forwarded to this Deputy. [44930/14]

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme

Tom Barry

282. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Defence if a pension will be put in place in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Cork; and the reason they have not been medically discharged. [42935/14]

Irish Water Staff

Tom Barry

513. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the starting rates of pay at Irish Water; and the rates of pay for the various grades. [43131/14]

Irish Water Staff

Tom Barry

514. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons, other than those recruited from local authorities, employed by Irish Water. [43132/14]

Tax Data

Tom Barry

318. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Finance the changes in budget 2015 to the rate of stamp duty; the criteria for exemption from stamp duty; and the rates that apply if the consanguinity relief, which halves the stamp duty on sales of non-residential property to family members, has been extended in budget 2015. [41602/14]

Valuation Office

Tom Barry

352. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's policy regarding rates on properties utilised by charities (details supplied) which are registered charities; and if it is Government policy that these charities can avail of rate exemptions in view of the fact that they are voluntary, community organisations and their whole ethos is to provide support and benefits to the community. [41017/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Tom Barry

498. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost per year, over the past ten years, of archaeological investigations on school building sites; and the way this measures as a percentage of overall spend. [39773/14]

Archaeological Sites

Tom Barry

499. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the regulatory body that is charged with overseeing archaeological investigations to ensure that they are bona fide and are of genuine archaeological and heritage significance; if there has been an official investigation to verify the authenticity of a dig to verify that taxpayers' money has not been wasted. [39774/14]

Education and Training Boards Funding

Tom Barry

515. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes in funding allocations to the Cork Education and Training Board in recent months, in terms of both current expenditure and capital expenditure. [40003/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Tom Barry

36. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the cost of the archaeological dig at the site of Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant, County Cork. [37874/14]

Water Charges Administration

Tom Barry

544. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to landlords who wish their tenants to register with Irish Water, the procedure which needs to be followed further to notification from the landlord to the tenant; if the tenant refuses to register, if the landlord may inform Irish Water directly; and if landlords will be exempt from charges or fines if a tenant refuses to register for water payment. [37968/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Tom Barry

226. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been findings of any significance from the archaeological dig taking place at the site of Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant, County Cork; when the dig will be completed in order that construction may recommence. [36226/14]

Defence Forces Personnel

Tom Barry

526. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Defence the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork, formerly of the Defence Forces, does not have discharge papers. [32985/14]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Tom Barry

272. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills following recent announcements in local media, if a new site has been selected for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will confirm that the school board has been consulted in relation to the selection process regarding a new site for their school. [29723/14]

Animal Identification Schemes

Tom Barry

408. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) who had issues with animal identification on their holding where some animals were tagged incorrectly inadvertently. [26621/14]

Education Policy

Tom Barry

44. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, under the upcoming European cohesion policy headline target for education, development and strategy to promote the EU flagship initiative, Youth on the Move, he has carried out actions to enhance the performance of our education system. [23283/14]

Irish Water Appointments

Tom Barry

446. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of appointments apart from Bord Gáis Éireann and local authority employees that were made to Irish Water. [2615/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Tom Barry

243. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a revision of the school book rental scheme; and if those schools which have established schemes voluntarily will lose out in funding streams. [1426/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

Tom Barry

442. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will encourage EirGrid to constructively engage with local communities regarding the pylon issue; the person who sets the projected requirements for electricity based upon which EirGrid plans its infrastructure, the energy requirements, sector by sector, for the Irish economy up to 2020; and if he will introduce a renewable heat incentive scheme, similar to the UK, where incentives are given to commercial users who substitute biomass for fossil fuels. [55354/13]

Child Care Services Inspections

Tom Barry

573. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if child care inspectorates are fully staffed; and the way recruitment operates. [50851/13]

Household Benefits Scheme

Tom Barry

330. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider an amendment to the decision regarding the removal of the telephone allowance to allow persons on the senior alert scheme to retain this allowance. [49124/13]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Tom Barry

416. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the latest figures on the cost per county of repairing vacated social housing. [48818/13]