Parliamentary questions

European Banking Sector

Andrew Doyle

219. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the Irish arrangements and permanent delegation to the European Banking Authority based in London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29889/14]

Financial Instruments

Andrew Doyle

220. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if the practice of crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending can be incorporated in legislation in view of the recently issued consumer notice on crowdfunding, including peer-to-peer lending by the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29890/14]

World Bank Policy

Andrew Doyle

221. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline Ireland's operational relationship with the World Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29896/14]

Library Services Staff

Andrew Doyle

530. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if approval has been given to the application by Wicklow County Council to fill a number of vacancies in the Wicklow County Council library service, including the position of executive librarian at Greystones library; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29506/14]

Visa Agreements

Andrew Doyle

660. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the legislative provisions, both through Acts of the Oireachtas and statutory instruments that will need to be put in place before the commencement of the British Irish visa scheme for the common travel area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29888/14]

EU Meetings

Andrew Doyle

661. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline Ireland's operational arrangements as chairman of the Europol management board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29892/14]

Driver Licences

Andrew Doyle

841. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form a status report on mutual recognition of Irish driver licences with all the Canadian provinces and territories; the current status of Irish driver licences recognition for Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut; if he will provide an update on activities by the Road Safety Authority and the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa on having Irish driver licences recognised and setting up a reciprocal recognition scheme between each jurisdiction where recognition is not yet established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29887/14]

VAT Rate Application

Andrew Doyle

57. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he will exempt community-based fund raising activities from the 23% VAT rate which currently exists particularly when such activities are voluntarily led with a view to supporting persons or communities who are fund raising to support terminal or serious illness (details supplied) in communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28583/14]

Enterprise Data

Andrew Doyle

251. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a breakdown by county of the 32,000 who started new businesses in 2013; if he will provide the data in tabular form; the support mechanisms already in place to assist this high level of activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27011/14]

Planning Issues

Andrew Doyle

377. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the signs of recovery of the building industry, his views that An Bord Pleanála board has a sufficient range of in-house expertise to deal with the anticipated extra workload; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/14]

Wastewater Treatment

Andrew Doyle

378. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the need to ensure that Ireland has a reliable, high-quality water supply, if there is sufficient guidance for An Bord Pleanála to ensure that every planning review which includes wastewater treatment is considered by a board which has adequate expertise to assess the proposals or obtains independent outside expert advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26811/14]

Departmental Functions

Andrew Doyle

379. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the context of freedom of information and AEI regulations, if his Department or any other State body has provided any advice or guidance to bodies such as An Bord Pleanála to set out the way to handle contemporaneous notes taken in the consideration of cases or during board meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26812/14]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Andrew Doyle

689. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current position of the sports capital programme; if he will provide a breakdown of the applications that received the funding and the current status of applications that have yet to receive notification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27177/14]

Cycling Facilities Provision

Andrew Doyle

690. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the strategy for greenway development in Wicklow; if an implementation process has been put in place; if a time frame has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27178/14]

Mountain Rescue Service

Andrew Doyle

691. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current and future plans for the mountain rescue groups in County Wicklow; the provision of funding to assist these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27179/14]

Tourism Data

Andrew Doyle

692. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total visitor numbers to County Wicklow in the past 12 months; the approximate spend in the county per visitor; the length of time and the breakdown of overseas versus visitors from Ireland; the direct and indirect employment breakdown for County Wicklow in tabular form; the future incentives for the county to bring more employment for tourism in Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27183/14]

National Pensions Reserve Fund Plans

Andrew Doyle

141. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if a strategic process for the National Pensions Reserve Fund has been put in place to become part of a funding mechanism for Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25903/14]

Common Travel Area

Andrew Doyle

591. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions both she and her officials have had with their respective counterparts in the British Government regarding the common travel area since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25941/14]

Common Travel Area

Andrew Doyle

592. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions both she and her officials have had with their respective counterparts in Northern Ireland regarding the common travel area since March 2011 through the medium of the North-South Ministerial Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25943/14]

Road User Levy

Andrew Doyle

776. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions both he and his officials have had with their respective counterparts in Northern Ireland regarding the common travel area since March 2011 through the medium of the North-South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25951/14]

