Parliamentary questions

Flood Risk Assessments

Finian McGrath

1074. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the construction of a new sea wall along the coast road at Dollymount in Dublin 3, as it will disfigure our beautiful coastline and environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37906/15]

Local Authority Housing

Dessie Ellis

1075. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his planned timeline for the delivery of 500 modular units for emergency accommodation; the number of persons these will accommodate; and the length of time while social housing is being made available. [37907/15]

Local Authority Housing

Dessie Ellis

1076. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimates for the delivery of the 500 modular units for emergency accommodation; and the ancillary services required in tabular form. [37908/15]

Waste Management

Maureen O'Sullivan

1077. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the disposal of tyres, particularity in the Dublin area; that the abundance of tyres available for use in bonfires at Halloween is having a negative impact on the environment; if he will ensure that companies, such as mechanic garages dispose of tyres in a responsible way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37909/15]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Paul Murphy

1078. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will legislate or issue a ministerial directive, as necessary, to the local authorities to permit persons (details supplied) who have surrendered their homes to the banks to join the housing allocation lists, which is currently a condition for making a successful application for rent supplement. [37911/15]

Septic Tank Grants

Jack Wall

1079. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if assistance is available to a person to upgrade and improve a septic tank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37966/15]

Local Authority Funding

Colm Keaveney

1080. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support an application from Galway County Council for funding from his Department for the refurbishment of local authority housing on Gilmartin Road in Tuam and in Tirboy, Tuam in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37971/15]

Traveller Accommodation

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

1081. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding sought and allocated to Kildare County Council in each of the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015, in respect of Traveller accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37972/15]

Waste Management Regulations

Michael Creed

1082. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 672 of 20 October 2015, if he will consider the appointment of an independent facilitator to broker a deal on the critical issues involved, given the current state of the negotiations and the lack of participation by the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37973/15]

Local Authority Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

1083. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for details of all allocations made by his Department to Limerick City and County Council for the completion of works in housing estates (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37981/15]

Water Conservation Grant

Sean Conlan

1084. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if persons who own more than one property and have registered for Irish Water on each property are entitled to the water conservation grant in respect of each property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37982/15]

Court Judgments

Pearse Doherty

1085. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the impact a court decision (details supplied) will have on the retrospective calculation of motor tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37984/15]

Local Authority Housing

Tom Fleming

1086. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of qualified housing applicants who were moved from the housing lists to the rental accommodation scheme and whose housing applications were subsequently closed, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37987/15]

Environmental Protection Agency Investigations

Thomas P. Broughan

1087. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Environmental Protection Agency has noted any negative impacts in the Irish atmosphere and weather systems from out-of-control vegetation fires and industrial pollution in countries in the Far East, including Indonesia and China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38015/15]

Waste Management

Michael Healy-Rae

1088. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the proposed waste tyre levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38029/15]

Private Rented Accommodation Costs

Thomas Pringle

1089. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe by which rent certainty proposals will be brought before the Cabinet; and consequentially before Dáil Éireann. [38110/15]

Election Management System

Éamon Ó Cuív

1090. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the offshore islands not connected to the mainland by bridge or causeway that had polling stations on them for the last general election, in tabular form; the opening times for each of these stations; whether the voting took place on these islands on the same date as polling elsewhere, and, if not, whether polling was one day or two days before; the number of persons on the electoral register at the time in each station; the turnout on polling day, excluding persons with postal votes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38174/15]

Motor Tax Rates

Brendan Griffin

1091. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify a taxation issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38181/15]

Register of Electors Administration

Maureen O'Sullivan

1092. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will centralising checktheregister.ie, and having it run by his Department in place of local authorities, in light of concerns raised regarding inefficiencies in the voter registration process. [38192/15]

Fire Service

Seán Kenny

1093. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the budget allocation in 2014 for the fire services capital programme; the amount spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38195/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Administration

