Parliamentary questions

Schools Building Projects Status

Terence Flanagan

974. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 to undertake extension and upgrading works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37954/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Terence Flanagan

975. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of a permanent school (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37955/15]

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Pearse Doherty

976. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal​ will receive a student grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37960/15]

Minor Works Scheme Applications

Tom Fleming

977. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve funding under the minor works grants scheme for the necessary structural improvements to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry, as the current condition of the roof and slates is highly hazardous for pupils and staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37990/15]

Minor Works Scheme Applications

Bernard Durkan

978. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if financial assistance will be provided towards the resurfacing of a playground in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, the surface of which has been steadily deteriorating and is progressively becoming a health and safety issue for the pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37992/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas P. Broughan

979. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 in her Department's projects in architectural planning; if its status as number three will be reached in 2016; its prospects for funding in the 2016 capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38008/15]

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Eligibility

Paul Connaughton

980. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the requirement for participants in vocational training opportunities scheme to be in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection for six months before taking up a course; her views that this effectively incentivises persons staying on social welfare for some months after they would otherwise have done so to access the course; that persons who require re-skilling after becoming unemployed benefit from starting retraining as soon as possible, in order that they can re-enter the workforce; her plans to remove the requirement that participants be on social welfare for six months or more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38014/15]

School Enrolments Data

John McGuinness

981. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will analyse the numbers attending primary and secondary schools in Kilkenny city; the projections for each school over the next five to ten years; if she will consider the purchase by her Department of a site at Newpark adjacent to St. John's junior school, or at the old mart site on the Castlecomer Road in Kilkenny, for the development of a second level facility; if her Department has had any discussions with interested parties regarding such a proposal; and if her Department will now take the initiative and open such discussions. [38067/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Ciaran Lynch

982. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is in receipt of an invalidity pension and who wishes to pursue a third level education course in a private college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38069/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Finian McGrath

983. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support Howth Road mixed national school in Dublin 3 on an urgent matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38071/15]

Schools Extra Curricular Activities

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

984. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are guidelines regarding whether schools should stream school sports groups based on ability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38080/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gerry Adams

985. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current number of pupil places at a school (details supplied) in County Louth; the number of available places for this school for the 2016-17 academic year; if there are any issues with the timeframe for completion of the school's new build areas, if parents of current pupils have been advised to enrol their children in alternative schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38082/15]

State Examinations

Anthony Lawlor

986. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm if there is a policy in place whereby a definite percentage of students sitting each leaving certificate subject will fail every year; if so, if this is a set figure, or does it change according to the year in question; if this decision is made before the paper is given to the students; her views that this policy discourages students from taking particular subjects, such as honours mathematics, which will have a negative impact on project mathematics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38083/15]

Psychological Assessments

Charlie McConalogue

987. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the need for a behaviour assessment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38107/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Gabrielle McFadden

988. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of an application for capital funding (details supplied) for additional and improved accommodation by a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38112/15]

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Eligibility

John Lyons

989. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Number 629 of 20 October 2015, the reason her Department's website does not make reference to the cumulative number of days required for a course under the vocational training opportunities scheme, contrary to the answer received in the previous parliamentary question; and since there are a number of education and training boards who also make reference to six months unemployment as eligibility criteria, and not the accurate information of 156 days, her plans to ensure that all such boards provide the number of cumulative days needed, as the current situation is causing a lot of distress to vulnerable people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38124/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Micheál Martin

990. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will advise on the status of an application for a grant from Student Universal Support Ireland by a person in County Meath (details supplied); the timeframe for a decision; if she appreciates the financial difficulties that this family is facing due to the delay in processing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38142/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Bernard Durkan

991. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills notwithstanding a reply to a previous parliamentary question, the second level school placement options currently available to the child of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is diagnosed with autism, is aged 13, and has been unsuccessful to date in obtaining a place in a second level school with provision for autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38153/15]

School Funding

Jerry Buttimer

992. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of funding provided to schools in County Cork for capital works since March 2011; including the purpose of the funding; when construction was completed, or when it is forecast to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38160/15]