EU Regulations

Andrew Doyle

60. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the implementation process for Ireland in adopting the new general block exemption regulation; the assessment process; the effect to the grant process for the Industrial Development Agency, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24829/14]

Appointments to State Boards

Andrew Doyle

77. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the appointment of the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland admissions board has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24014/14]

Road Traffic Offences

Andrew Doyle

126. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will clarify for taxi drivers who enter their destination to their satellite navigation software on their smart phones whether the automatic data updates for route information received during their journeys is prohibited as being data access while driving under the new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24013/14]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Andrew Doyle

440. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person currently studying for a primary degree and in receipt of back to education allowance and who intends to progress to master's level, may retain back to education allowance at master's level or if there is another allowance available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22901/14]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Andrew Doyle

455. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person studying for a primary degree and in receipt of back to education allowance and who intends to progress to master's level may retain back to education allowance at master's level; if the person may work on a part-time basis should a job opportunity present itself; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23139/14]

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Andrew Doyle

456. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and who has received an offer of part-time work, three hours a day, five days a week, at a minimum rate of pay, is entitled to retain some or part of their jobseeker's allowance in view of the fact that the maximum hours involved is 18 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23140/14]

HIQA Issues

Andrew Doyle

931. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority charge organisations or service providers when they carry out an assessment of standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23250/14]

Diplomatic Representation

Andrew Doyle

147. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the full details regarding the upcoming rotation of ambassadors of Ireland and consuls general concerning 36 appointments that were approved on 6 May 2014; if he will provide in tabular form the rotations that will take place in each embassy of Ireland and consulate general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21161/14]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Andrew Doyle

674. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects an announcement to be made regarding the allocation of funding for local organisations as part of the sports capital programme 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21162/14]

Rail Passengers Data

Andrew Doyle

675. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ask the operators of the LUAS and-or the National Transport Authority to provide the number of fines issued on a year-by-year basis from 2007 to date in 2014; the number that were paid every year, and the number that remained outstanding each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21163/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Andrew Doyle

126. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for the roll-out of fibre broadband in 15 locations in County Wicklow (details supplied) through State intervention as part of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20698/14]

Unified Patent Court

Andrew Doyle

113. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding jurisdictional powers to the Unified Patent Court: if he considers it necessary to hold a referendum to allow for the transfer of jurisdictional powers to the Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20536/14]

Consular Services Remit

Andrew Doyle

139. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the legal basis and legislative underpinning for the permanent representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20244/14]

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Andrew Doyle

140. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail Ireland's engagement with the European Union Satellite Centre based in Madrid and Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20245/14]

Patent Legislation

Andrew Doyle

214. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding bringing forward a referendum that is required to allow for the transfer of jurisdictional powers to the Unified Patent Court; when he expects the referendum to take place; the discussions held with officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the timeframe for such a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20241/14]

Joint Policing Committees Remit

Andrew Doyle

316. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way joint policing committees will fit into the new municipal district structures in local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20243/14]

School Enrolments

Andrew Doyle

170. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Wicklow and Greystones Educate Together primary schools will form part of the new Educate Together secondary school in Bray, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/14]

School Staffing

Andrew Doyle

195. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow is oversubscribed to fill two classes of junior infants, but the school has capacity for a third junior infant class, but will not be allocated a teacher for this class unless the school can show that the third class would also be filled; if the school is not better off to have three classes of 25 children rather than two classes of 30, with 15 children left to repeat a year in preschool. [19299/14]

Microenterprise Loan Fund Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

259. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of microfinance that has been approved to date; the number of applications and if he will provide a breakdown per region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18988/14]

Foreign Direct Investment

Andrew Doyle

260. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the policy and strategy to develop a more balanced division of foreign direct investment, FDI, to the areas outside the main urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18989/14]

Horizon 2020 Strategy Implementation

Andrew Doyle

261. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his approach towards achieving our Horizon 2020 targets of €1.2 billion; the projected breakdown for microenterprise and small and medium enterprises; the strategy to streamline the process to achieve these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18990/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Andrew Doyle

692. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Adoption Authority of Ireland has completed its consideration of the submissions from Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency and Arc Adoption for funding to act as accredited agencies for inter-country adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18898/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Andrew Doyle

693. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received and considered submissions from the Adoption Authority of Ireland identifying 23 areas for change in the Adoption Act 2010 and if she will provide an outline of any planned legislation changes in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18899/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Andrew Doyle

694. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered any changes in how bilateral agreements for the purposes of inter-country adoption are established with Ireland as a receiving country; if she has had any discussion with the Adoption Authority of Ireland in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18900/14]

EU Issues

Andrew Doyle

148. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's position at the Committee of Permanent Representatives and-or the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels during other meetings in recent years during discussions at EU level on increasing the number of judges at the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg; if Ireland agreed to increase the number of judges based on merit, regardless of their member state; or if Ireland took the position to stay with the spirit of Article 19(2) of the Treaty on European Union, of one judge per member state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18040/14]

Planning Issues

Andrew Doyle

397. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress of large-scale offshore wind development close to the east coast; if, in view of the period of time that has elapsed since then, the granting of developments will be reviewed to ascertain whether an acceptable alternative that is more aesthetic in design can be evaluated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17702/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

443. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the internal capital receipts collected for the provision of social housing in Wicklow-east Carlow will be ring-fenced for housing projects in the local areas where they were collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17923/14]

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Andrew Doyle

444. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government since the pathway accommodation and support system was extended nationally in 2013, the amount of funding that has been allocated for the provision of permanent accommodation and services for homeless persons; the amount of money that has been allocated for emergency shelter accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17924/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Andrew Doyle

445. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the current housing shortage, if he has definite proposals for the Wicklow-east Carlow region to carry out an assessment of the land available which could be utilised for social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17925/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Andrew Doyle

446. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the urgent lack of suitable housing accommodation in the Wicklow-east Carlow catchment area, if his Department will consider lifting the embargo and allow the relevant local authority to commence building again in order to alleviate the current housing crisis affecting the eastern region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17926/14]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Andrew Doyle

448. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which Wicklow County Council will receive 2014 funding for housing adaptation grants, for works completed to date, works in progress and to facilitate priority 1 category cases, which include terminally ill people or those who are mainly dependent on family or a carer and where alterations-adaptations would facilitate discharge from hospital or alleviate hospitalisation in the future, and who have already been assessed as having an urgent medical need for housing adaptations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17960/14]

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Andrew Doyle

449. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which Wicklow County Council will receive its 2014 funding allocation for housing adaptation grants in order for a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who is suffering from progressive motor neuron disease to remain in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17961/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Andrew Doyle

551. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of assessments that have been completed by the Health Service Executive and any other bodies for the purposes of inter-country adoption from 2000 to 2013; if she will provide a breakdown of the figures for each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17653/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Andrew Doyle

552. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the sending countries, with associated numbers, for pre-Hague declaration inter-country adoptions into Ireland since November 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17654/14]

Adoption Services Provision

Andrew Doyle

553. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the staffing numbers of the Adoption Authority since its inception, showing the increase or decrease in staff numbers since the authority was founded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17655/14]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Andrew Doyle

554. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to extend the lifetime of post-Hague declarations of eligibility and suitability for the purposes of inter-country adoption in view of the lengthy delays inherent in the process due to lack of countries from which Irish applicants may process an adoption; if she has had any discussions with the Adoption Authority in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17656/14]

Adoption Services Provision

Andrew Doyle

555. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the length of time currently taken for the Adoption Authority to issue a declaration of eligibility and suitability from the time it receives the required documentation from the local adoption committee. [17657/14]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Andrew Doyle

626. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if omega 3, including lutein, has been recommended and prescribed by general practitioners and opthalmologists to help with age related macular degeneration; if it will be included on the list of drugs allowed for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17799/14]

Arms Trade

Andrew Doyle

67. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when his Department was made aware that by signing the Arms Trade Treaty in 2013 that they needed an EU decision by the Council in order to ratify it, in view of the fact that the treaty covered an area not within the competence of member states, but rather an exclusive competence of the EU; in view of the fact that the EU approval has been given, when he expects Ireland to be in a position to deposit the ratification instruments with the United Nations in New York; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16489/14]

Irish Communities Abroad

Andrew Doyle

68. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he intends to incorporate the recently announced Diaspora policy review by his Department into the review of foreign affairs and external relations; if they will be exclusive of each other when the policy documents and-or White Papers are published in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16490/14]

