Parliamentary questions

Schools Site Acquisitions

Mick Wallace

120. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the body or organisation with which the ownership of the six buildings being developed as part of the schools bundle 5 PPP programme currently lies. [6173/18]

Crime Data

Mick Wallace

135. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions that were commenced in respect of unlicensed gaming activity for non-compliance with gaming licensing requirements in each of the years from 2010 to 2017, by district, in tabular form; and the number that led to convictions. [6087/18]

Garda Data

Mick Wallace

62. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of senior Garda appointments made by the Policing Authority at each rank in the past six months; if he has satisfied himself that proper due diligence is being adhered in the way promotions are being conducted; if he has had contact with the Policing Authority about specific officers who have been promoted in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5673/18]

Garda Reports

Mick Wallace

75. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has requested a report from the Garda Commissioner into payments to a company (details supplied) which breached public procurement guidelines; if the report will examine the relationship with the company and An Garda Síochána since 2009; the person or body that is conducting the report; if a timeframe for completion has been indicated; his plans to request the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct such an exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5670/18]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Mick Wallace

85. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the investigation into the alleged involvement of Garda personnel in the drugs trade in the midlands region first reported in May 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5674/18]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

251. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the enforcement role An Garda Síochána has in regard to unlicenced gaming activities and the availability of gaming machines in locations in which gaming is prohibited. [5544/18]

Public Procurement Contracts Data

Mick Wallace

258. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of all contracts awarded for the supply of the Garda National Immigration Bureau card; the names of the contracts; the companies they were awarded to; the dates awarded; the length and costs of the contracts; and if the contracts were tendered. [5707/18]

Public Procurement Contracts Data

Mick Wallace

259. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the contract awarded for the supply of the new Irish residence permit card; the name of the contract; the company it was awarded to; the date awarded; the length and cost of the contract; and if the contract was tendered. [5708/18]

Fishing Communities

Mick Wallace

498. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to protect and promote small coastal fishing communities in particular those persons that did not avail of the salmon hardship scheme in 2007 and instead waited for salmon stocks to recover in order that they could return to fishing; his plans to subsidise polyvalent licences for these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5850/18]

Schools Building Contractors

Mick Wallace

35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the six schools and colleges affected by the collapse of a company (details supplied); if he has made contact with another company; his views on whether there will be a delay in completing the works; if a contingency plan has been developed for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4858/18]

Schools Building Contractors

Mick Wallace

46. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the services in the six schools and colleges under the remit of a company (details supplied); if his Department will take over the running of the non-academic services in these schools and colleges; if a new tender process for private contractors will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4859/18]

Approved Housing Bodies

Mick Wallace

60. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount paid to approved housing bodies to date in upfront or accelerated CALF funding; the amount of interest that to date has been paid back on these loans; the amount of principal loan funding that to date has been paid back; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4846/18]

Vacant Properties Data

Mick Wallace

70. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the fact that certain Dublin local authorities have yet to list properties on their vacant site register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4579/18]

Local Authority Housing Data

Mick Wallace

80. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the expenditure from his overall budget which has been set aside to be provided to the 31 local authorities, excluding housing bodies, in 2018 and 2019 for the construction of social housing; the expected number of social housing units that will be delivered by each local authority excluding housing bodies for 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4577/18]

Approved Housing Bodies

Mick Wallace

84. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of approved housing body units nationally his Department is paying rent on at 92%; the number of approved housing body units nationally his Department is paying rent on at 95%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4578/18]

Vacant Properties Data

Mick Wallace

111. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that the vacant site levy will work with regard to releasing viable land for development; his plans to work with the Department of Finance with a view to amending the vacant site levy in order to establish an immediate tax on land banking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4575/18]

Home Loan Scheme

Mick Wallace

118. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether the new local authority mortgage scheme will lead to an increase in house prices, particularly in the bracket of €250,000 to €400,000; the number of mortgages he expects to be delivered through the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4576/18]

Departmental Contracts Data

Mick Wallace

125. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the contract awarded for the supply of the passport card; the name of the contract; the company to which it was awarded; the date it was awarded; the length of the contract; the cost of the contract; and if it was tendered. [4767/18]

Excise Duties Reliefs

Mick Wallace

140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the revenue raised from the granting of special exemption orders in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county, in tabular form. [4790/18]

Courts Service Data

Mick Wallace

185. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the detail of each special exemption order granted by Court District No. 17 from 1 December 2014 to 31 December 2015 in chronological order; and the specific date and licensed premises to which each special exemption order relates. [4791/18]

State Aid Investigations

Mick Wallace

84. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the status of his dealings with the European Commission Director General for Competition regarding the state-aid complaint concerning NAMA and its involvement in the private sector; when he expects a decision will issue from the EU regarding same; if NAMA and his Department are working together on this issue; his views on whether comments by An Taoiseach in January 2018 regarding NAMA and state aid may force his Department and NAMA to reconsider their position regarding the complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4232/18]

State Aid Investigations

Mick Wallace

94. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his views on a statement (details supplied) by An Taoiseach on NAMA; his policy on NAMA and its role in the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4233/18]

Tax Compliance

Mick Wallace

143. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of whole-time equivalent district officers with responsibility for ensuring gaming machine licensing compliance employed in each district in each of the years 2010 to 2017. [4025/18]

Public Procurement Regulations

Mick Wallace

199. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the body responsible for the enforcement of breaches of public procurement guidelines and EU directives regarding the tendering and public procurement by Departments and State agencies; the legislation that governs the enforcement of public procurement; the role the Office of Public Procurement plays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4078/18]