School Enrolments Data

Jerry Buttimer

993. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills given the increasing enrolment in primary schools annually, if she will provide an update on the projections, in terms of attendance and school buildings, her Department has made for each of the next five years; the costings that are attached to these projections in terms of buildings; teachers; and resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38163/15]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

994. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided to Firmount national school in County Cork for the provision of essential upgrading of its sewerage and treatment system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38210/15]

Higher Education Institutions Staff

Finian McGrath

995. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the embargo on third level teachers returning to teach part-time still exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38238/15]

Residential Institutions

Clare Daly

996. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills what options are open to people who are not happy with the decisions that Caranua make; if she is satisfied with this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38241/15]

School Enrolments

Michael McGrath

997. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes she is planning to introduce regarding the school admissions policy; when she expects these changes to be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38242/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

John McGuinness

998. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding for an extra classroom and hall at a school (details supplied) in County Carlow; if approval and funding will be provided in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38243/15]

School Transport Tendering

Michael McGrath

999. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will arrange for a substantive reply to correspondence issued to her Department on 23 September 2015 regarding school transport, which was acknowledged by her Department - Ref: 1504723 AK - on 25 September 2015, and further acknowledged by the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English - Ref: MS 724/15 - on 28 September 2015. [38247/15]

Site Acquisitions

Michael McGrath

1000. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in identifying and securing a permanent site for a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork; when construction of the new school will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38251/15]

School Accommodation

Michael McGrath

1001. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the substandard accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if her Department intends to consolidate the infant school on the same site as the remainder of the school; the progress being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38252/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Fergus O'Dowd

1002. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Louth; when works are expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38265/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Michael McGrath

1003. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the working week hours for a special needs assistant (details supplied) in County Cork will be reinstated. [38307/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Noel Coonan

1004. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if resource hours or additional special needs assistant hours will be allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38349/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

John McGuinness

1005. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding by a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for the purpose of a school building project; and if the application will be expedited. [38357/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Moynihan

1006. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the grant aid for major capital works for Ballinspittle national school in Kinsale in County Cork; the developments, if any, from the schools appraisal unit; when will a decision be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38365/15]

Education and Training Provision

Colm Keaveney

1007. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the Exchequer in 2016 of extending the MOMENTUM programme to persons in receipt of disability payments and illness payments, who are currently excluded from participating in this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38366/15]

Minor Works Scheme Eligibility

Seán Kyne

1008. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a minor works scheme will be introduced to enable schools to undertake improvement works. [38384/15]

Schools Refurbishment

Seán Kyne

1009. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision by her Department concerning works to prefabricated facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Galway can be reviewed, due to the larger problems than first anticipated with the facilities, which pose significant health and safety concerns, and are impacting on the school's work. [38386/15]

School Transport Eligibility

Willie Penrose

1010. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will investigate a shortfall in the payment of the remote area grant for the years 2001 to 2011 to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, who was paid the rate of €3.20 rather than the normal rate of €5.10 which applied to similar situations, and who resided a particular distance from the school where a public scheduled service was not suitable; if, in this context, same will now be reviewed; and appropriate arrears paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38414/15]

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Finian McGrath

1011. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of civil servants under her remit who have been reinstated in recent years after taking a career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38724/15]

Water Conservation Grant Eligibility

Pat Breen

1012. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not being facilitated with a water conservation grant; if this decision will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37387/15]

Water Conservation Grant Eligibility

Seán Kyne

1013. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an application by a person (details supplied) for the water conservation grant is deemed to be ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37471/15]

Water Conservation Grant

Joe Carey

1014. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department interprets the words "on that date" as in section 5(1) of the eligibility criteria of SI No. 275 of 2015 under the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015, as 30 June 2015, when it can dually be read as appropriate to the actual date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37441/15]

Private Residential Tenancies Board

Finian McGrath

1015. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a Private Residential Tenancies Board dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37511/15]

Water Conservation Grant Eligibility

Jack Wall

1016. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter regarding the water conservation grant in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37579/15]