State Papers

Andrew Doyle

332. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding reducing the period before State papers can be published from 30 years to 20 years in line with the UK; if he will ensure this is made a priority by his Department and the National Archives in order that this shift can be made possible to ensure Irish and UK State papers will be published together; the other Departments and bodies under their aegis with which his Department has discussed this matter in order to obtain their feedback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16486/14]

Visa Applications

Andrew Doyle

451. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an Egyptian citizen legally residing in an EU member state within the Schengen area for PhD research, who gets a short or long stay visa for Ireland through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for visiting academic purposes, is entitled to use the same visa for entry to the UK for similar purposes; if the same situation of reciprocity for an Egyptian citizen in similar circumstances who has a similar visa from British authorities will be acceptable to immigration authorities here, or if a separate visa is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16487/14]

Visa Applications

Andrew Doyle

452. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an Armenian citizen who is legally residing in the United Kingdom, an EU member state and inside the common travel area is allowed use their passport and proof of residence in the UK for entry to Ireland for a three-day academic conference, or if a full visa is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16488/14]

Fisheries Offences

Andrew Doyle

498. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the point system in respect of serious fisheries infringements as set down in SI 3 (2014) that applies to fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16430/14]

Tax Credits

Andrew Doyle

227. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if the new single child carer tax credit will be transferred to a parent (details supplied) who is not the principle carer in circumstances where the principle carer is married and in work and cannot claim this credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13400/14]

IBRC Staff

Andrew Doyle

243. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the staff at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, specifically the terms of contracts under which they are being employed; the number of employees that have left the IBRC since the appointment of the special liquidators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

427. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the consideration that has been given by the Office of Public Works to particular areas in County Wicklow that were subject to recent storm damage; if he will outline in tabular form the allocation his Department has provided the county, to the local authority or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13182/14]

Social Welfare Benefits

Andrew Doyle

492. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline Ireland's position on taking unemployment benefits to another EU country, currently set at three months; if Ireland supports a European Commission proposal to extend this up to six months; Ireland's position on these negotiations at European level to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13184/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Andrew Doyle

668. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consideration that has been given to particular areas in County Wicklow that were subject to recent storm damage; if he will provide in tabular form the allocation his Department have provided the county to the local authority or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13183/14]

European Parliament Elections

Andrew Doyle

669. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the procedures in place by his Department where notification is received from another EU member state that an Irish citizen has registered his or her European Parliament vote in that member state; if an Irish citizen who switches his or her European Parliament vote to another EU member state and avails of early voting in that member state, if he or she will retain his or her right to vote in local elections in Ireland should he or she be in Ireland on the day of polling; the number of notifications his Department have received from other EU member states regarding Irish citizens registering to vote in the European Parliament elections in another EU member state since 2004 on a year-by-year basis; if he will break down the figures in tabular form on how many notifications his Department has received from each individual member state in each year since 2004; the number of counties that have been notified by his Department that an Irish citizen has switched his or her vote for the European Parliament in another member state, and to break this data down on a local authority basis and yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13185/14]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Andrew Doyle

671. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the need for additional social and affordable housing in Wicklow, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of ghost estates in County Wicklow together with the number of individual units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13275/14]

Naval Service Vessels

Andrew Doyle

815. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence the plans in place for the commissioning of the LE Samuel Beckett as the newest vessel in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13186/14]

Alternative Farm Enterprises

Andrew Doyle

868. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new research proposals announcement apply to projects in the agricultural bioenergy field. [13137/14]

Medical Card Eligibility

Andrew Doyle

1006. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is clearly over the income limit for medical card services, has to furnish a valuation of a site, which will cost them in the region of €150 for the valuation, to be assessed for the discretionary card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13017/14]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Andrew Doyle

1185. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the length of time a child (details supplied) in County Wexford will have to wait to get braces fitted to their teeth having been assessed by a consultant orthodontist in January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14035/14]

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Andrew Doyle

1246. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list the sports clubs that have applied for sports capital funding in County Wexford for the 2014 allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13299/14]

Bus Éireann Services

Andrew Doyle

1263. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ask Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority to place a bus route on the real-time bus information signs at a location (details supplied) to include the final destination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13576/14]

