Parliamentary questions

Water Charges

Eamon Ryan

272. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there has been an increase or decrease in the average domestic usage of water, outwith usual variations, since the suspension of charges was implemented; and if so, the amount per person on average. [31866/16]

Environmental Schemes

Eamon Ryan

383. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the role she has regarding the maintenance of ecosystem functions, including carbon sequestration and surface water management as well as the protection of biodiversity in peatlands and cutover peatlands which are not subject to a nature conservation designation. [32132/16]

Occupational Therapy

Eamon Ryan

498. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced by children in the Dublin 15 area in accessing occupational therapy assessment by the paediatric occupational therapy team in Blanchardstown and that a person (details supplied) has been waiting 15 months for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32133/16]

Renewable Energy Generation

Eamon Ryan

537. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether it will not be possible, under current energy policy, to reach the 2020 renewable electricity target without deploying a broader range of renewable technologies, including offshore wind and solar, in view of the fact that Ireland’s 2020 EU targets for renewable electricity are legally binding and that failure to reach these targets will result in fines that may well be higher than the cost of achieving the targets. [31864/16]

Renewable Energy Generation

Eamon Ryan

538. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether offshore wind has an important role to play in reaching our renewable obligations for 2020 in view of the fact that the cost of offshore wind is set to fall dramatically. [31865/16]

Child and Family Agency Staff

Eamon Ryan

614. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social work team leader and principal social worker positions within the Child and Family Agency filled on an acting basis. [32130/16]

Heritage Sites

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for the protection of the Georgian graving docks in the Grand Canal basin; and if she will make a commitment to safeguard and improve the site, with a particular focus on Georgian heritage conservation. [31308/16]

Heritage Sites

Eamon Ryan

15. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for the protection of the Georgian graving docks in the Grand Canal Basin; and if she will make a commitment to safeguard and improve the site, with a particular focus on Georgian heritage conservation. [31137/16]

Archival Material

Eamon Ryan

120. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the policy for the archiving of materials from the Mahon tribunal; and the locations they are stored currently and will be stored in future. [31309/16]

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses

Eamon Ryan

32. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider putting in place criteria for the awarding of Government contracts that would ensure these contracts are awarded to those companies that meet sustainability benchmarks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30967/16]

General Practitioner Contracts

Eamon Ryan

35. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health the status of the negotiations on general practitioner contracts; if there is a plan for the key components; the details of same; and the deadline for the completion of the contract negotiations. [30688/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

132. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach the details and outcomes of his discussion with a person (details supplied) following their meeting last week. [30446/16]

Credit Union Lending

Eamon Ryan

288. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the potential role credit unions can play in housing finance, as indicated in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30444/16]

Credit Union Lending

Eamon Ryan

289. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made to date, further to the programme for Government commitment, to engage stakeholders on the way credit unions can support social housing through voluntary housing services; if the engagement to date included any reference to section 44 of the Credit Union Act 1997 or to dormant accounts on the books of credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30445/16]

Child Benefit Eligibility

Eamon Ryan

323. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered the position of children who were over five years of age when they started primary school and are therefore 19 years old in sixth year, assuming they have done transition year, and so are not eligible for children's allowance although they are not working and have no means to support themselves while at school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30443/16]

Brexit Issues

Eamon Ryan

348. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the voting majority required within the European Council or Parliament to agree any negotiated conclusions following the invoking of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. [30447/16]

Brexit Issues

Eamon Ryan

349. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expected role of the European Parliament negotiations following the invoking of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. [30448/16]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Eamon Ryan

438. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has given consideration to the provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, medication (details supplied) to groups who are at high risk of contracting HIV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30442/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

603. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland expressed any views to the European Commission on the proposed optional rather than mandatory inclusion of wetland management in the 2030 climate package in advance of the publication of the Commission's proposal; and if so, the detail of those views. [30438/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

604. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the proposed optional rather than mandatory inclusion of wetland management in the 2030 climate package. [30439/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

605. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland will opt to include wetland management in its actions to implement the proposed 2030 climate package; and the research his decision in this regard is based on. [30440/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

606. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Ireland was not represented at the UNFCCC workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the convention in Bonn in October 2013. [30441/16]

Trade Agreements

Eamon Ryan

639. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to respond to the Seanad Éireann vote on the provisional application of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; and if she intends to adhere to this vote at the meeting of Ministers in Brussels (details supplied). [30403/16]