Catherine Murphy

1094. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how it is intended to qualify a family as being homeless in light of the new housing assistance payment regulations in respect of the Kildare County Council area, where many families are living in overcrowded family situations, but might not be formally registered as homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38203/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Administration

Catherine Murphy

1095. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how it is intended to administer controls on the issue of top-up rents, where the housing assistance payment system will underfund tenancies in Kildare by up to 50%, to assist families who are unable to cope with this situation; if it will impact on their future eligibility for housing supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38204/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

1096. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how it is intended to proceed in cases of renewals or existing rentals where landlords indicate that they are happy to offer the housing assistance payment, but request market rent already paid; to accommodate the rights of current tenants receiving supports, where rents are above the maximum limits, as set out; what flexibility will be given to these tenants; what security of tenure they will be afforded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38205/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

1097. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to offer the housing assistance payment to both rent supplement and privately renting households; how he intends to prioritise cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38206/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

1098. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how he intends to manage the transfer of rent supplement applicants to the new housing assistance payment system, where applicants have been assessed by the Department of Social Protection under Article 38 of the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations (Statutory Instrument No. 402 of 2007); if he intends to implement those maximum rent limits that are up to 50% lower in most cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38207/15]

Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

1099. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the processing time guidelines he plans to implement for housing assistance payment applications; the intended lead-time for landlords awaiting acceptance decisions, and the proposed application to payment times to manage the expectations of applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38208/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Thomas P. Broughan

1100. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status in respect of achieving targets set at EU level for climate change management, in particular under the EU climate and energy framework 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31689/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Maureen O'Sullivan

1101. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with the Irish Environment Network on the progress made on the provision of funding to the natural environment, specifically from the national lottery; if he will support this network to be included in funding as it is entitled to be, as set out in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38234/15]

Planning Issues

Lucinda Creighton

1102. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in light of the extraordinarily high planning fees paid in securing permission to change the use of land from commercial to residential, if he intends to curtail the power of local authorities in this regard; if he believes that such onerous fees are appropriate, given that they act as a disincentive to the development of residential property at a time when the country is faced with a severe housing crisis; and are consistent with the objectives of the Living City initiative. [38235/15]

Water Quality

Finian McGrath

1103. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available for householders who are experiencing high levels of lead in their water pipes in Marino, Dublin 3 and in Raheny, Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38239/15]

Departmental Funding

Terence Flanagan

1104. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allocate funding to provide a community resource centre (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38244/15]

Register of Electors Administration

Catherine Murphy

1105. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is potential to allow applications for inclusion on the supplementary registers of electors to be signed by a Peace Commissioner or by another official in good standing, in order to alleviate workloads placed upon An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38258/15]

Commencement of Legislation

Eric J. Byrne

1106. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 570 of 3 February 2015, when the relevant sections of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38260/15]

Water Services Provision

Michael Lowry

1107. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of a large number of houses in County Tipperary with possible lead piping and the potential cost of removing lead piping from these homes; the number of homes in County Tipperary which Irish Water suspects to have lead piping or has confirmed contain lead piping, in tabular form; when the grant for homeowners affected with lead piping will be launched; the proposed income thresholds for such a grant; the proposed monetary amounts which will be made available to applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38274/15]

Farm Waste Management

Dominic Hannigan

1108. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the spreading of human waste as slurry or fertilizer on Irish farmlands; the measures that are in place to protect the environment and human health in relation to this matter and to ensure that there is no negative impact or nuisance caused to the persons living close to where the human waste is being spread; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38288/15]

Pyrite Remediation Programme Expenditure

Clare Daly

1109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the moneys allocated in budget 2016 for the pyrite remediation scheme in 2016. [38310/15]

Harbours and Piers Development

Seán Kyne

1110. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the plans for investment in Inis Oírr pier; and Ros a'Mhíl harbour, as part of the capital investment plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34201/15]