Banking Sector

Andrew Doyle

83. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance in view of the need for an expanded banking sector, if he has been in any discussion with the management of Ulster Bank or its parent bank RBS with a view to establishing what its long-term plans are for its business here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11694/14]

State Properties

Andrew Doyle

192. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the usage that has been allocated for the former Garda stations in Hollywood and Donard, County Wicklow; the use to which the property will be put and by whom; the length of any potential lease; the lengths his Department has gone to for making use of the properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11900/14]

Road Projects Status

Andrew Doyle

600. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or the National Roads Authority will provide an update on the progress that has been made to date on the N11 upgrade project between Arklow and Rathnew in County Wicklow as of March 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11771/14]

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Andrew Doyle

8. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Irish arrangements for the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management under the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10946/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Andrew Doyle

132. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if banking and legal advice services worth an estimated €103 million from 2011-2013 are subject to tender and financial review. [10565/14]

Value for Money Reviews

Andrew Doyle

133. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a value for money review is conducted on the cost of banking and legal advice services to ensure that public funds are spent on what is actually needed for the best price. [10566/14]

Forestry Management

Andrew Doyle

216. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has any responsibility or role in the management of old native Irish forests. [10937/14]

EU Directives

Andrew Doyle

232. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will sign up for the EITI, along with 39 other countries, in order to raise common global reporting standards, following the G8 report; and if he does not intend to sign up for the EITI, the reasons for that decision. [10635/14]

Offshore Exploration

Andrew Doyle

233. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he has taken to develop an inter-agency oil and gas sector development policy for the management of oil and gas production, prior to a successful application for extraction, in order to prevent the failure of planning and consultation which was evident in the Shell gas development; and if he will state what percentage of any new extractive company will be owned by the State. [10637/14]

Postal Services

Andrew Doyle

235. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to provide the national postal service delivery objectives. [10708/14]

Post Office Network

Andrew Doyle

236. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to co-ordinate the interdepartmental working group needed to ensure that Government services are delivered, where possible and when cost effective, through the post office service. [10709/14]

Post Office Network

Andrew Doyle

237. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to ensure that the post office service remains independent, outside international retail chains, and that employees are covered by the Official Secrets Act. [10710/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

292. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the departmental overview that is undertaken regarding administration of moneys granted to voluntary organisations by his Department. [10934/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Andrew Doyle

293. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if voluntary sector organisations funded by his Department are required to account for salaries paid as part of the departmental overview of the organisations. [10935/14]

Animal Welfare

Andrew Doyle

347. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the special investigation unit will be sent in to investigate animal welfare breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act in regard to large dog breeding kennels. [10718/14]

Rural Development Policy

Andrew Doyle

348. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if support needed for the establishment of producer groups for growers will be proposed under the rural development programme being developed by his Department. [10721/14]

Fisheries Protection

Andrew Doyle

349. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he is taking to co-ordinate the development of a national management strategy for Irish inshore fisheries to provide objectives for the work of the FLAG on regional inshore fisheries management. [10724/14]

Proposed Legislation

Andrew Doyle

362. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the results of the review on the legislation that criminalised the fishermen for breaches of EU fisheries regulations; the alternative procedures for penalties for offenders being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10936/14]

Forestry Management

Andrew Doyle

363. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that he is responsible for the management of old native Irish forests. [10938/14]

Driver Licences

Andrew Doyle

510. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the postal service was not developed as the provider of the drivers licence service in view of their excellent record on the passport service. [10511/14]

Light Rail Projects Status

Andrew Doyle

527. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the proposed route that is envisaged for the proposed extension of the Luas Green Line to Bray, County Wicklow; if the proposed route includes reopening the closed Brides Glen Viaduct on the old Harcourt Street railway line; the State entity that will be responsible for the potential Luas extension following the abolition of the Railway Procurement Agency as per the Roads Bill 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10944/14]

Rail Services

Andrew Doyle

528. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further Parliamentary Question No. 1605 of 18 September 2013, if he will ask the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to provide an update on the establishment of a ticket machine at Kilcoole train station in County Wicklow that is scheduled to take place by May 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10945/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Andrew Doyle

95. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the manner in which contracts offered under EU directives are assessed; if he will explain potential revenues or losses by way of VAT and other taxes that are costed into the contracts; if these factors are applied before contracts are awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9781/14]