Local Authority Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

1017. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding that has been allocated to the west Wicklow region in the past three years to deal with structural inequalities and spatial disadvantage. [37766/15]

Schools Health and Safety

Charlie McConalogue

1018. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process a school needs to undertake to appoint a lollipop person to ensure the safety of the children crossing the road at a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37826/15]

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Éamon Ó Cuív

1019. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding persons who have an acute sensitivity to mobile phone radiation; if he is aware of this condition; if there are many sufferers of same; the solutions to this problem; and his views on the negative health effects this condition causes to sufferers. [37861/15]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Michael McCarthy

1020. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the new planning guidelines for wind turbines; the set-back distances between wind turbines and residential homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37988/15]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Tom Fleming

1021. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of dormant account moneys made available to the State since the inception of this fund; the breakdown of amounts disbursed to each Department; the names of each recipient organisation; the year of allocation; the amount of allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38169/15]

Waste Management Regulations

Michael Creed

1022. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given the current state of negotiations with the tyre industry where two representative bodies have now walked away from consultations regarding the introduction of a tyre recovery scheme and where there is widespread dispute of data presented by his Department on this matter, if he will seek the appointment of an independent facilitator to get these negotiations back on track; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38440/15]

Regeneration Projects Status

Patrick O'Donovan

1023. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to broaden the remit of the regeneration programme in County Limerick to take those towns on the perimeter of Limerick into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37160/15]

Local Authority Funding

Stephen Donnelly

1024. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the central funding released to each local authority, by total released; by category; by total spend, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37163/15]

Community Development Projects

Noel Coonan

1025. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application submitted to his Department by a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the expressions of interest for recreation projects 2015 will be finalised; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37190/15]

Community Development Projects

Noel Coonan

1026. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application submitted to his Department by a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the expressions of interest for recreation projects 2015 will be finalised; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37191/15]

Housing Assistance Payments

David Stanton

1027. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware the waiting time for assessments under the housing assistance payment scheme or social housing may be three or more months in some areas, which is resulting in the risk of homelessness for persons who are awaiting acceptance under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37193/15]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Clare Daly

1028. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that owners of units under the affordable home scheme are compelled to pay €60 per month for mortgage protection insurance as part of the scheme, a sum that is three times the rate charged by market providers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37166/15]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Clare Daly

1029. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proportion of the mortgage protection insurance that must be purchased by homeowners under the affordable homes scheme that goes towards death and disability benefits. [37167/15]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Clare Daly

1030. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take, as part of the re-tendering process in 2016 for the provision of mortgage protection insurance for homeowners under the affordable homes scheme, to ensure they are no longer charged three times the market rate for their policies. [37168/15]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

1031. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the tenant purchase scheme; and when he expects the local authorities to be in a position to sell council homes to tenants. [37199/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Gerry Adams

1032. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the concerns of residents of Bettystown, County Meath, regarding the proposed construction of 370 houses in a flood risk area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37204/15]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Eric J. Byrne

1033. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the proposals for the refurbishment of housing units at Jamestown Court, Inchicore, Dublin 8, for which planning permission was granted by Dublin City Council in June 2015; if the proposals are acceptable, when the necessary sanction will be given to enable the refurbishment work to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37289/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

1034. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated expenditure of his Department in 2015, in tabular form; the budget for expenditure agreed at the start of the year for 2015; the extra expenditure or savings in this budget during the year to date; when and under what process this expenditure and these savings were approved; and his Department's budget for expenditure in 2016. [37261/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

1035. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the allocation for his Department in 2016 which covers the Lansdowne Road agreement; and the demographic or other inflationary pressures. [37277/15]

Planning Issues

Sandra McLellan

1036. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow local authorities to take estates in charge that were originally holiday home schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37319/15]

Air Quality

Catherine Murphy

1037. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide to Dáil Éireann the modelling process conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of his Department when it comes to the recording and forecasting of air quality at any given time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37347/15]

Air Quality

Catherine Murphy

1038. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the public awareness and education schemes run by his Department on an annual basis to inform the public on the importance of clean air; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37348/15]