EU Regulations

Áine Collins

1111. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why it is necessary to confine the period for bush burning to such a limited timespan. [38334/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Seán Crowe

1112. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of affordable homes that are rented out in each local authority area. [38341/15]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Seán Crowe

1113. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the supports available for persons who are currently working on repaying arrears with their local authorities through the mortgage arrears resolution process; the number of persons who have never missed a payment; who, after three years, have not cleared their arrears; and who are in an affordable home, not a shared-ownership home. [38342/15]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Seán Crowe

1114. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options for families in affordable homes if they cannot live in these homes due to overcrowding. [38343/15]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Seán Crowe

1115. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities may add arrears to principal amounts and extend loan times. [38344/15]

Dumping at Sea

Terence Flanagan

1116. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the application lodged by the Dublin Port Company to dump dredged material at sea, off the coast of Howth Head in County Dublin; if he is satisfied that there will be no impact on the Dublin Bay environment when the material is dumped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34015/15]

Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Finian McGrath

1117. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of civil servants under his remit who have been reinstated in recent years after taking a career break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38725/15]

Inland Fisheries

Robert Troy

1118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that there is an invasion of the Asian clam species in the Shannon river which has the potential to harm and eradicate the fish there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37432/15]

Inland Fisheries Ireland Funding

Noel Coonan

1119. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if budget 2016 will provide additional funding to Inland Fisheries Ireland; if the 34% reduction in staffing over recent years will be reversed under budget 2016; if the 32 staff who are on temporary contracts can be moved to full-time contracts under this allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37561/15]

Energy Resources

Sandra McLellan

1120. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is concerned that the Phillips 66 company has commenced a process to sell Whitegate Oil Refinery in Cork; the steps he is taking to ensure that we maintain a refining capacity on the island of Ireland, due to its strategic importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38295/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

1121. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [37258/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

1122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the allocation for his Department in 2016 which covers the Lansdowne Road agreement; and the demographic or other inflationary pressures. [37274/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

1123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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 presently exist on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37358/15]

Biofuel Obligation Scheme

Terence Flanagan

1124. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for details of plans to make biofuel more readily available through fuel pumps in retail garages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37328/15]

Postal Codes

Helen McEntee

1125. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Eircode will not change an incorrect code to address the correct postal address of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37448/15]

Biofuel Obligation Scheme

Catherine Murphy

1126. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will indicate the performance to date of the biofuels obligation scheme; how it is verified that 6.383% of motor fuels by volume is coming from renewable sources; the revenue generated by the biofuel levy in each year of its operation; if his Department will be undertaking a review of the effectiveness of the scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37469/15]

Prospecting Licences

Joan Collins

1127. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the granting of onshore options licences granted to companies (details supplied) to prospect onshore in the north-west carboniferous basin and the Clare basins complied with the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37473/15]

Emergency Services Personnel

Dominic Hannigan

1128. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the situation of workers in the emergency call answering service run by Conduit company and British Telecom Ireland; that workers are paid well below the living wage of €11.50 per hour; that they are refused collective union representation; and that they often cannot receive the annual leave to which they are entitled. [37418/15]

Emergency Services Personnel

Dominic Hannigan

1129. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure the Conduit company respects its workers’ basic human right to collective bargaining by engaging in meaningful discussions with the Communications Workers Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/15]

Post Office Network

Michelle Mulherin

1130. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the final report of the post office network business development group is due to be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37620/15]

Security of the Elderly

Billy Kelleher

1131. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if financial assistance or grants are available to elderly persons who wish to install a landline for the purpose of having an alarm in their house [37641/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Joe Carey

1132. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to improve broadband in Kilrush, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37653/15]

Bioenergy Strategy

Robert Dowds

1133. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources given that the quantity of bioenergy on the planet is inherently limited, the steps he has taken to ensure that energy planning for transition to a low-carbon society does not assume the unlimited availability of bioenergy. [37707/15]

