Parliamentary questions

Departmental Communications

Mick Wallace

1200. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the verification code sent to mobile phones as part of the MyGovID two-factor authentication scheme is SMS based; if she is satisfied that an SMS two-factor authentication scheme is the most secure two-factor authentication scheme available to her; if she has given consideration to alternative two-factor authentication schemes that do not rely on SMS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45899/17]

Housing Data

Mick Wallace

23. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the system of assessing building completions used by his Department; his plans to develop a more accurate system for recording housing and apartment building completions; the position regarding the work of the internal group within his Department tasked with examining housing statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45288/17]

Land Availability

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken to tackle the problem of land banking and hoarding; if he is satisfied that these steps will be successful in releasing suitable land for building in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45290/17]

Land Availability

Mick Wallace

35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the work of the State lands management group announced in Rebuilding Ireland in July 2016; the number of the 500 homes due to be delivered in 2017 through this scheme that are completed; the number that will be completed in 2018 and 2019; the names of the developers engaged in the building on State land; the land the group has identified to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45289/17]

Planning Guidelines

Mick Wallace

36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on remarks by the chief executive officer of Dublin City Council regarding the use of Dublin’s green spaces to be considered for the development of housing; if he has issued guidelines to local authorities with regard to rezoning of public green spaces and amenities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45291/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Mick Wallace

51. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the lack of affordable housing being supplied; if the affordable housing scheme which was abolished in 2011 will be reintroduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45292/17]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Mick Wallace

59. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the current system for assessing student grant requests in place by SUSI; if his attention has been drawn to the number of overpayments which have been made by SUSI since its inception; the impact the overpayments may have on student welfare; if his Department has engaged with SUSI with regard to overpayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45038/17]

School Transport Applications Data

Mick Wallace

91. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of eligible students who applied for the 2017/2018 school transport scheme that did not receive a seat; if he is satisfied that the current school transport scheme operated by Bus Éireann is delivering transport for all students eligible throughout Ireland in a fair and transparent manner; if his Department requests information from Bus Éireann on eligible students who have not received seats; if a contingency plan is in place for students who do not receive seats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45039/17]

NAMA Staff Data

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the number of current and former NAMA staff who listed previous employment in an investment fund or property company, either foreign or Irish, in their statement of interests, assets and liabilities to the chief executive officer of NAMA when joining the agency; the name of each investment fund or property company in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44726/17]

NAMA Staff Data

Mick Wallace

21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the NAMA system of evaluating possible conflicts of interest of NAMA officials under section 42 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 is robust in assessing whether a person may hold a conflict of interest regarding their previous employment; if a register of conflicts of interest is held by NAMA; the system in place if a NAMA official is deemed to hold a conflict of interest with regard to the way in which it is managed on a day to day basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44725/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Data

Mick Wallace

76. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the help-to-buy scheme is contributing to rising house prices (details supplied). [33438/17]

Renewable Heat Incentive

Mick Wallace

309. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the renewable heat incentive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44829/17]

Bioenergy Strategy

Mick Wallace

310. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has examined the sustainability of repeated biomass removals on soil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44830/17]

Electricity Generation

Mick Wallace

311. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the phasing out of coal burning at Moneypoint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44831/17]

Renewable Energy Generation

Mick Wallace

312. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for the State to directly supply infrastructure for renewable energies, namely solar, wind, wave and tidal power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44832/17]

Public Transport Data

Mick Wallace

332. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of buses in the CIÉ fleet that run on fossil fuels; the number that run on electricity; the number of hybrid buses; the number of buses purchased in the past six years, by power source; the number of buses that will be added to the fleet up to 2020, by power source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44833/17]

Local Authority Housing Data

Mick Wallace

404. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of capital funded local authority housing units approved in May 2015 and January 2016, by local authority, in tabular form; the number of these units that have been completed; the average cost per completed unit, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44602/17]

Local Authority Housing Data

Mick Wallace

405. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of capital funded housing association units approved in May 2015 and January 2016, by local authority, in tabular form; the number of these units that have been completed; the average cost per completed unit, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44603/17]

Local Authority Housing Data

Mick Wallace

406. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of capital funded local authority housing units approved from February 2016 to date in 2017, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44604/17]

Data Retention

Mick Wallace

13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken since receiving Mr. Justice John L. Murray’s review of the law on retention of and access to communications data report; if he has engaged with other Departments with regard to the findings of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44276/17]

Employment Rights

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe to allow adults in direct provision the ability to work; when he expects legislation to be presented before the Houses of the Oireachtas; if his Department has engaged civil society groups working in the area of direct provision with regard to the drafting of such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44273/17]

Refugee Data

Mick Wallace

25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of refugees who have been accepted here since the Irish refugee protection programme was announced in September 2015; if he is satisfied with the rate of acceptance with regard to refugee allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44274/17]

Data Protection

Mick Wallace

28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to direct all State agencies under his remit, in addition to issuing guidelines to all other State agencies not under his specific remit, to discontinue accessing the data of Irish citizens pending the final resolution of issues pertaining to the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, amending legislation conforming with EU law and obligations under the ECHR or both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44275/17]

Data Protection

Mick Wallace

47. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to amend both the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 and the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 to comply with European Union law with regard to data protection, further to Mr. Justice John L. Murray’s review of the law on retention of and access to communications data report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44277/17]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