Road Safety

Eamon Ryan

121. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the pedestrian lights facilitating pupils getting to and from a school (details supplied) have still not been turned on; his views that this is a significant safety hazard for pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29399/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Eamon Ryan

122. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29400/16]

Special Areas of Conservation

Eamon Ryan

319. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will publish a map of the precise location in a case (details supplied). [29274/16]

Special Areas of Conservation

Eamon Ryan

320. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a location (details supplied) meets the definition of orchid-rich priority habitat 6210 based on table 2.3. [29275/16]

Special Areas of Conservation

Eamon Ryan

321. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will publish a full breakdown of the conservation score of 9.5 attributed to a location (details supplied), as derived using the terminology of table 2.9 criteria used in the calculation of the conservation score for each site. [29276/16]

Special Areas of Conservation

Eamon Ryan

322. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will publish a breakdown of the threat score of 15.4 attributed to a location (details supplied) as derived using the terminology of table 2.10 criteria in the calculation of the threat score for each site. [29277/16]

Special Areas of Conservation

Eamon Ryan

323. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the obligations that arise for the Government under EU law to protect public lands, where those lands meet the definition of orchid-rich priority habitats 6210, from threats such as development. [29278/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Eamon Ryan

384. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to support the further roll-out of Jigsaw drop-in centres around the country and, if so, the locations and under what timeline; whether funding is ring-fenced for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29398/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

538. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposed timeline for ratification of the Paris climate agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29636/16]

Electricity Transmission Network

Eamon Ryan

541. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received a report on the break in the east-west electricity interconnector between Dublin and Wales; the reason for the loss of service; and when the interconnector will be back in operation. [29982/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

542. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for Ireland in the ratification of the Paris agreement. [29980/16]

Climate Change Policy

Eamon Ryan

543. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, in the event that the Government has not ratified COP21 in advance of the COP22 conference on 7 to 18 November 2016, Ireland will be able to participate fully in all the institutions involving ratified countries. [29981/16]

Bioenergy Strategy

Eamon Ryan

547. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the public consultation on the strategic environmental assessment of the draft bioenergy strategy will take place. [29403/16]

Electric Vehicles

Eamon Ryan

583. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow electric vehicles to use bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29401/16]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Eamon Ryan

584. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding status of schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29402/16]

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Eamon Ryan

613. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had at European Council level on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement; and the proposed timeline for implementation in this regard. [29637/16]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the inequality in the provision of social protection to those under 25 years of age as opposed to those over that age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29007/16]

British-Irish Co-operation

Eamon Ryan

3. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach his plans for the North-South summit on Brexit. [28712/16]

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Eamon Ryan

71. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the phase-in schedule for the housing assistance payments scheme, HAP; the number of councils which currently have the HAP scheme; the current expenditure on the HAP scheme; the way in which the rates of the HAP scheme have been effective in succeeding in allowing persons to secure accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29006/16]

National Planning Framework

Eamon Ryan

245. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the timetable for the completion of the national planning framework; and the way he plans to connect that framework to the capital plan. [28665/16]

Child Care Costs

Eamon Ryan

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the measures he will introduce to support families with child care other than subsidisation of paid child care. [27878/16]

State Banking Sector

Eamon Ryan

32. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the intended timeline for the sale of State ownership in a bank (details supplied); and the timetable and approach behind the reduction in the Government's shareholding in the company. [27529/16]

House Prices

Eamon Ryan

68. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the support for first-time buyers being mooted will have an inflationary effect on house pricing consequently defeating the purpose of the proposal in the first place. [27879/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Eamon Ryan

6. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will demand free movement of persons between the UK and Ireland during negotiations surrounding the UK withdrawal from the EU. [27142/16]

Naval Service Vessels

Eamon Ryan

35. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the proposed schedule for the retirement of existing naval vessels, the purchase of new vessels and the capabilities of such new vessels. [27141/16]

Community Development Projects

Eamon Ryan

56. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach his plans to provide an update on the formation of the Dublin north inner city task force; its terms of reference, chair, and timescale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23913/16]

Building Energy Rating Compliance

Eamon Ryan

654. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure buildings (details supplied) do not breach a requirement; and his further plans to ensure such transitional arrangements do not lead to new public buildings failing to comply with the nearly zero energy building targets after 31 December 2018 and all new buildings after 31 December 2020. [26184/16]