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Catherine Murphy

1039. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the name of each appointee made from 7 March 2011 to date in 2015; the date of appointment; whether or not each appointee came through an advertised public application process; the number of vacancies which currently exist on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37361/15]

Traveller Accommodation

Patrick O'Donovan

1040. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given the recent tragedy in south Dublin, if he will initiate a review of local authorities with a view to discontinuing the practice of allowing and facilitating temporary halting site accommodation for the Christmas period, which does not meet the basic health, safety and fire standards that are needed to maintain the safety and welfare of occupants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37406/15]

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Joan Collins

1041. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the proposals for the refurbishment of housing units at Jamestown Court, Inchicore, Dublin 8 for which planning permission was granted by Dublin City Council in June 2015 for eight units; and if the proposals are acceptable, when the necessary sanction will be provided to enable the refurbishment work to proceed. [37467/15]

Homelessness Strategy

Fergus O'Dowd

1042. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review his policy on homelessness given the crisis now developing; if he has received reports from local authorities regarding the crisis in each such authority; if he will publish details of same; if he has further received reports recommending changes to this policy from his Department, or from another agency or organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37411/15]

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

1043. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his Department's policy on how moneys allocated in the budget by Dáil Éireann to his Department are allocated; if he will provide details of such allocations from his Department for the past three years; if any policy changes are envisaged in the way persons who are not sleeping rough but who are homeless and who are supported, such as those persons in homeless accommodation such as Drogheda Homeless Aid, the Simon Community, etc. are supported; and how local authorities and other agencies account for their allocations. [37412/15]

Water Quality

Seán Kenny

1044. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will introduce a grant scheme for low-income households to assist with the replacement of lead pipes in their homes. [37430/15]

Planning Issues

Finian McGrath

1045. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support the matter of a complaint against a planning decision in which a medical report had not been included in a planning objection which was made by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37510/15]

Pyrite Resolution Board Data

Clare Daly

1046. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an up-to-date list of the number of applications made to the Pyrite Resolution Board; the number of dwellings approved for remediation; remediated; to which project managers have been appointed; for which decisions were overturned on appeal; which were accepted for remediation despite having a building condition assessment of less than two. [37486/15]

Foreshore Licence Applications

Michael McCarthy

1047. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an update regarding the development of a harbour (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37536/15]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems Expenditure

Pat Breen

1048. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the pilot funding for the provision of rural closed-circuit television will be extended to County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37571/15]

Property Tax Exemptions

Michael McCarthy

1049. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process involved in reducing the list of properties in unfinished estates exempt from the local property tax following on from the initial list of properties exempt from the household charge; the reasons certain properties in unfinished estates are not now exempt from the local property tax; if he will explain how these decisions were made and the role of local authorities in the matter; the guidance that was provided to local authorities in adjudicating on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37575/15]

Construction Sector Strategy

Eoghan Murphy

1050. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered placing home bond schemes as a mandatory requirement for all residential building projects. [37587/15]

Irish Water Staff

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

1051. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the position regarding security of employment for permanent staff of local authorities who were transferred under the Water Services Act to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/15]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas P. Broughan

1052. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to proceed with the building of so-called modular housing estates, given recent renewed concern about health, safety and heating of such structures and the long periods, often decades, in which homeless families were left in such accommodation in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37606/15]

Traveller Accommodation

Thomas P. Broughan

1053. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposed health and safety audits to be carried out on all halting sites; when the results of these audits will be reported to him; reported to the Houses of the Oireachtas; published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37607/15]

Housing Assistance Payments

Thomas P. Broughan

1054. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of landlords who have signed up to the housing assistance payment programme in each of the four Dublin local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37608/15]

Planning Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

1055. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has instructed the Dublin housing executive and the housing managers of the four Dublin local authorities to review Part V compliance through financial contribution on developments currently being built in their areas to ensure that, even the limited conditions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 are implemented; these developments will yield significant numbers of homes for citizens and families on housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37609/15]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