Bioenergy Strategy

Robert Dowds

1134. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policies he has in place, or is considering putting in place, to ensure bioenergy use is sustainable, both qualitatively and quantitatively. [37708/15]

Postal Codes

Éamon Ó Cuív

1135. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the future use of the Eircode system; if An Post is one of the sponsoring bodies; if he has advised An Post to become involved; if there is a human resource difficulty in An Post regarding its use of the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37858/15]

Postal Codes

Finian McGrath

1136. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the introduction of Eircodes; if he will request an assessment on their uptake and usage and whether the uptake and usage is consistent with what was envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38051/15]

Postal Codes

Finian McGrath

1137. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that the State has achieved value for money from the €57 million spent on the Eircode project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38052/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Terence Flanagan

1138. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding appointments to a board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38085/15]

Telecommunications Services Provision

Pearse Doherty

1139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to strengthen existing legislation to afford consumers of telecommunication products who experience disruption to services and connectivity issues greater protection and options for redress. [38086/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Anne Ferris

1140. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of any local authority which, further to the publication of the national broadband strategy, has completed and submitted a county broadband strategy to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38135/15]

Environmental Protection Agency Investigations

Michael Colreavy

1141. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to list the individual names and the organisations, agencies and Departments of the participants in decisions to recommend or award contracts for the Environmental Protection Agency's hydraulic fracturing research project to a company (details supplied). [38143/15]

Broadband Service Speeds

Jack Wall

1142. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is he aware of the poor quality broadband service in the Moone area of County Kildare; the plans to enhance the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38215/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Dan Neville

1143. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the roll-out of broadband in County Limerick. [38281/15]

Mobile Telephony Use

Brendan Smith

1144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the proposal to ban roaming mobile telephone charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38379/15]

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Finian McGrath

1145. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of civil servants under his remit who have been reinstated in recent years after taking a career break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38722/15]

Harbours and Piers Maintenance

Pádraig MacLochlainn

1146. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is aware that two boats, a 30 m mussel dredger and a smaller fishing boat, have been abandoned and are derelict at the quay at Ramelton in County Donegal; the assistance his Department will provide to remove these. [37396/15]

Shannon Airport Facilities

Clare Daly

1147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of requests made by the US in 2015 to date under the Air Navigation and Transport Act (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, for permits to transport munitions destined for Saudi Arabia through Shannon Airport. [37206/15]

Air Services Provision

Pádraig MacLochlainn

1148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the application from the City of Derry Airport for his Department to co-fund the re-instatement of the Derry to Dublin air connection, along with the British Government Department for Transport and the airport itself; and if he will accede to this request in acknowledgement of the infrastructural deficits in linking Donegal and Derry to Dublin, in comparison to all other major cities and regions. [37230/15]

Driver Licences

Terence Flanagan

1149. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37304/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

1150. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [37270/15]

Lansdowne Road Agreement

Pearse Doherty

1151. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation for his Department in 2016 which covers the Lansdowne Road agreement; and the demographic or other inflationary pressures. [37286/15]

Road Projects Status

Tom Fleming

1152. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the schedule of work for the proposed Adare bypass in County Limerick in terms of planning, land acquisitions and compulsory purchase orders; the year the project will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37344/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

1153. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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 presently exist on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37370/15]

Road Tolls

Helen McEntee

1154. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the concessions that will be made for motorists travelling to work via the M3 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37445/15]

Rail Services Provision

Helen McEntee

1155. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of his plans for the completion of the railway (details supplied) from Navan to Dublin. [37446/15]

Road Projects Status

Michael McGrath

1156. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an application for funding for a road project (details supplied) in County Meath has been made; if it will be successful. [37376/15]

Fáilte Ireland

Bobby Aylward

1157. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will amend the system by which Fáilte Ireland awards its quality assured and quality approved guarantees and subsequent signage in order to adopt a dual approach for bed and breakfasts which are registered under the Irish homes classification scheme, and therefore fulfil the criteria of the quality assured and the quality approved schemes, and ensure the appropriate recognition is awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37463/15]