Mick Wallace

145. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if his designation of two distinct professions, that of counsellor and psychotherapist, in his proposals to regulate counsellors and psychotherapists under the Health and Social Care Act 2005 will introduce minimum standards of education and training; if the regulations will designate psychotherapy as a higher standard than counselling; and if the regulations will require psychotherapists to be qualified to a minimum of master's degree level. [44306/17]

Defence Forces Operations

Mick Wallace

33. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the involvement of members of the Defence Forces, including members of the Naval Service, in the training of the Libyan coastguard in conjunction with the European Union’s Operation Sophia; the details of the training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44038/17]

Defence Forces Strength

Mick Wallace

53. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the number of personnel exiting the Defence Forces excluding mandatory retirements since 2015; if he is satisfied that the Defence Forces can still attract recruits at the number required; the steps he is taking to ensure that a career within the Defence Forces offers financial stability and job security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44039/17]

National Educational Psychological Service Data

Mick Wallace

98. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average wait times for National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, assessments in each county in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and the number of NEPS psychologists employed in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by county, in tabular form. [44103/17]

Student Grants Data

Mick Wallace

108. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of overpayments of SUSI grants for students nationally in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 with accrued values (details supplied); the number of overpayments of SUSI grants for students attending the IT Carlow Wexford campus in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 with the same accrued values; and the number of overpayments of SUSI grants for students attending the IT Carlow campus with permanent addresses in Wexford with the same accrued values, in tabular form. [44181/17]

School Transport Data

Mick Wallace

110. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of eligible students under the school transport scheme who applied for the 2017-18 scheme who did not receive a seat in each county, in tabular form; if a feedback system exists between Bus Éireann and his Department to monitor the excess number of eligible students who apply for the scheme and do not receive a seat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44200/17]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Mick Wallace

42. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the funding increase afforded to Tusla in budget 2018 will improve the current functioning within Tusla with regard to its child protection policy and the operations of family resource centres throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43743/17]

Child and Family Agency Services

Mick Wallace

49. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the overall performance of Tusla; her plans to conduct a review into the operations of Tusla with regard to its child protection policy, in view of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43742/17]

Trade Agreements

Mick Wallace

103. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the selection process regarding trade experts who will serve as members of the various CETA committees; if these experts will come from industry, academia or otherwise; if she has a role in the selection of members for these committees; the number of experts who will sit on each committee; the length of time they will spend on the committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43404/17]

Trade Agreements

Mick Wallace

104. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has carried out an analysis of the potential costs of CETA's investment court system, ICS, for the State; if the costs that arise from defending future cases in the ICS will be paid from the Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43405/17]

Hospitals Policy

Mick Wallace

274. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the sale price and date of sale of St. Senan's hospital and all associated lands in Enniscorthy; the alternative arrangements for remaining clients and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43374/17]

Disabilities Assessments

Mick Wallace

337. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times to begin and complete, respectively, an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005 after the date of application in each county in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and the number of whole-time equivalent assessment officers employed in each of the years since 2007 in each county, in tabular form. [43644/17]

Fish Farming

Mick Wallace

425. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the number of salmon farm inspections conducted by his Department's marine engineers to date in 2017; the measures he is taking to eliminate or reduce farmed salmon escapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43679/17]

Fish Farming

Mick Wallace

426. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on farmed salmon being caught in the rivers Delphi, Erriff, Kylemore-Dawros, Newport and Bunowen catchments since August 2017, during a time when salmon farm owners did not file reports of escapes from cages; if he will initiate an investigation into the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43680/17]

Ports Facilities

Mick Wallace

473. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the traffic volumes (details supplied) at Rosslare Europort in each of the years 2013 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43662/17]

Ports Facilities

Mick Wallace

474. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial performance of Rosslare Europort (details supplied) at the port in each of the years 2013 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43663/17]

Departmental Surveys

Mick Wallace

617. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the publication date for the residential land availability survey 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43872/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Mick Wallace

618. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans regarding affordable housing; his further plans to reintroduce the scheme which was abolished in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43873/17]

Job Creation

Mick Wallace

13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she is taking to address the below average growth of foreign direct investment job creation, the lack of progress in stimulating indigenous industry and the deficit of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland activity in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43170/17]

Job Initiatives

Mick Wallace

33. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she is taking to address the low job quality in new employment growth in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43169/17]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

88. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in rolling out self-catering and shared kitchen facilities in the Ballyhaunis, Athlone, Kinsale Road and Clonakilty Lodge centres similar to the facilities available at the Mosney direct provision centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43241/17]

Departmental Reviews

Mick Wallace

23. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to his commitment earlier in 2017 to conduct an internal review in his Department of the international legal implications of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order SI 224 1973, the details of discussions he has had on the timeframe and scope of the review; the progress made to date on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41965/17]

Rail Services Provision

Mick Wallace

48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider investing in an express train service between Wexford town and Dublin to facilitate commuting and help mitigate climate change; if his Department has carried out a cost benefit analysis of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41966/17]

NAMA Operations

Mick Wallace

88. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the joint ventures NAMA has entered into with house builders and developers; the name and location of each development; the corresponding developer in question; the number of units developed on each site or plan to be developed; the amount of capital supplied by NAMA for each site or development, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43196/17]

NAMA Reports

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the seven yearly reports regarding NAMA's use of post acquisition powers submitted to the European Commission and Irish competition authorities in each of the years 2010 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42471/17]

Teachers' Professional Development

Mick Wallace

174. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore subsidies for student teachers' attendance at mandatory Gaeltacht courses which would help to alleviate the burden of these expenses on students. [42274/17]