Family Reunification Applications

Mick Wallace

269. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who arrived here as unaccompanied or separated children who had successful applications for family reunification in each of the years 2015 to 2017. [4665/18]

Family Reunification Applications

Mick Wallace

270. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that arrived here as unaccompanied or separated children that did not have successful applications for family reunification in each of the years 2015 to 2017. [4666/18]

Departmental Contracts

Mick Wallace

606. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to her comments regarding payment of the State pension (details supplied), if public procurement guidelines have been followed regarding this information technology system; if a tender process has been initiated regarding the system; if so, if the tender has been awarded; the name of the successful company; the estimated cost of this new system; the name of the contract and description of same regarding the system currently in use; the cost of same; the supplier of this contract and associated contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4371/18]

Trade Missions

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the planned trade missions for 2018 and 2019; if it is policy not to raise human rights issues on specific trade missions; if restrictions are put in place by the host country regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3649/18]

International Sanctions Application

Mick Wallace

8. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to the EU's agreement in December 2017 to continue sanctions against Russia into 2018, the position of Ireland on the sanctions; his views on whether Irish involvement in the sanctions is having a negative effect on particular industries here; if he has had discussions with the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or Finance regarding forgone trade revenue due to the sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3650/18]

Defence Forces Properties

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of non-serving Defence Forces personnel residing in accommodation in the Curragh Camp; the position regarding the maintenance of the accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/18]

Permanent Structured Co-operation

Mick Wallace

23. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if discussions took place prior to Ireland joining PESCO between his Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Attorney General regarding the constitutionality of Ireland's involvement in PESCO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3363/18]

Naval Service Operations

Mick Wallace

32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the Defence Forces involvement with Operation Sophia; the status of the LÉ Niamh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3364/18]

Citizens Information Services

Mick Wallace

166. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the Citizens Information Board to be categorised as a charity and to have a charitable status; her views on whether theboard's status as a charity may be in breach of the Charities Act 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3512/18]

Heritage Council

Mick Wallace

103. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to halt the demise of construction of traditional Slaney cots, in addition to the demise of traditional cot fishing practices on the river Slaney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3081/18]

Charities Regulation

Mick Wallace

570. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason Pobal is categorised as not-for-profit and having a charitable status; if discussions have taken place regarding the categorisation of Pobal as a charity between his Department and other Departments; his views on whether Pobal's status as a charity may be in breach of the Charities Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3303/18]

Expenditure Reviews

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to initiate a cost benefit analysis review of information technology expenditure across all Government Departments and State agencies under their aegis; the most recent figure for the combined annual spend on information technology by Government Departments and State agencies; if all information technology contractors follow a specific framework with regard to recording of hours, renewal of contracts and skilled resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2217/18]

Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure

Mick Wallace

42. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has satisfied himself that the €11,842,195 his Department paid to a company (details supplied) for contracts and projects in each of the years 2011 to 2017 constituted value for money; if each contract complied with public procurement obligations and requirements; if all contractors engaged through the company by his department recorded their hours of attendance on an electronic time recording system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2218/18]

Unemployment Levels

Mick Wallace

31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures she has taken to address the above average unemployment levels which persist in County Wexford; her plans to increase the number of activation case officers in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2026/18]

Departmental Operations

Mick Wallace

35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the tender recently published by her Department seeking advice and support in relation to the SAFE programme project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2027/18]

Charities Regulation

Mick Wallace

52. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is satisfied that the legislation governing the Charities Regulatory Authority is robust with regard to enforcement against certain bodies identifying as charities that may be in breach of the Charities Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1783/18]

Charities Regulation

Mick Wallace

61. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has met with or plans to meet with the members of the Charities Regulatory Authority; his views on the regulation of charity; his further views on the role of charity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1784/18]

Liquor Licence Data

Mick Wallace

187. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of publican licences of all descriptions issued, by county in each of the years from 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [54512/17]

Liquor Licence Data

Mick Wallace

502. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of liquor licence special exemption orders granted by each District Court in each of the years from 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018; in tabular form. [54508/17]

Liquor Licence Data

Mick Wallace

503. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions commenced for liquor licence offences by District Court in each of the years 2010 to 2017; and the number of these cases that led to convictions, in tabular form. [54510/17]

Garda Expenditure

Mick Wallace

571. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 596 of 26 July 2017 and correspondence of 20 December 2017, the reason the figures he supplied regarding An Garda Síochána payments to a company (details supplied) amounted to €16,564,322 in 2016, in view of a Garda internal audit section report on ICT directorates payment process of August 2017 which stated the amount paid to the company for 2016 was €26,594,655; the reason for the €10 million discrepancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1379/18]

Garda Expenditure

Mick Wallace

572. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) since 2009 by An Garda Síochána; the costs associated with each contract; the details of the type of work of each contract, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1463/18]

Freedom of Information Legislation

Mick Wallace

9. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has satisfied himself with the functioning of the freedom of information system in place under the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if he will consider amending section 44 of the Act to confer power on the Minister to instruct the Information Commissioner to carry out a review of the operations of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53475/17]

Freedom of Information Legislation

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has satisfied himself that section 27 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 is functioning properly; if all agencies that come under freedom of information legislation following the Act are applying fees and charges for FOI requests in an open and transparent manner; if guidelines are issued to the agencies with regard to calculating fees and charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53476/17]

Syrian Conflict

Mick Wallace

48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to advocate at the EU Foreign Affairs Council for the lifting of the EU’s economic sanctions against Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53156/17]

Syrian Conflict

Mick Wallace

56. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to contact the US ambassador to raise the issue of lifting the United States’ economic sanctions against Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53157/17]