Fáilte Ireland

Bobby Aylward

1158. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will implement a uniform sign type for all accommodation providers which will fulfil criteria of the quality assured and the quality approved schemes, as was the case up to introduction of the new Fáilte Ireland welcome standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37464/15]

Fáilte Ireland

Bobby Aylward

1159. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a provision by which the bed and breakfast classified sector will be permitted to display the new quality assured signage of the Fáilte Ireland welcome standard and the traditional uniform quality approved signage of the Fáilte Ireland quality approved classification for accommodation providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37465/15]

Aviation Issues

Clare Daly

1160. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of requests made in 2015 to date by the United States of America for permits to transport munitions through Shannon Airport under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. [37392/15]

Taxi Regulations

Dara Calleary

1161. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the arrangements the Taxi Regulator has in place for communicating with taxi operators who have literacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/15]

Road Traffic Legislation

Thomas P. Broughan

1162. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the consolidation of the Road Traffic Acts will begin; the expected completion date, given reports that his Department has confirmed that legislation dating back to the 1960s will be consolidated; if this will be completed before the Government's term ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37480/15]

Tourism Promotion

Seán Kenny

1163. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that Tourism Ireland is taking in the print media in Canada to promote tourism to Ireland over the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37496/15]

Motor Insurance Coverage

Dessie Ellis

1164. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the rising costs of motor insurance for private vehicles and for taxis, with many motorists experiencing increases of around 100% in the past year, particularly customers of a company (details supplied); and his plans to keep motor insurance costs at a reasonable rate, which does not unfairly increase the cost of operating a vehicle. [37437/15]

Driver Test Centres

Dessie Ellis

1165. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of a request made to the Office of Public Works by the Road Safety Authority for a compound site to be made available in the north Dublin area to carry out driving tests and facilitate lessons for learner drivers, and the rationale for this request, if it is being pursued. [37438/15]

Driver Safety

Dessie Ellis

1166. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issue of high volumes of learner drivers concentrated in certain estates, such as an area (details supplied) in Dublin 11, where at least 12 tests per day are carried out, as well as up to 68 approved driving instructors using the area for their lessons every day. [37439/15]

Aviation Issues

Clare Daly

1167. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on security inspections of aircraft which traditionally were carried out by his Department's inspectors but passed to the Irish Aviation Authority in 2013, in terms of whether any departmental oversight occurs; the number of such inspections that were carried out; if any payments were made by the authority to his Department during this time; and the basis on which the moneys were paid. [37522/15]

Wild Atlantic Way Project

Timmy Dooley

1168. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans or proposals currently under consideration to extended the Wild Atlantic Way along the N69 to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37562/15]

Road Safety

Thomas P. Broughan

1169. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given any direction to the Road Safety Authority and to national car test agencies to ensure that so-called clocking on cars and other vehicles will be prevented; his Department's estimate of the extent of this problem in the past five years; the legal measures in place to apprehend and punish the criminal elements behind this dangerous and grossly unfair practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37611/15]

Road Safety

Thomas P. Broughan

1170. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has liaised with his European Union colleagues to ensure that access to the national mileage register for cars and other vehicles of each country, and especially of the United Kingdom, will be uniform and immediate for the police forces and car industries of each European Union State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37612/15]

Public Service Contracts

Timmy Dooley

1171. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how the €28 million increase for the public service obligation contracts in budget 2016 will be allocated among the Coras Iompair Éireann companies in 2016. [37682/15]

Road Safety

Michelle Mulherin

1172. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of the discussions by Ministers of EU member states regarding car emission controls at a meeting of the European Competitiveness Council on 1 October 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37738/15]

Road Improvement Schemes

Brian Walsh

1173. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position regarding the R336 Bearna to Scríb road project in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37743/15]