1056. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to recent parliamentary questions, if he will confirm the number of housing units offered to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council by the National Asset Management Agency; whether these two local authorities refused a substantial number of these units; if he has received an explanation from them as to the reason for these refusals, given that homeless and housing waiting lists have hardly moved in the past year, and are continuing to grow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37610/15]

Departmental Meetings

Fergus O'Dowd

1057. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to representations received from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37617/15]

Mortgage Schemes

Gabrielle McFadden

1058. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the mortgage subsidy scheme will remain in place for the foreseeable future; if the subsidy has increased since 2011; the number of persons who are currently availing of the subsidy, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37631/15]

Emergency Accommodation Data

Clare Daly

1059. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons in hostel or hotel accommodation by gender and to identify whether they are adults or children. [37705/15]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Seán Fleming

1060. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for a list of initial applications for funding made to his Department under the rural water programme (details supplied), by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37729/15]

Irish Water Expenditure

Jim Daly

1061. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the annual operation costs of delivering domestic water services, excluding capital expenditure, for each of the past five years; the current operation costs under Irish Water; the anticipated operational costs for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37736/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

1062. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for details of the programme for social housing purchases in 2015; the number of units that have been purchased to date; the number that are expected to be purchased by the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37773/15]

Local Authority Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

1063. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the allocation for social and voluntary housing approved for Galway City Council and Galway County Council; the number of units approved; the number provided; the value of the approvals; the expenditure to date by his Department for housing in 2015, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37780/15]

Harbours and Piers Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

1064. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of assistance paid to Clare County Council in 2014 and to date in 2015 towards the upgrading of the pier in Doolin in County Clare; the subhead in the Revised Estimates that this funding was paid under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37782/15]

Construction Sector Strategy

Eoghan Murphy

1065. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to make home bond schemes a mandatory requirement for all residential building projects. [37800/15]

Commercial Rates

Pearse Doherty

1066. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of rates billed, collected and written off by local authorities for each of the past five years in tabular form. [37803/15]

Departmental Reports

Fergus O'Dowd

1067. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he received a report (details supplied) regarding an independent planning review; the cost of the report; the amounts paid; when he will publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37807/15]

Housing Estates

Michael Lowry

1068. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the large number of housing estates in County Tipperary which are not taken in charge by Tipperary County Council; that the majority of these housing estates have street lighting which is not functioning; of the large number of break-ins and criminal gang activity in County Tipperary recently; his views that adequate lighting in rural and urban housing estates is an essential factor in deterring these criminal activities; his plans to allocate once-off funding to Tipperary County Council to repair the street lights in these housing estates, and all other broken lighting in urban and rural areas in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37819/15]

Election Management System

Éamon Ó Cuív

1069. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the entitlement of British citizens, who are long-term resident here, to vote in a general election; if their entitlement is influenced by either being married or not being married to an Irish citizen; if any specific documentation is necessary, such as a voter's registration form; if he will provide details of a British citizen's entitlement to vote in various elections and referenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37859/15]

EU Directives

Clare Daly

1070. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for details of any communications that have taken place with the European Commission regarding breaches of the urban waste water treatment directive as listed by the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37872/15]

Local Authority Funding

Michael Lowry

1071. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how much of the €57 million in funding which was allocated in March 2015 to Tipperary County Council has been used to reduce the housing waiting list in 2015; if the council is still on target to reduce the housing list by over 40% by 2017; the number of vacant social housing units in County Tipperary that have been refurbished this year, as a result of the allocated funding, in tabular form; the status of the proposed building projects in Gortnahoe, Cloughjordan, Templemore and Thurles in County Tipperary; details of the proposed 832 housing units in County Tipperary that have been bought or leased for the provision of social housing since the funding was announced on 31 March 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37885/15]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Róisín Shortall

1072. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding for housing adaptation grants for older people; for people with a disability living in private houses, by grant type, by local authority, in each of the past three years; the basis on which these allocations were made; and if he will publish the criteria, data or other factors which determined the amount awarded to each local authority. [37888/15]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Michael Ring

1073. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the CO2 emission-based rate of tax applies to a vehicle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37902/15]